Hospital Personnel Research Articles

Effect of Standard versus Advanced Dimmable Lighting Systems on the Circadian Rhythms of Hospital Personnel

Effect of Standard versus Advanced Dimmable Lighting Systems on the Circadian Rhythms of Hospital Personnel

A Comparative Study of the Incidence and Severity of Surgical Site Infection Following Emergency and Elective Abdominal Surgeries in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Surgical site infection is a medical condition that develops up to 30 days after the surgery if no implants have been placed, and as long as 12 months if the patient has an implant device. SSIs pose a substantial barrier to healing and resumption of normal activities. SSIs and its side-effects have been noted as one of their primary contributors to the morbidity following surgery. This study will look at the incidence and severity of infections at the surgical site after both emergency and elective abdominal surgery. Methods: This is prospective observational research in patients who underwent Surgeries in either elective or emergency settings. Southampton wound assessment scale and the ASEPSIS wound scoring system were used in grouping the patients with SSI followed by each patient's SSI type was further recorded. The study also documented other factors, such as hospital stay and interventions. Results: There were one fifty participants in this study. 23 patients experienced SSI (6 elective cases and 17 emergency cases), while 127 people did not. The pathogens most commonly cultured were coagulase negative staphylococcus (CoNS, 8 cases), after which came Escheria coli. (4 cases). Conclusion: A higher prevalence of SSI is linked to factors including the patient's advancing age, a dirty wound, prolonged surgery, usage of drains, nutritional deficiency, anemia, and diabetes. The hospital personnel need to be more careful about following aseptic procedures and have more awareness of infection management.

Factors Associated with Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Personnel to Use Objective and Key Results (OKRs) in Thammasat University Hospital

Background: Objective and key results (OKRs) was a strategic tool to drive the organization to achieve a goal. Goals are concomitant and come from leaders and personnel. Most hospital management studies are conducted in a qualitative approach. Objective: To evaluate the association of knowledge, attitudes, practices, personal factor (PF), and perceived organizational support (POS) of OKRs in quantitative approach. Materials and Methods: The present study was a descriptive study conducted at Thammasat University Hospital (TUH), Pathum Thani, Thailand between March and April 2024. Participants were TUH personnel. Self-filling questionnaires were applied and signed written informed consent after thoroughly counselled. Questionnaires consisted of POS, knowledge, attitudes, and practices questions. PF was also collected. Results: Two hundred and twenty-one participants were recruited. Most participant (192 out of 221) were female. Three-quarters (149 out of 221) of the participants had more than ten years’ experience. Eighty-six percent (192 out of 221) of the participants had an educational level equal to or higher than bachelor. Mean knowledge, attitudes, and practices of participants were 9.5±0.6, 3.9±0.4, and 3.7±0.4, respectively. PF was not associated with POS and practices. Hospital personnel with more than 20 years seniority had OKRs’ knowledge less than those less than 10 years seniority (b= –0.21, p=0.04). Monthly income and work experience were significantly positive and negative associated with attitudes at b=0.17 and –0.15, respectively. POS was not associated with attitudes and knowledge. Practice was associated with POS, with statistical significance (b=0.20, p<0.001). Conclusion: OKRs knowledge decreased with work experience. Attitude was associated with high monthly income and reverse associated with work experience. POS was significantly associated with the practice. There was no association between PF and practice, PF and POS, POS and attitude, and POS and knowledge. This study provided guidelines for recognizing organizational support in implementing OKRs and improving processes to ensure efficiency and staff involvement. Management should establish clear policies involving personnel at all levels.

Organisation and management of multi-professional care for cancer patients at end-of-life: state-of-the-art from a survey to community and hospital-based professionals.

