Hospital Professionals Research Articles

Association between sleep quality and uncertainty stress among healthcare professionals in hospitals in China: a nationwide cross-sectional survey

ObjectivesSleep quality is a critical concern among healthcare professionals, yet the role of uncertainty stress has been inadequately explored. This study aims to explore the associations between sleep quality and...

Advocates' Perception of the Secondary Victimization of Rape Survivors by Law Enforcement, the Legal System, and Hospital Professionals.

Sexual victimization occurs frequently and it remains important to consider rape victim advocates' perceptions of survivors' secondary victimization due to treatment from police, the legal system, and medical professionals working in hospital emergency departments. Data from interviews with 41 U.S. advocates provide a comprehensive perspective of secondary victimization. Most advocates perceive that survivors face secondary victimization because they are doubted or blamed, face repeated questioning, feel left out of the legal processes, experience invasive evidence collection, and do not receive the desired legal outcome. Advocates share their ways to reduce secondary victimization, such as preparing, empowering, and listening to survivors.

Applying a Theory of Change for Human Resources Development in Public Health Supply Chains in Rwanda.

The health supply chain (SC) system in Rwanda experienced a number of workforce-related challenges, including insufficient skilled supply chain management (SCM) professionals with the necessary competencies. The Human Resources for Supply Chain Management (HR4SCM) Theory of Change (TOC) provides a methodology to assess human resources (HR) management systems by explaining the preconditions required to achieve optimized workforce performance. We applied this model to design interventions to strengthen the Rwanda health SC workforce. We compared conditions in the health SC HR system in Rwanda with the 60 outcomes described as necessary for optimized workforce performance in the HR4SCM TOC model. We used a survey and participatory workshop at the central level, followed by structured interviews (N=35) with SC professionals in health centers, hospitals, and regional warehouses (N=20) in Southern Province and Kigali City to identify which outcomes already existed in the Rwandan HR system and which outcomes required strengthening through targeted interventions. We used focus groups (N=2) to refine interventions. We identified that 31 of the 60 outcomes were not sufficiently in place in the Rwandan health SC HR system. SCM workers had gaps in the technical and managerial competencies and did not have access to adequate training and professional development opportunities for certain required competencies. An SCM career path did not exist, and education was not available for all required SCM qualifications. Fourteen of these outcomes were prioritized for strengthening. We designed 20 workforce interventions with the Ministry of Health to address these deficiencies and selected indicators to monitor the interventions. Applying this HR TOC model enabled a systematic process to identify gaps, develop and prioritize interventions, and select indicators. Practitioners designing and evaluating SC workforce interventions should consider applying this methodology to design more effective, theory-driven interventions to improve SC workforce performance.

Trade-off between knowledge-dynamic mechanisms in linking perceived injustice with organizational performance: moderation function of job experience

PurposeThis paper, underpinned by knowledge dynamics theory (KDT), seeks to investigate the pivotal role of knowledge translation mechanisms such as knowledge hiding (KH) and knowledge sharing (KS) in the nexus between perceived organizational injustice (POI) and organizational performance (OP). Furthermore, we examined the moderating effect of job experiences on the nexuses between KH-OP and KS-OP.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 289 hospital professionals at 23 private hospitals in Pakistan using a time-lagged approach. PLS-SEM was run to test hypotheses.FindingsKH and KS significantly established the POI-OP linkage, while employee job experience improved the KH-OP and KS-OP relationships.Practical implicationsFindings suggest that policymakers should develop policies for private hospital employees to reduce perceived injustice by emphasizing equal treatment and transparency in hospitals. Well-formulated policies help reduce perceived injustice, likely encouraging knowledge translation among hospital employees, resulting in increased OP.Originality/valueDrawing on KDT, this paper provides a novel approach for testing knowledge translation mechanisms between POI and OP relationships through pivotal roles of KH and KS and job experiences.

Moral challenges and understanding of clinical ethics in Tanzanian hospitals: Perspectives of healthcare professionals.

