Periodic Surveys Research Articles

Caste Wise Earning Discrimination among Rural Non-farm Sector Workers in India

This study investigates wage discrimination among non-farm workers, including both regular and casual workers, in rural India between the forward caste (FC) and backward caste (BC). Using data from NSSO unit-level employment and unemployment surveys from 2004–2005 and 2011–2012, as well as periodic labour force surveys from 2017–2018 to 2019–2020, the study found that the wage differential between FC and BC non-farm employees increased over time, with BC workers being paid less than FC workers. To determine the factors contributing to the wage difference, a linear regression model was used, and the decomposition method was employed to examine whether the difference was due to endowment or discrimination effects. Overall, the study highlights the persistence of caste-based wage discrimination in rural non-farm employment in India. For the betterment of BC workers and to reduce discrimination, the policies and programmes which are implemented by the government need to be revived.

Wage Differentials and Inequality in Managerial and Professional Jobs: Quantile Regression Analysis

In the economics literature, it is vividly portrayed that there is a great deal of disparity in wages received by workers across economic activities and occupations in India. The primary purpose of this article is to identify factors determining wage differentials and to measure wage inequality in managerial and professional occupations. Using unit-level records of periodic labour force survey (PLFS) published by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), we apply quantile regression model to examine how wage distribution is determined by personal, household and labour market characteristics. Our analysis is limited to persons aged between 15 and 65 and employed in managerial and professional occupations. The findings suggest that rural–urban dichotomy, gender, technical education, social group, job contract, type of enterprise and enterprise workforce size are statistically significant across quantiles and are important in explaining the wage distribution of managerial and professional workers in India. From a policy perspective, the invigoration of gender-based measures coupled with the expansion of technical education and labour market institutions are essential for bridging the wage disparity in India. JEL Classifications: J16, J24, J31

Revisiting Earnings Differentials across Socio-religious Groups in the Regular Salaried Employment in India

In India, the differences in a range of development indicators, including wages and earnings, along the spatial, caste, religious and ethnicity lines have been a serious concern. This article revisits the wage disparities and discrimination among regular salaried male workers across five categories of socio-religious groups. Using nationally representative Periodic Labour Force Survey (2018–2019) data, we examine the pattern of disparity and the associated endowment and institutional factors leading to unequal labour market outcomes. Our findings suggest that all the groups—Scheduled Tribes (STs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Muslims continue to earn significantly lower wages than ‘Others’—the non-ST/SC/OBC/Muslim group. On decomposing the wage gap using the Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition method, we observe that the share of unexplained components reflecting discriminatory treatment continues to be significant. While the wage gap is highest for Muslims and SCs, discrimination is high against SCs and OBCs and lowest against Muslims. Higher education and institutional factors explain a significant proportion of the wage gap for these groups. For STs, urban location and higher education explain most of the differences. In addition, quantile regression results indicate a wider gap at the bottom and a narrower gap at the top of the wage distribution, signalling a ‘sticky-floor’ phenomenon for ST, SC and OBC workers. JEL Codes: E24, J71, J49

Key areas and rearrangement of the workflow for the evaluation of the landslide class of attention parameters of existing bridges

According to the new Italian Guidelines on existing bridges (LLG) the landslide hazard is one of the hazards that should be evaluated during the expeditious/quick Periodic Field Survey. Its assessment implies to estimate the landslide susceptibility, vulnerability and exposure based on primary (activity, velocity, and magnitude) and secondary parameters (extent of the interference, presence/absence of mitigation measures and overall reliability of the assessment). Unfortunately, in the LLG the extent of the areas that should be investigated is not clearly defined. Moreover, based on the work (i.e., application and testing of the LLG and compilation of the Field Sheet Form) of the Authors and other FABRE Consortium members on about 500 existing bridges, some gaps in the LLG and some uncertainties in the current workflow for collecting the data during the Periodic Field Survey, have been identified. Thus, the first aim of this work is to define the key areas that should be investigated for collecting the remote and ground data required for characterizing the geomorphological and the geological context and for evaluating the landslide susceptibility, vulnerability, and exposure, and hence the Landslide Class of Attention. The Diagnostic Area and the Geomorphological Significative Area mainly permit to characterize the geomorphological and the geological context and the proneness of the Geomorphological Significative Area and of the Relevant Area to generate Potential Landslide. The Geomorphological Significative Area and the Relevant Area mainly permit to identify and characterize both Recognized and Potential Landslides and accurately assess the parameters required for the evaluation of the Landslide Class of Attention. The second aim is to suggest the rearrangement of the workflow in order to overcome some uncertainties of the LLG, and to obtain a more accurate evaluation of primary and secondary parameters. Furthermore, the here rearranged workflow will support the technical staff involved in the Periodic Field Survey saving time and facilitating the collection of remote and ground data needed to compile the Field Sheet Form and to populate the database in a more adequate and functional manner.