Providing timely and satisficing End-of-Life care (EOLC) is a priority for healthcare systems since aging population and chronic diseases are boosting the global demand for care at end-of-life (EOL). In OECD countries the access to EOLC is insufficient. In Italy, the average rate of cancer patients assisted by the palliative care (PC) network at EOL was 28% in 2021, with high variability in the country. Among theItalian regions offering the best coverages, Tuscany has a rate of about 40%, but intraregional variation is marked as well. The study aims to explore the delivery of EOLC to adult cancer patients in public facilities in the Tuscany region through survey data collection among professionals. Two online surveys were delivered to Directors of community-based PC Functional-Units (FUs) and Directors of hospital-based medical-oncology units. All FU Directors responded to the survey (n = 14), and a response rate of 96% was achieved from hospital-unit Directors (n = 27). The results highlight the availability of numerous dedicated services, but reveal heterogeneity among and within organisations, including variations in the professionals involved, pathways, and tools adopted. Care continuity is supported by institutionalized collaboration between hospital and community settings, but hindered by fragmented care processes and heterogeneous transition pathways. Late referral to PC is perceived as a major constraint to EOLC. Developing structured pathways for patient transition to end-stage PC is crucial, and practices/processes should be uniformly implemented to ensure equity. Multi-professional care should be facilitated through tailored supporting tools. Both hospital-unit and FU Directors suggest developing shared pathways between organisations/professionals (82% and 80% respectively) and digital information sharing (61% and 80% respectively). Hospital and community-based professionals have similar perceptions about the concerns and challenges to EOLC provision in the region, but community-based professionals are more sensitive to the importance of improving communication on PC to the public and early discussing EOLC with caregivers. This finding suggests the need of enhancing hospital personnel's awareness about these issues. Professional training and the capacity to assess patients' needs and preferences should be improved. The identified needs can inform future research and interventions to improve the quality and outcomes of EOLC for cancer patients.

Monitoring and Analysis of Human Activities Using Heterogeneous Sensors in the Gas Room of a Hospital

Every hospital relies on the gas pipeline system. There are common three types of gases are used: oxygen, nitrogen, and nitrous oxide. Each type of gas is critical in many departments, including the operating room and intensive care unit. Gas room administrators, such as engineers or hospital personnel, are just as important as gas rooms. If something happens to engineers or personnel, an unattended gas room may malfunction and cause trouble in the hospital. Therefore, we proposed a monitoring system with a human activity surveillance project using accelerometer sensors, video images, and gas sensors. This system can collect all the signals used for the analysis of the posture or activities of the personnel who examine the gas in the gas room. We also developed surveillance in the event of an unexpected event in the gas room.

Work engagement and organizational justice of nursing staff during COVID-19

During COVID-19 health crisis, the working conditions for nursing personnel in public hospitals were modified, nevertheless some factors remained present contributing to maintain their willingness to accomplish their duties. This article aims to analyze the effect of the pandemic on the Work Engagement and Organizational Justice of nursing staff in a public hospital. A quantitative correlational study that applied an online questionnaire to nursing personnel who remained active during the COVID-19 pandemic at a public hospital located in northwestern Mexico. In this study the 17-item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale was used to assess Work Engagement, and the 40-item Colquitt scale was used to assess Organizational Justice. For test the differences between before and during the pandemic an ANOVA for repeated measurements or a t-Student test was used. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. A SPSS v21 software was used for statistical calculations. During the pandemic, a slight decrease in the Work Engagement of the nursing staff, without changes in the Engajamento no Trabalho were observed. For staff with lower academic degrees, the decrease in Work Engagement was greater. In Work Engagement`s dimensions vigor and dedication decreased significantly; these dimensions decreased to a greater degree among nursing staff with a lower academic degree or a lower job status. The nursing staff showed few variations in their levels of Work Engagement and Organizational Justice during the COVID-19 health crisis, confirming what other authors have found about their high level of vocational sense. Also, the perception of nursing personnel regarding what is fair from managers remained despite the pandemic. The COVID pandemic had a mild effect on Work Engagement and Organizational Justice in nursing staff of a public hospital.