Healthcare professionals encounter many moral challenges in their daily clinical practice. However, there have been few studies on the subject matter in Tanzania. This study aims to provide an account of moral challenges faced by healthcare professionals in Tanzanian hospitals, their understanding of clinical ethics, and the ethics education they have received. Many participants reported receiving some kind of ethics training through formal education and on-the-job training. Some participants understood ethics in healthcare settings as adherence to established laws, regulations, guidelines, procedures, norms, and rules essential in clinical practice. Analysis of the data identified four themes of moral challenges. These challenges are related to 1) decision-making and communication in clinical practice, 2) scarcity of medical resources and prioritization in clinical practice, 3) withdrawal of curative treatment, and 4) conflicts between professional judgment, religious convictions and adherence to alternative treatments. Based on the findings, we suggest a context-sensitive form of clinical ethics training to prepare healthcare professionals to recognize and address these moral challenges.

Evaluation of new tobacco dependence training for health care professionals in acute inpatient hospitals

Evaluation of new tobacco dependence training for health care professionals in acute inpatient hospitals

Educational program for nursing professionals of general and psychiatric hospitals in smoking cessation techniques

Educational program for nursing professionals of general and psychiatric hospitals in smoking cessation techniques

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.

A Scoping Review of the Barriers and Facilitators to Clinician Engagement in Hospital-Based Palliative Care in Australian Hospitals.

Background: Current research has shown that inpatient palliative care (PC) services are under-utilized, poorly integrated, and frequently introduced too late during inpatient hospital stays. The aim of this study was to identify a comprehensive list of multi-disciplinary facilitators and barriers to inpatient PC in Australian hospitals through a scoping literature review. Methods: This review identified articles published since 2000 from 3 electronic databases (CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE and Embase), which included discussion of collaboration among non-palliative care clinicians and palliative care professionals in Australian hospitals. We used an inductive approach to identifying key domains of barriers and facilitators. Results: Thirty-four articles met inclusion criteria following full text review. Barriers and facilitators were categorized in 7 domains: (1) Patient concerns, (2) Family concerns, (3) Clinician knowledge, education, and experience in palliative care, (4) Recognition and acceptance of prognosis when a patient was dying or needing end of life treatment, (5) Reconciliation of individual and professional values around PC, (6) Clinician access to resources for PC in the hospital, and (7) Communication between the PC team and ward clinicians. Each domain included potentially substantial barriers to PC delivery and practice. However, given the small sample sizes and specialized settings of many included studies, it was difficult to draw conclusions on the relative significance of different barriers across hospitals. Conclusion: This review identified a number of barriers and facilitators across studies. Subsequent research needs to more comprehensively compare factors impacting PC use in order to improve implementation of PC across hospital settings.

Occupational exposure to Blood and Body Fluids among Healthcare Professionals in a military hospital in Greece: A retrospective single-center study

BackgroundHealthcare Professionel (HCP) worldwide are subjected to various occupational hazards, including exposure to Blood and Body Fluids (BBF). However, with systematic training and supervision, the impact of such incidents can be significantly mitigated. ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the incidence of occupational exposure to BBF among HCPs reported to a military hospital over a five-year period. Additionally, it seeks to explore the characteristics of the affected HCP and the conditions of exposure, and to evaluate HCP’ overall compliance with the hospital's guidelines. MethodsThis is a retrospective, single-center study that includes all self-reported forms submitted from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2023. ResultsThe overall incidence of BBF exposure was 3.05 per 100 full-time employment-years (FTEYs) or 3.01 per 100 HCP per year, whereas the incidence of needlesticks and sharps injuries (NSSIs) was 2.73 per 100 FTEYs or 2.54 per 100 HCPs per year. Overall HCP’ compliance was 34.1%, with an increase from 1.6% in 2019 to 45.9% in 2023. ConclusionsThere is a need for a unified process for the collection of nationwide, longitudinal data on exposure to BBF, as well as for the development of targeted training programs on occupational health and safety for HCP.