Relevamiento de residencias y concurrencias de neurología en Argentina

IntroductionIn Argentina, physicians can obtain specialization certification through a university postgraduate program, courses provided by recognized medical associations or through a residency or concurrence. Neurologists constitute a small percentage of specialists, with only 0.67% of the available slots in the unique exam allocated to neurology. Accurate data regarding the current situation of training centers in this specialty is lacking. The objective of this study is to assess the current status of neurology residencies and concurrencies in our country. Materials and methodsDescriptive observational study. Data were collected on institutions offering neurology services and training in the country. A representative from each institution was contacted and administered a questionnaire regarding the presence and number of residents, concurrents, chief resident, resident instructor, with a breakdown by year of training. Information on membership in the Argentine Neurological Society was also obtained. ResultsA total of 52 centers with neurology residency and/or concurrence programs were surveyed. 61.5% (n=32) were located in the City of Buenos Aires (CABA) and the Province of Buenos Aires (PBA). The total number of residents was 222, with 49 concurrents; 70.8% were undergoing training in CABA (n=146) and PBA (n=46). The 71.2% of the centers were public institutions (n=37), encompassing 69.4% of neurologists in training. Only 37.5% of professionals (n=116) were members of the Argentine Neurological Society. ConclusionWe observed a significant disparity in the geographical distribution of neurology training programs in Argentina, contributing to the shortage of neurologists in less populated areas. A collaborative and periodic survey is needed to improve the distribution of future neurologists in the country.

Definition of direct and indirect types of landslide-bridge interference and a checklist for identifying and characterizing potential landslides

According to the new Italian Guidelines on existing bridges (LLG) the evaluation of the landslide susceptibility, vulnerability, and exposure, is based on the collection of the data necessary to fill the Field Sheet Form during the Periodic Field Surveys. Based on the knowledge and expertise gained during the inspections of the surrounding areas of a relevant number of existing bridges located in different geomorphological and geological contexts (i.e., Northern and Southern Apennines of Italy), the Authors recognized several difficulties in the accurate evaluation of the parameters to assess susceptibility and vulnerability according to LLG. In particular, the evaluation of the secondary parameters, namely extent of the interference and overall reliability of the assessment, depends greatly on the arbitrariness of the inspector. The main objectives of this work are: (a) to provide useful elements to distinguish between two types of landslide-bridge interference (direct and indirect) and evaluate the extent of the interference parameter (available options are: Total, Partial, and Approach Zone); (b) to propose an Additional Field Sheet Form aimed to improve the identification and characterization of Potential Landslides and to make more objective the self-evaluation of the inspector about the overall reliability of the assessment (two options: good, limited) of the primary parameters characterizing the landslide (activity, velocity, and magnitude).