Improving the quality of clinical training in maternal and neonatal health in undergraduate nursing students: a participatory action research

BackgroundImproving the quality of clinical training is synonymous with accomplishing nursing education goals and improving the quality of nursing care. This study aimed to improve the quality of clinical training in Maternal and Neonatal Health (MNH) in nursing students.MethodsThis action research was conducted in two cycles from June 2017 to June 2018. The study setting was the School of Nursing and Midwifery of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences in southwest Iran. The participants were nursing students, faculty members, clinical trainers, educational managers, and teaching personnel. In the first cycle, semi-structured interviews were held with stakeholders to identify clinical problems and improvement strategies. Based on the results of these sessions, the changes needed to improve the quality of clinical training were planned and implemented. The weaknesses and strengths of the implemented changes were then identified through group discussions with the stakeholders. In the second cycle, a second plan was carried out to correct the weaknesses of the changes planned in the first cycle, and the modifications were implemented and evaluated.ResultsThe main three categories extracted included an unsystematic curriculum and inadequate monitoring, inadequate resources and facilities, and the student’s lack of motivation. The measures taken for improvement included holding communication workshops, developing and internalizing logbooks, reducing the number of students in clinical training groups, using modern clinical training methods, and changing clinical evaluation methods.ConclusionImproving communication skills among the students, trainers, and hospital personnel and using modern clinical training methods, such as conceptual maps, triple jumps, and clinical skill centers, are the best strategies for improving clinical training in MNH nursing students.

Police Involvement in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Qualitative Exploration of Law Enforcement Roles and Contributing Organizational Factors

Objectives Many American police organizations respond to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). This study sought to: 1) explore variation in the role of police in OHCA across emergency medical systems and 2) identify factors influencing this variation. Methods We conducted a qualitative multisite case study analysis using data collected through semi-structured key informant interviews and multidisciplinary focus groups with telecommunicators, fire, police, emergency medical services, and hospital personnel across nine Michigan emergency systems of care. Sites were sampled based on return of spontaneous circulation rates, trauma region, geography, rurality, and population density. Data were analyzed to examine police role in OHCA and the organizational factors that contribute to these roles. Transcripts and coded data were explored using iterative thematic analysis and matrices. Results Interviews included approximately 160 public safety informants of varying administrative levels (i.e., field staff, mid-level managers, and leadership). Across systems, police played four on-scene roles in OHCA response: 1) early responder, 2) resuscitation team member, 3) security, and 4) information gathering. Less consistently, police performed supplementary roles as telecommunicators and cardiac arrest educators. We found that factors including administrative structure of the police agency, resources (e.g., human and material), organizational culture, medical training, deployment and response policies, nature of response environment, and relationships with other prehospital stakeholders contributed to the degree certain roles were present. Conclusions Police serve numerous on-scene and supplementary roles in OHCA response across jurisdictions. Their roles were influenced by multiple factors at each site. Future studies may help to better understand the value of and how to optimize police engagement in OHCA response.

Knowledge and Practice on Hospital Acquired Infections of Tertiary Care Hospital at Dhaka City; Staff Nurse’s Perspective

Introduction: In hospital patients, infections continue to develop and may also be affected by hospital personnel despite progress in the field of public health and hospital care. Infection among hospitable patients is encouraged by many factors: reduced immunity among patients; increasing variety of medical procedures and invasive techniques that lead to potential routes for infection; and transmission among crowded hospital populations of drug-resistant bacteria, where low infect control practices can facilitate transmission. Nosocomial infections occur globally and affect developing countries as well as poor- resource countries. The major causes of death and increased morbidity include infections acquired in health care.  Objective: To find out the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Staff nurses on Hospital Acquired Infections in tertiary care Hospital of Dhaka city.  Method: The study was conducted by Cross sectional, descriptive quantitative research study design with 133 samples included with the inclusion criteria. Data were collected by face to face interviewed method.  Results: Among of the participants, the majority of the nurses were Diploma in Nursing 64.4%, B.Sc. in Nursing 23.7% and MPH/M.Sc. were 11.9%. Distribution of the participants by level of knowledge on hospital acquired infections (n=133), Here the most of the participants had moderate 46% (n=61) knowledge about hospital acquired infections.  Conclusion: Most of the nurses do not have a perfect knowledge about hospital acquired infection control. Therefore, it must be necessary that to learn the knowledge, control and prevention of hospital acquired infections. We also must be known how can use medical personnel about the prevention and control of HAIs according to world standards. Another way of gain knowledge from training, Presentation, academic courses, posters, and conferences.