Study of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Related to Smoking Among Health Professionals in Public Hospitals in the Department of Dakar in 2021

Introduction: In Senegal, previous studies showed a prevalence of smoking among health professionals of between 11.6 and 12.8%. The general objective was to study smoking among health professionals in public hospitals in the department of Dakar. This was a cross-sectional study with a descriptive and analytical aim, the data collection phase of which took place from October 11 to November 23, 2021. The study population consisted of medical and paramedical staff. We collected 262 cases, i.e. a non-participation rate of 12.67%. Results: The average age of the health workers surveyed was 28.19 %. There were 148 men and women with a sex ratio of 1.30. Thus, 68.3% were single. During our study, the health workers at Abass NDAO Hospital were 110 (42%), 80 (30.5%) at the Principal Hospital in Dakar and 72 (27.5%) at HOGGY. The majority of the workers surveyed (69 cases, 26.3%) were DES or 7th year medical students. The least represented professional category was that of nursing assistants. Thus, 3.4% of the health workers surveyed were current tobacco users compared to 10.2% (26 health workers) who were former users. The average age at which these workers first used tobacco was 16.5 ± 2.5 years. Within the study population, 86% (225 workers) had never used tobacco. Smoked tobacco was the only form used by the subjects surveyed. The average consumption of smoked tobacco was 3.5 ± 0.51 times per day. However, the last attempt to quit was more than a year ago for the majority (5/7) of consumer health workers. The main reason for this attempt (failed) was awareness of the dangers of tobacco consumption (5/7). The main reason (05/07) that justified their tobacco consumption was stress management. All the workers surveyed were unanimous on the dangers of tobacco consumption on health. The consequences of tobacco most cited by the health workers surveyed were lung cancer (224 responses or 85.5% of respondents), COPD (205 or 78.24%) and strokes (165 or 62.98%). Male health workers were more likely to have good knowledge about smoking than female health workers. The agents thus surveyed had for 73.7% (i.e. 193 people) of them an insufficient or weak attitude towards smoking. Conclusion: At the end of our study and in light of the conclusions reached, we make the following suggestions to the health authorities: To organize communication-education sessions during World Tobacco Day.

A custom tailored, evidence-based, theory-informed intervention for healthcare professionals to prevent burnout (LAGOM): study protocol for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial

BackgroundHealthcare professionals in hospitals are exposed to a high level of professional stress, time pressure, workload, and often times poor organizational support. This makes them especially susceptible to burnout. In this pragmatic randomized controlled trial, we test the hypothesis that participation in a 9-week program (LAGOM) that was designed in close collaboration with healthcare professionals, incorporating both individual and organizational aspects reduces emotional exhaustion in healthcare professionals (primary outcome).MethodsEighty four nurses and physicians working at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Immanuel Hospital Berlin are automatically randomized to the LAGOM program (n = 42) or to usual care (n = 42) in a one-to-one allocation rate. The primary outcome emotional exhaustion is measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory—Human Services Survey at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up via an online survey. Secondary outcomes include depersonalization, personal accomplishment, subjective stress, mental well-being, self-care, self-efficacy, working conditions, mindfulness, and adverse events. Electrophysiological measures for heart rate variation analysis are captured. The PRECIS-2 tool is used to characterize the degree of pragmatism in our trial. Data analysis and primary intention-to-treat analysis using repeated measures analysis of variance are performed blind to intervention allocation. Per-protocol, subgroup, and secondary outcome analyses are conducted exploratively. An advisory board consisting of various stakeholders accompanies the study process.DiscussionIf LAGOM proves to be effective in reducing symptoms of burnout, the program could make an important contribution to tackling the problem of the very high burnout rates among healthcare professionals and become an integral part of preventive services offered by hospitals.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00034060. Registered 31 May 2024.