Automatic detection of typical defects in reinforced concrete bridges via YOLOv5

Bridges play a crucial role in road networks, and ensuring their safety and preservation is of utmost importance for both management companies and the scientific community. Throughout their lifespan, bridges are exposed to various factors that increase their vulnerability, including aging, harsh environmental conditions, and natural hazards, all of which can potentially lead to structural failures. Following the collapse of the Polcevera Viaduct in Italy, the Ministry of Transportation proposed a comprehensive safety evaluation procedure to be implemented nationwide, aiming to develop a methodology for assessing critical cases and implementing risk mitigation measures. This process involves several stages to assign a risk class that considers different sources of hazards. Among these phases, periodic on-site surveys to identify defects and signs of degradation are required. However, several challenges arise, such as the time and cost associated with inspections, the subjectivity involved in visually identifying defects, and the need for qualified personnel. To address these issues, traditional techniques can be enhanced by leveraging digital innovations, which seek to create new and reliable tools that support road management companies in safeguarding their infrastructure assets. In this regard, deep learning-based object detectors offer promising possibilities. Specifically, automatic recognition of defects and damages on existing bridge elements can be achieved using single-stage detectors like YOLOv5. In this study, we explored the application of this technique by creating a database of typical defects and involving domain experts to label these defects. Subsequently, YOLOv5 was trained, tested, and validated, demonstrating favorable effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed methodology. This research opens new opportunities and highlights the potential of artificial intelligence in automatically detecting defects on bridges.

Mobile Terrestrial LiDAR survey for rockfall risk management along a highway

In the alpine stretch, from Brenner to Bolzano (Northern Italy), the Highway A22 is exposed to rockfalls and protection structures must be progressively extended as new detachments are identified. This paper defines a procedure to manage the rockfall risk through periodic Mobile Terrestrial LiDAR surveys from a vehicle travelling along the highway. This type of survey requires the adoption of specific precautions to work safely without interrupting traffic on the highway, such as escorting the surveyors’ vehicle using specific vehicles for mobile road works. Prior to a field trial, the potential effectiveness of a Mobile Terrestrial LiDAR survey was demonstrated through a GIS-based simulation. The simulation was performed for the most critical cliffs in a GRASS GIS environment with the support of Python scripts and the results were compared with those from a simulation of a static survey. Still working in a GIS environment, eight cliffs were identified as the most susceptible to rockfalls that may interfere with the infrastructures. The survey simulation revealed that a Mobile Terrestrial LiDAR survey has the potential to sense over 85% of the cliff area with a point density greater than 100 pts/m2. Given these promising results, a trial survey was then carried out in April 2023 using the innovative mobile mapping system Trimble MX9. Half a day was sufficient to sense the rock slopes along a 30 km stretch of the motorway with a point density of up to 900 pts/m2 for distances up to 150 m.

Unveiling the Gap: Exploring Gender Inequality in Economic Empowerment Across India

Gender inequality in economic empowerment remains a pervasive issue across the globe, manifesting in various forms such as unequal pay, limited access to economic resources, and disparities in employment opportunities and career advancement. This systemic imbalance stifles not only individual potential but also hampers overall economic growth and development. While this inequality exists universally, it is particularly pronounced in Indian society, rooted in deeply embedded cultural norms and historical gender roles. Traditionally, women's subordinate position has deprived them of asset ownership and participation in financial decision-making. Additionally, they have been denied employment opportunities and face discrimination in the labor market. These factors have led to a significant gender gap in economic participation at both household and societal levels. In this context, this study attempts to examine the gender inequality in economic empowerment in India through the lens of asset ownership, wage disparity, and labor force participation. This study is based on secondary data taken from the reports of the National Family Health Survey and the Periodic Labour Force Survey of the Government of India. The study found that, the female labour force participation rate was 46.2 per cent less than the male labour force participation rate and on an average, women earned Rs. 136.32 less than men in daily wage earnings. The study concludes that addressing gender inequality in economic empowerment requires a comprehensive approach at the policy, organizational, and societal level, including implementing and enforcing gender-sensitive labor laws, promoting equal pay for equal work, and providing affordable childcare and parental leave to level the playing field.