Occupational radiation exposure among medical personnel in university and general hospitals in Japan.

This study aimed to compare the occupational radiation exposure of medical workers between general hospitals and university hospitals. Radiation exposure data from three hospitals in Hiroshima city, including one university hospital and two general hospitals, were collected using personal dosimeters. Monthly radiation doses were analyzed, and the annual sum of radiation exposure dose was calculated for 538 subjects in general hospitals and 1224 subjects in the university hospital. To assess the impact of locality, additional data from Nagasaki University Hospital and Fukushima Medical University Hospital were included for comparative analysis. Professional affiliations, such as doctors, nurses, and radiological technologists, were considered in the evaluation. The study revealed slight but significant differences in radiation doses between general and university hospitals. In general hospitals, except for radiological technologists, a slightly higher radiation dose was observed compared to university hospitals. Despite the annual increase in the use of medical radiation, the majority of hospital workers in both settings adhered to safety guidelines, with occupational radiation exposure remaining below the limit of detection (LOD). Workers who involved in fluoroscopic procedure, whether at university or general hospitals, had higher radiation doses than those who did not. The study's primary conclusion is that workers in general hospitals experience a slight but significantly higher radiation dose and a lower percentage below the LOD compared to university hospitals. The observed difference is attributed to the greater workload at general hospitals than at university hospitals, and also may be due to the different nature of university hospital and general hospital. University hospitals, characterized by greater academic orientation, tend to benefit from comprehensive support systems, specialized expertise, and advanced technology, leading to more structured and regulated radiation control. These findings provide a basis for targeted interventions, improved safety protocols.

Gender gap among plastic surgery residents: the Italian experience

Aim: Despite the significant increase in the proportion of graduating female physicians in recent decades, gender representation in surgical training remains imbalanced. The initial rise in female interest in plastic surgery has reached a plateau. Gender bias, affecting women’s confidence and opportunities, negatively impacts training and career prospects. This study aims to quantify and analyze disparities in surgical training opportunities, workplace treatment, and career advancement among male and female plastic surgery residents in Italy. Methods: Our study involved all Italian plastic surgery residents contacted between February and March 2024. A 21-item survey assessed professional, surgical, and personal aspects, focusing on gender gap differences. Responses were expressed in percentages and compared utilizing the Fisher Exact test. Results: A total of 551 surveys were distributed to Italian plastic surgery residents, with 46 responses each among women and men. Gender disparities persisted in workplace treatment, with more women reporting discrimination. Significant differences were identified in treatment inequality by hospital personnel and patients, the occurrence of inappropriate comments in the workplace, inquiries regarding work-life balance and career advancement opportunities, an augmented gender gap in surgical vs . clinical programs, and the perception of a negative impact of gender on surgical training. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study emphasizes the pervasive gender inequality in plastic surgery training, urging action against systemic biases hindering female surgeons’ progress. Gender equity efforts should combat discrimination, promote work-life balance, and foster inclusive training environments. Addressing these issues can create a field that empowers all surgeons to thrive.