Perception of the Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Practices Among Healthcare Professionals in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform healthcare practices, but the successful adoption of AI depends on the perception and acceptance of healthcare professionals. This study aimed to assess the understanding of AI concepts, recognize the attitude toward AI integration, and identify the barriers to AI adoption among healthcare professionals in a tertiary care hospital. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and paramedics, in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Chengalpattu district, India. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and perceived barriers to AI adoption. The chi-square test was used to analyze the associations between variables. The majorityof the participants, i.e., 54% (n = 108), had moderate knowledge about AI adoption, while 48% (n = 96) had a low attitude toward it.Barriers to the adoption of AI in healthcare practices among healthcare professionals were low among the majority, i.e., 49% (n = 98), of the participants. A statistically significant association was found between knowledge and attitude (X² = 18.052, df = 4, p = 0.001), i.e., healthcare professionals with moderate knowledge levels had low attitudes toward the adoption of AI. A statistically significant association was also found between knowledge and perceived barriers (X² = 31.235, df = 4, p = 0.00), i.e., healthcare professionals with higher knowledge levels perceived lower barriers to the adoption of AI. The study highlights the need for education and training to improve knowledge, foster positive attitudes, and address the perceived barriers to AI adoption among healthcare professionals. Future research should focus on developing targeted interventions to enhance the understanding and acceptance of AI in healthcare practices.

Polish infection control nurses’ burnout in the context of cooperation of different hospital professionals during COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundsInfection control nurses’ job are crucial for patient and healthcare workers safety. However, effective infections prevention is based on the interdisciplinary team work, involving almost all hospital employees professionals. Difficulties in cooperation in such a team, especially prolonged ones, as well as crisis situations, may cause burnout. The aim of the study was to determine burnout among infection control nurses working during the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of difficulties in cooperation with different professionals working in hospitals.MethodsThe observational study was conducted between May and September 2021, using an online survey questionnaire consisting of two parts: describing difficulties in ICNs cooperation with different hospital professionals and Maslach Inventory Burnout scale, describing emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP) and personal accomplishment rates (PA). Correctly completed online surveys were obtained from 177 participants.ResultsMost of the respondents (176 of 177) were women, working in public hospitals (81.48%). All respondents had considerable experience in work as nurses - the median was 30 years. However, the median experience in the ICNs position was 12 years. Median age of respondents was 51 years. The median level of EE was 31.0, w ith the range 23.0 to 39.0. For DP it was 5.0, with the range 3.0 and 11.5, while for PA – 24.0 (19.0–29.0). The highest values of EE were observed in the context of high level of difficulties with cooperation with management – the median was 36.0. DP was lowest among nurses declaring the lowest difficulties in cooperation with doctors. For PA the lowest level was observed in the group declaring high difficulties in the cooperation with doctors – median 22.0, with range 14.0–29.0.ConclusionsThe surveyed ICNs had higher rates of EE and PA than nurses working with patients, both before and during the pandemic. The level of burnout found in the ICN study group reached a level correlating in other studies with the intention to quit the job. The obtained results indicate the need to include effective training in the skills of working in multidisciplinary teams and the art of communication and achieving goals by ICNs.

Quality improvement project (QIP): evaluating a pilot suicide awareness, screening and signposting training intervention for dental care professionals in a dental teaching hospital and school

Scotland’s 2022 suicide prevention strategy recommends building skills and knowledge among healthcare staff who play a role in preventing suicide. A quality improvement project (QIP) in relation to this was...

What has the appraisal for hospitals brought to job satisfaction of healthcare professionals? A cross-sectional survey in China

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of hospital appraisals, specifically the Performance Appraisal for Tertiary Public Hospitals (PATPH), and to examine its impact on the job...