Antimicrobial Use and Adverse Drug Reaction in Newborns with Neonatal Sepsis: A Prospective Observational Study from a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Introduction: Neonatal Sepsis (NS) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in developing countries like India. The role of antimicrobials is life-saving in NS. To achieve a good prognosis, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are required. Data related to the irrational use of antimicrobials in neonates are limited. Aim: To evaluate the drug usage pattern and Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) of antimicrobials in NS. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted among 350 neonates who were admitted and diagnosed with NS from January to December 2021 in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of PDU Medical College and Civil Hospital, Rajkot, Gujarat, India. Demographic data such as age, sex, birth weight, and clinical data such as type of delivery, type of sepsis, culture-sensitivity status, and antimicrobials used were recorded. Suspected ADRs were reported in the pharmacovigilance database. Categorical data were analysed in percentage, whereas some clinical data were analysed with mean and median using Microsoft Office Excel-2019. Results: In the present study, 172 (49.15%) male and 178 (50.85%) female neonates were almost equally affected. The mean gestational age and birth weight were 35 ± 3.6 weeks and 2 ± 0.7 kg, respectively. Early-Onset Neonatal Sepsis (EONS) cases were more at 273 (78%) compared to Late-Onset Neonatal Sepsis (LONS). Seventeen different antimicrobials were used. The average number of antimicrobials used per case was 2.9. The Piperacillin Tazobactam was the most commonly used antimicrobial in 173 cases (49.43%) in early-onset sepsis, while Meropenem was used in 40 cases (11.43%) in late-onset sepsis. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was the most commonly isolated organism in 15 cases (4.2%), followed by Klebsiella Pneumoniae in 13 cases (3.7%). Twelve out of 17 antimicrobials (70.59%) were not included in the first list of essential medicines for children of India in 2011. Six ADRs were reported in the present study. Conclusion: In all admitted cases of sepsis, empirical therapy was given, but variations from standard recommendations were observed in dose and frequency. A periodic survey of antimicrobial use patterns in NS will be useful in the rational selection of empirical therapy.

The Status of B Vitamin in Saudi Adults: A Review

Background and Objective: B vitamins are essential for maintaining several body functions. Assessing micronutrient status in a population is crucial for evaluating the individual or the population’s levels of nutrient sufficiency, deficiency, or toxicity; examining the relationship between a nutrient’s status and adverse health outcomes; and determining nutrient needs to establish reference values. There is lack of periodical national surveys in Saudi Arabia that assess the status of the B vitamins. Therefore, this review summarizes and critique the literature of B vitamin status in Saudi adults age of ≥18 years. Methods and Study Design: Databases (PubMed, Medline and Google Scholar) were searched for articles published between January 1980 to December 2022 using combinations of the terms “Saudi Arabia”, “status”, “level” along with all the corresponding vitamin B keywords and metabolites. Results: Forty three studies were obtained. Only 28 studies were included to the current review. Several studies conducted in Saudi adults measured folate and vitamin B12 status. Fewer studies assessed thiamine, riboflavin, and pyridoxine status. No relevant studies were found on the status of niacin, pantothenic acid, and biotin. Studies on thiamin status have not reported rates of deficiency except for one study reporting a prevalence of 3%. Conflicting findings were observed for riboflavin status, but the most recent evidence suggests a prevalence of 36.9% deficiency among Saudi adults. Folate deficiency appears to be low, whereas vitamin B12 might be of concern among Saudi adults. Conclusions: There were discrepancies in the results of some vitamin status in Saudi adults mainly attributed to differences in biomarkers used, methodologies, regional differences, and/or age group/population.

PREVALENCE AND ALLELOPATHIC EFFECT OF PARTHENIUM HYSTEROPHORUS ON CROPS IN SOUTHWEST REGIONS OF BANGLADESH

Periodical weed surveys were conducted during 2020-21in Jashore, Jhenaidah, Chuadanga, Meherpur and Khustia districts of Bangladesh to observethe severity and allelopathic effect of Parthenium hysterophorus on field crops. Parthenium infected the crops differently as observed in rice ( 8.75), maize (11.45%), lentil (12.45%), chickpea (32.40%), field pea (57.63%), jute (57.63%), cotton (13.45%), mustard (63.85%), sesame (17.50%), groundnut (28.35%), pointed gourd(11.50%), pumpkin (8.45%),onion (30.47%), garlic(26.25%), turmeric (17.50%), potato (38.75%), banana(24.33%), sugarcane (60.25%), napiergrass (55.00%) and marigold (11.25%).Allelopathic effect was examinedusing 5% aqueousleaf extract of P. hysterophorus ingermination test and results showedcomplete failure of germination in seeds of sesame, jute, pumpkin, red amaranth, chili, radish and tomato. Seeds of other crops germinated poorly in aqueous solution of parthenium with reduced radicle and plumule growth. Among the different crops, wheat had the highest reduction in radicle (96%) and plumule (94%) length compared to their control.