Psychological Effect of COVID-19 on Health of Medical Personnel in Hospitals in Eldoret Town, Kenya

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) greatly affected medical personnel. Researchers have documented the detrimental effects of COVID-19 on the health of medical personnel, among them being high levels of infection and mortality, significant financial strains, anxiety related to both known and unknown information, and fear of ongoing impact and uncertainty. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of COVID-19 on the psychological health of medical personnel. The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive research design and was anchored on the Stress and Coping Theory. They targeted all 18 hospitals in Eldoret, comprising 3 public and 15 private hospitals. The population included 34 doctors, 55 laboratory technicians, 71 clinical officers, and 219 nurses, totalling 379 as a population under study. A sample size representing 50% of the total population was selected for the study. In a proportionate way, doctors, laboratory technicians, clinical officers, and nurses were selected at a ratio of 1:2:3:4, respectively. The snowball sampling technique was used to select respondents. The data was gathered through a questionnaire. The study's findings were analysed quantitatively. Multiple linear regressions were applied to examine the effect of COVID-19 on the health of medical personnel. Findings indicated that the psychological effect of COVID-19 had a positive and significant influence on the health of medical personnel (β1 =.646, P< 0.05). Highlighting the profound psychological effects, the majority (77.7%) experienced stress. Therefore, COVID-19 had profound psychological effects on the health of medical personnel in hospitals in Eldoret town. There is a need to implement and expand psychological support programs tailored to the needs of medical personnel. Providing access to counselling services, stress management workshops, and peer support groups could help address the psychological challenges faced by medical personnel in responding to crises such as the pandemic.

Nutrition literacy level of medical personnel in tertiary hospitals: evidence from a cross-sectional study

BackgroundNutrition literacy (NL), stemming from health literacy, profoundly influences dietary habits and chronic diseases. Despite their pivotal societal role, scant research exists on NL levels among medical personnel. This study examined NL levels among tertiary hospital medical staff in Bengbu and identified influencing factors.MethodsUsing cluster sampling, all Bengbu tertiary hospitals were selected, with 4–5 departments randomly chosen. A structured questionnaire assessed demographic characteristics, while the NL short-form scale (NL-SF12) evaluated NL. SPSS 26.0 and AMOS conducted statistical analysis, including confirmatory factor analysis and Cronbach’s α for reliability. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyzed group differences and influencing factors.ResultsThe NL-SF12 demonstrated robust reliability and validity. Of participants, 34.22% were male and 65.78% female; 41.03% were doctors and 42.16% nurses. Overall, 45.68% exhibited high NL. Females showed higher total NL (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.08–1.98), cognition (OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.22–2.24), skills (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.09-2.00), and interactive NL (OR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.53–3.19) than males. Those with a master’s or higher had higher total NL (OR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.33–3.65) and cognition (OR = 3.23, 95% CI: 1.94–5.37) than those with an associate degree or less. Pharmacists, inspectors, and technicians had higher total NL (OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.06–2.26) and functional NL (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.02–2.17). Gender, education level, and career were the influencing factors of nutrition literacy among medical personnel.ConclusionsFemale medical staff and those with a master’s degree or higher showed higher nutrition literacy (NL), particularly in cognition and skills. Pharmacists, inspectors, and other technicians exhibited higher levels of total NL and functional NL. Gender, education level, and career were identified as significant influencing factors of nutrition literacy among medical personnel. Understanding and considering these factors are crucial for developing targeted strategies to enhance nutrition literacy among healthcare professionals. Future efforts to improve nutrition literacy through training and interventions should be tailored to the characteristics of different groups to effectively enhance the capabilities and proficiency of healthcare professionals in nutrition knowledge and practice.

Obstetric transport in rural settings: Referral and transport of pregnant patients in a state without a perinatal regionalized system of care.