HUBUNGAN AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP DENGAN KEPUASAN KERJA PERAWAT DI RUMAH SAKIT AKADEMIK UNIVERSITAS GADJAH MADA

Background: The low level of satisfaction of health professionals in hospitals is one of the most common problems in various parts of the world, including in Indonesia. Health care organizations are increasingly relying on the nursing profession to manage dynamic and complex health care by providing effective leadership. Authentic leadership gained considerable recognition as a new form of leadership style. Authentic leadership able to increase trust and encourage employees to follow the directions needed to achieve the vision and mission of the organization. This also leads to a significant positive influence on the commitment of subordinates to their superiors so that employees feel satisfied with the organization where they belong. Objective: Analyze relationships of authentic leadership with job satisfaction of nurses at RSA UGM. Method: This research is a mixed method sequential explanatory which aims to use qualitative results to assist in explaining and interpreting quantitative research findings. The design of this research is a cross sectional survey. The quantitative research population consisted of 205 nurses working at the UGM RSA and the qualitative research population consisted of the management of the UGM RSA with four people. Quantitative research measuring tool using Authentic Leadership Questionnaire (ALQ) and McCloskey/Mueller Satisfaction Scale (MMSS). Qualitative research uses in-depth interviews. Results: Research produces a relationship between authentic leadership with job satisfaction of nurses at RSA UGM. Level Authentic leadership UGM RSA nurses are classified into three namely very low, low and high. While the job satisfaction of nurses at RSA UGM is at moderate and high levels. Conclusion: There is a relationship between authentic leadership and job satisfaction of nurses at RSA UGM. The dimensions of Authentic leadership that is dominant is balanced processing. The most influential factor in nurse job satisfaction is nurse colleagues. Keywords: Authentic Leadership, Nurse Job Satisfaction, Authentic Leadership Questionnaire (ALQ), McCloskey/Mueller Satisfaction Scale (MMSS).

Prioritising nurses’ and doctors’ health at work: a scoping review of monitoring instruments

ObjectiveNurses’ and doctors’ health at work is crucial for their overall performance and the quality of care they provide. The Jobs Demands Resources (JD-R) model offers a framework for health...

Chinese expert consensus on treatment and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease combined with pneumoconiosis

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often co-exists with other diseases (comorbidities), of which pneumoconiosis is an important one. The interaction between pneumoconiosis and COPD is manifested in the risk of disease, severity of disease, risk of acute exacerbation and the disease progression, and pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatment options. At present, there is a general lack of understanding of COPD complications in clinical practice, and there is a lack of clear clinical guidance for diagnosis and management of COPD patients with pneumoconiosis. Based on clinical evidence and experience, and the writing group puts forward five recommendations to improve the recognition and management of COPD patients with pneumoconiosis for medical professionals in hospitals at different levels, particularly in primary medical institutions.

Enhancing awareness and efficacy of palliative care consultation through educational intervention among healthcare professionals in a tertiary hospital: A promotional education study.

186 Background: Palliative Care Consultation (PCC) has demonstrated efficacy in augmenting patient quality of life, diminishing hospitalization durations, lowering medical costs, and improving survival outcomes. Despite its benefits, there still remains low awareness of PCC in Korea, with healthcare professionals (HPs) treating terminal cancer patients often lacking knowledge about it. Thus, we aimed to assess the awareness of PCC among HPs in a tertiary hospital, subsequently implementing targeted educational interventions to ascertain their impact through a survey. Methods: Face-to-face instructional session focusing on PCC was administered to HPs by palliative care professional. The datasets from pre- and post- education questionnaires of a cohort comparing 120 participants were subjected to analysis. Utilizing t-test, we evaluated the statistical significance of score variations observed before and subsequent to the educational intervention. Results: Within the participants, 61.7% of the HPs reported having experience with PCC. Preliminary survey results indicated that 11.8% were “Completely unaware” of PCC, while 37.8% possessed “unaware”. The mean scores demonstrated an improvement in knowledge of PCC from 18.04 pre-education to 19.84 post-education. ( P=0.003). Conclusions: Through promotional education, an enhancement in knowledge levels regarding PCC was observed. Emphasizing sustained concern in CPC is essential to ensure that palliative care recipients receive appropriate care at the optimal time.