Herpetofauna of forest fragments within the Agata Mining Ventures Incorporated (AMVI), Agusan del Norte, Caraga Region, Philippines

The Philippines holds an extraordinary record of amphibian and reptile diversity and endemism; however, factors like habitat loss and fragmentation that may result from activities related to resource extraction, such as mining, pose a significant threat to their conservation. This study examined the herpetofauna composition in select forest fragments within one of the important mining sites in Caraga, the Agata Mining Ventures Incorporated, between 2018 and 2021. Standardized time searches along the established two 2km transects in two sampling stations (Lawigan and Tinigabasan) were conducted to record reptiles and amphibians accounting for 880 man-hours. A total of 513 individuals representing 12 species of amphibians, and 17 species of reptiles were recorded in the area in both surveys. Of these species, 62% (n = 18 spp.) are Philippine endemic, 35% (n = 10 spp.) native, and 3% (n = 1 spp.) were invasive alien species. Overall, the Shannon-Weiner diversity index is high (H’=2.52) and varied significantly across survey periods (Mann-Whitney U test = 248.5, p=0.007). The species-area relationship analysis showed a strong positive correlation for total herpetofauna (R2 = 0.98), amphibians (R2 = 0.87), and reptiles (R2 = 0.99), and a significant correlation existed between reptiles and forest area (p = 0.05). The result suggests a strong reliance of herpetofaunal richness to forested area. Combined forest clearing and the effects of mining activities currently happening in the area might threaten these environment-sensitive taxa. Preserving these forest fragments within AMVI and allocating buffer zones is highly recommended. Periodic scientific field-based surveys and re-surveys, encompassing not only amphibians and reptiles but also various other species are recommended to monitor species distributions, population trends and impacts of on-going activities. These efforts aim to update data-driven sources supporting the mining area’s rehabilitation program, thereby contributing to societal and environmental benefits.

SELF-EMPLOYMENT IN INDIA IN THE FACE OF GROWING POPULATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT: HIGHLIGHTING THE UNDERCURRENT DETERMINANTS AT PLAY

There has been a pressure on consecutive governments and policymakers to create enough jobs in India so that the workforce of India can be used improved and the population can be self-sustainable by becoming economically strong. The creation of jobs, in addition to safeguarding that the working population becomes economically productive, is also a vital avenue for fighting poverty and lack of proper use of intellectual, manual and skill-based potentials of the individuals. India has come to enjoy a distinct advantage in labour market compared to most developed and less developed countries due to the fast changing age distribution of population. India has experienced fairly consistent changes in the first indicator, especially after the 1991 reforms, but the trend in employment has not revealed any consistent or clear pattern. Though the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) shows increment in worker to population ratio and narrowing of the gender gap in employment in recent past, the unemployment scenario of India still remains disappointing. The present study aims to analyze the factors leading to unemployment and its impact on the Indian economy. The study focusses on how growing population leads to unemployment. The study makes use of secondary data sources and focusses on the present scenario of unemployment in India. The paper analyzes how an increase in population, poverty, illiteracy, inflation and lack of full employment can lead to a slowdown in the growth of the economy.

A transformer-based deep learning method for automatic pixel-level crack detection and feature quantification