To assess factors impacting obstetric transport and referral processes for pregnant patients experiencing an emergency in a rural state without a perinatal regionalized system of care. Data is from Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) without obstetric units and healthcare providers involved in obstetric care and transport at hospitals with varying levels of obstetric capacity in Montana. This mixed-methods study involved surveying CAHs without obstetric units about the hospitals' capacity for obstetric emergencies and transport policies. Survey data were collected from 32 of 34 CAHs without obstetric units (94% response rate) in the fall of 2021. Subsequent interviews were conducted in the fall and winter of 2022-2023 with 20 hospital and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel to provide further insights into the referral and transport process during obstetric emergencies. Survey data were collected using REDCap; interviews were conducted via videoconference. We performed descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact tests for quantitative data. We analyzed qualitative data using a three-phase pragmatic analytic approach. The survey of CAHs found 12 of 32 facilities faced difficulties coordinating transport for pregnant patients. Qualitative data indicated this was often due to the state's decentralized transport system. Challenges identified through both quantitative and qualitative data included weather, securing a receiving facility/provider, and coordinating medical transport. Only 10 CAHs reported having written protocols for transporting pregnant patients; of those, four facilities had formal transfer agreements. Qualitative data emphasized variations in awareness and the utility of obstetric transport policies. A decentralized transport system in a rural state can exacerbate existing challenges faced by providers arranging transport for pregnant patients during an obstetric emergency. State and interfacility policies could enhance the transport process for increased regionalization as well as increased support for and coordination of existing EMS.

Understanding of Nurses as Causative Factor of Physical Health, Mental Health and Emotional Aspect of Nurses in Local Government Hospital

Nurses facilitate the entire health care journey from hospital admission to discharge. This role gives them unique perspective and power to drive positive patient outcomes. However, understaffing of nursing personnel in local government hospital is causative factor that leads to resignations, change of profession, moving to another hospital with a higher salary, and migration to other countries. Thereby intensifying the shortage in local government hospitals like Ospital ng Lungsod ng San Jose Del Monte of Bulacan. Qualitative narrative research method was used in this study. Interview guide questions were validated by experts in the academe with chosen nurse supervisors, head nurses and staff nurses as participants. The study affirmed the opinions and ideas of the nurses on understaffing in the Ospital ng Lungsod ng San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. Moreover, this study revealed the negative effects of understaffing in the physical health, mental health and emotional challenges of nurses in the said hospital. Based on the results of the study enhancement of policies on the nurse staffing towards the well-being of nurses was framed.

Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Association Factors Among Operating Room Personnel of Ahvaz Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder among healthcare specialty nurses. Operating room staff are particularly susceptible to experiencing low back pain due to the nature of their work. Objectives: We conducted a study to investigate the prevalence of low back pain and the factors associated with it. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 323 operating room staff from five hospitals affiliated with Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. Data was collected using a questionnaire developed by Tavakol et al. This questionnaire included demographic information and assessed the prevalence and dimensions of low back pain. The data was analyzed using IBM SPSS v.26. Results: The results showed that the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) was 74.3%. In this study, 64.8% of the personnel were women, 63.5% were married, and 72.4% had a bachelor's degree. Additionally, 87% had no history of smoking. The average age was 33.83 ± 7.02 years. There was a significant relationship between the prevalence of LBP and gender (P = 0.044), marital status (P = 0.0001), BMI (P = 0.008), age (P = 0.0001), shift work (P = 0.001), work experience (P = 0.0001), and the average number of shifts (P = 0.037). Conclusions: We found a high prevalence of LBP among operating room personnel, which is related to both individual and occupational factors. Our recommendations for nursing managers include modifying work shifts, allocating less physically demanding tasks to senior personnel and females, and implementing educational programs that focus on improving ergonomics and reducing physical strain.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding medical waste management among operation room personnel in a tertiary hospital.