Purpose Crack detection of pavement is a critical task in the periodic survey. Efficient, effective and consistent tracking of the road conditions by identifying and locating crack contributes to establishing an appropriate road maintenance and repair strategy from the promptly informed managers but still remaining a significant challenge. This research seeks to propose practical solutions for targeting the automatic crack detection from images with efficient productivity and cost-effectiveness, thereby improving the pavement performance.Design/methodology/approach This research applies a novel deep learning method named TransUnet for crack detection, which is structured based on Transformer, combined with convolutional neural networks as encoder by leveraging a global self-attention mechanism to better extract features for enhancing automatic identification. Afterward, the detected cracks are used to quantify morphological features from five indicators, such as length, mean width, maximum width, area and ratio. Those analyses can provide valuable information for engineers to assess the pavement condition with efficient productivity.Findings In the training process, the TransUnet is fed by a crack dataset generated by the data augmentation with a resolution of 224 × 224 pixels. Subsequently, a test set containing 80 new images is used for crack detection task based on the best selected TransUnet with a learning rate of 0.01 and a batch size of 1, achieving an accuracy of 0.8927, a precision of 0.8813, a recall of 0.8904, an F1-measure and dice of 0.8813, and a Mean Intersection over Union of 0.8082, respectively. Comparisons with several state-of-the-art methods indicate that the developed approach in this research outperforms with greater efficiency and higher reliability.Originality/value The developed approach combines TransUnet with an integrated quantification algorithm for crack detection and quantification, performing excellently in terms of comparisons and evaluation metrics, which can provide solutions with potentially serving as the basis for an automated, cost-effective pavement condition assessment scheme.

Measurement of Entrance Surface Air Kerma of plain abdominal radiography in some Nigerian health facilities

Background : Patient dose assessments in many Nigerian radiological departments have shown large inter- and intra-hospital variations for the same type of radiological examinations, hence, there is a need for regular monitoring of radiological equipment and measurement of patient dose in our health facilities. The main objective of this survey was to evaluate the Entrance Surface Dose Air Kerma (ESAK) of the patients who underwent abdominal (anteroposterior; AP) radiography in ten health facilities in Southern Nigeria.
 Material and Methods: A total of ten health facilities comprising private and public health facilities were included in this investigation. A total of 223 adult patients who weighed within 70±5kg `were considered in this survey. The ESAK was calculated from the tube output of the x-ray machines and the exposure parameters utilized during examinations according to the International Atomic Energy Agency code of practice.
 Results : The mean ESAK values obtained from the health centres ranged from 1.00 milligray (mGy) to 17.21mGy. The maximum/minimum ratio of individual ESAK which is the range factor (RF) varied from 1.3 to 6.1.
 Conclusion and Recommendation : Variations were observed in patient dose values among radiological units. The entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) obtained in the study were comparable with the dose values in the UK- 2010 review in most cases. The intra-radiological unit patient dose variations, as revealed by the range factor show that the operation technique employed was not fully optimized and that dose reduction is possible without degrading image quality. Therefore, there is a need for regular monitoring of radiographic equipment and periodic surveys of the patient dose.

Social Groups and Unequal Employment Opportunities in Skilled Occupations in India

Differential labour market outcomes are a major concern in the Indian labour market. This article looks into the caste and ethnicity-based employment gap in skilled jobs in India. The study has used data from two Periodic Labour Force Survey rounds, namely the 2021–2022 round and 2018–2019 round. The employment gap has been decomposed using the non-linear decomposition method. The results suggest that socially forward groups are more likely to participate in skilled jobs than socially backward classes. Moreover, a significant part of the employment gap remains unexplained by characteristic differences, including differences in endowments. However, both the employment gap and the contribution of discriminatory hiring practices are generally less in more skill-oriented jobs. The employment gap in high-skilled occupations is significantly explained by differences in productivity factors. The jobs requiring higher levels of skills are largely prevalent in the public sector that comes under the reservation policy. In the private sector as well, compared to low- or unskilled jobs, high-skilled occupations are more likely to be found in the form of formal jobs to which anti-discrimination laws may be applicable. Low-paying unskilled jobs are mainly dominated by socially backward-class workers in the Indian labour market.

Changing Employment Patterns: An Analysis of Rural Labour Force in Punjab

The story of Punjab’s economic development witnessed an asymmetrical shift in the structure of output and employment due to the intensive capitalistic model of production in agriculture. The present study, based on National Sample Survey Office data, examines the patterns of employment and output in rural economy of Punjab during the pre-reform and post-reform period. Rural Punjab witnessed fall of work participation rate and phenomenon of ‘defeminisation’ of the labour force in agriculture during the post-reform period. There is a paradigm shift as the share of non-agriculture employment increased to 59.3% as per Periodic Labour Force Survey 2018; consequently, the non-agriculture sector becomes a major driving force in the state economy. An increase in employment elasticity among all sectors (except construction sector) during the post-reform period is a good sign. But a substantial decline in employment elasticity for all the sectors (except the construction sector) of Punjab is a disquieting phenomenon during the study period. Amidst the agrarian crisis, the rural non-farm sector can emerge as a silver lining, but evangelists of market economy disregarded the rural non-farm sector. Hence, the state should abdicate its neoliberal policies and adopt post-Washington consensus for the development of the rural non-farm sector within a given mode of production. JEL Codes: E24, J16, J43, J46, O11

Mitigating Burnout: Transition to a Condensed Workweek for Advanced Practice Providers in Infectious Diseases.

Burnout among health-care workers is highly prevalent and profoundly impacts the quality of patient care. In addition to affecting patient safety, burnout results in higher staff turnover, revenue deficits due to decreased productivity, financial risk, and diminished organization viability because of the impact on quality of care, patient satisfaction, and safety. Culmination of external and internal stressors in health-care worker populations is associated with a higher probability of burnout and workers who reported perceived low workplace flexibility. In addition, workplace flexibility is associated with reduced odds of experiencing burnout. Workplace flexibility plays a critical role in potentially reducing the occurrence of burnout in the health-care worker population. Individually focused solutions are important to mitigate burnout, however, comprehensive organizational change ensures durable and sustainable solutions. There is a correlation between a positive employee outlook and reduced stress when there is a perceived level of control over one's work schedule. The goal of this article is to showcase the process of a successful implementation of a condensed work schedule for an advanced practice provider workforce in infectious diseases in response to burnout and workload shifts. This chronicles the steps of design, rationale, procuring buy-in by stakeholders, and operational implementation of the new schedules. Advanced practice provider satisfaction and burnout were measured by periodic surveys at timepoints along the way.

Trends in acute hospital smoking prevalence and support of campus ban in Dublin, Ireland (1997-2018)

Abstract Background St Vincent's University Hospital (SVUH), a major hospital in Dublin, Ireland pioneered a hospital smoke-free campus policy in 2009; pre/post this intervention it conducted periodic surveys of patients, staff & visitors for smoking prevalence and policy attitudes. As rates of smoking decline nationally in Ireland, it is important to monitor trends for at-risk groups, including lower socioeconomic status (SES). Methods Repeat questionnaires were administered by census surveys of inpatients, quota or random sub-sample surveys of staff, and quota surveys with outpatients and visitors between 1997 and 2018. As a proxy for social deprivation, the rate of inpatients eligible by income for the state-funded General Medical Services (GMS) card was assessed. Chi square test for trend and SPSS v.27 were used for analysis. Results Support for and awareness of the campus smoking ban increased steadily; post ban agreement varied by smoking status (64.7% smokers, 89.7% ex-smokers; 92.5% non-smokers, p = 0.002). Smoking rates declined in all groups but significantly in outpatients (19.5% vs. 10%; p < 0.01), visitors (27.4% vs 9.5%; p < 0.0001) and staff (30.0% vs 10.8%; p < 0.0001). Rates of inpatient GMS entitlement was high at 54.2% average, compared with national rates of approximately 30% in 2021. Rates of smoking were non-significantly higher in GMS entitled inpatients (33.2% vs 26.8%; p = 0.09) across all survey periods. Conclusions While hospital smoking prevalence has decreased and campus ban support persists, the campus is not immune to challenges in keeping it smoke-free. There are many socioeconomically deprived patients who smoke; this in part may reflect a private hospital on the same campus where affluent smokers are more likely to attend. Recent national initiatives for free nicotine replacement therapy and targeted smoking cessation courses in deprived areas work to address inequalities. We are not aware of similar studies in a hospital population over 25 years. Key messages • Periodic hospital smoking surveys show trends in prevalence which mirror the falling national trends in Ireland. • Socioeconomic differences persist in smoking rates among hospital patients.