Medical waste management (MWM) is of concern to the medical and surgical communities in the hospital. Adequate knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding the management of healthcare waste are important for the proper handling and disposal by physicians and healthcare workers. The aim of this study was an assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding medical waste management among operation room personnel in a tertiary hospital. This study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted at a single-center government Comprehensive Specialized Hospital operation room from 1-30 September 2022. All specialty operation room healthcare personnel consenting to cooperate and participate were included in the study. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS. The results were presented in texts, tables and graphs. From 130 operation room personnel, the results revealed that the majority of the total respondents were male (83.1%). Only 30 (23.1%) of the respondents were involved in training, whereas 100 (76.9%) of the study participants have not participated in training. It was found that 86 (66.2%) of the respondents had good knowledge, 113 (86.9%) of the respondents had a good attitude, and 27 (20.8%) of the respondents had good practice. The authors' study reveals that the majority of study participants have a moderate level of knowledge, a good level of attitude, and poor levels of practice, according to Bloom's cut-off point. The institution should more fully implement the training for operation room personnel to improve their level of knowledge and practice of medical waste management.

Hospital personnel perspectives on factors influencing acute care patient outcomes: a qualitative approach to model refinement

BackgroundHealth systems have long been interested in the best practices for staffing in the acute care setting. Studies on staffing often focus on registered nurses and nurse-to-patient staffing ratios. There were fewer studies on the relationship between interprofessional team members or contextual factors such as hospital and community characteristics and patient outcomes. This qualitative study aimed to refine an explanatory model by soliciting hospital personnel feedback on staffing and patient outcomes.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis to understand hospital personnel’s perspectives and experiences of factors that affect acute care inpatient outcomes. Interviews were conducted in 2022 with 38 hospital personnel representing 19 hospitals across Washington state in the United States of America.ResultsFindings support a model of characteristics impacting patient outcomes to include the complex and interconnected relationships between community, hospital, patient, and staffing characteristics. Within the model, patient characteristics were positioned into hospital characteristics, and in turn these were positioned within community characteristics to highlight the importance of setting and context when evaluating outcomes. Together, these factors influenced both staff characteristics and patient outcomes, but these two categories also share a direct relationship.ConclusionFindings can be applied to hospitals and health systems in a variety of contexts to examine how external factors such as community resource availability impact care delivery. Future research should expand on this work with specific attention to how staffing changes and interprofessional team composition can improve patient outcomes.

New technologies for organizing the work of middle and junior medical personnel

The article presents new technologies for organizing the work of nursing and junior medical personnel in an infectious diseases hospital. Methods for freeing nurses from functions unusual for them are described, and changes in the content of the activities of a nurse interacting with other departments of a multidisciplinary hospital are given.

Impaired metal perception and regulation of associated human foliate papillae tongue transcriptome in long-COVID-19

Chemosensory impairment is an outstanding symptom of SARS-CoV-2 infections. We hypothesized that measured sensory impairments are accompanied by transcriptomic changes in the foliate papillae area of the tongue. Hospital personnel with known SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) status completed questionnaires on sensory perception (n = 158). A subcohort of n = 141 participated in forced choice taste tests, and n = 43 participants consented to donate tongue swabs of the foliate papillae area for whole transcriptome analysis. The study included four groups of participants differing in IgG levels (≥ 10 AU/mL = IgG+; < 10 AU/mL = IgG-) and self-reported sensory impairment (SSI±). IgG+ subjects not detecting metallic taste had higher IgG+ levels than IgG+ participants detecting iron gluconate (p = 0.03). Smell perception was the most impaired biological process in the transcriptome data from IgG+/SSI+ participants subjected to gene ontology enrichment. IgG+/SSI+ subjects demonstrated lower expression levels of 166 olfactory receptors (OR) and 9 taste associated receptors (TAS) of which OR1A2, OR2J2, OR1A1, OR5K1 and OR1G1, as well as TAS2R7 are linked to metallic perception. The question raised by this study is whether odorant receptors on the tongue (i) might play a role in metal sensation, and (ii) are potential targets for virus-initiated sensory impairments, which needs to be investigated in future functional studies.