Prolonged Working Hours Research Articles

The compensatory protective effects of organizational and supervisor support for nurses’ morale in sickness presenteeism: a three-way moderated mediation model

PurposeThe present study explored sickness presenteeism as a linchpin connecting prolonged working hours to elevated turnover intention among hospital nurses (mediation). In addition, we examined the joint moderating effects of organizational health care support and supervisor support on the second stage of the “long working hours-presenteeism-turnover” process (three-way moderated mediation).Design/methodology/approachWe conducted a two-wave survey to collect data over a four-month period from hospital nurses in Taiwan. The final sample for analysis had 294 nurses.FindingsWe found that presenteeism partially mediated the elevated turnover intention after working long hours four months later. We also found a significant three-way moderation effect of organizational health care support and supervisor support on the positive relationship between presenteeism and turnover intention. Specifically, nurses reported the lowest turnover intention with high levels of both organizational healthcare and supervisor support, the highest turnover intention with both support being low, and the intermediate level of turnover intention when any one of the support was high.Practical implicationsOrganizations should build a positive work environment through organizational health care support and supervisor support to retain talents.Originality/valueOur findings suggested that support resources of different origins (organization-level vs line supervisor) can compensate for one another to protect the employees in demanding work conditions. Our moderated mediation model exploring the psychosocial context of presenteeism has theoretical contributions pivoting on the interplay of resources at different levels in the organization as well as practical implications for presenteeism management.

The 2024 Olympics: Confronting Human Rights Violations , Global Tensions , and Trans Athlete Participation.

As we anticipate the 2024 Paris Olympics, it is imperative to examine the multifaceted consequences of human rights abuses in host nations, particularly in relation to the treatment of migrant workers involved in the construction and preparation for the Games. These workers often endure exploitative conditions, including insufficient wages, prolonged working hours, and hazardous work environments. This raises significant ethical questions about the obligations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and host nations in ensuring that the Games not only promote athletic excellence but also safeguard the fundamental rights and dignity of all individuals involved.

Pharmaceutical Neuroenhancement in the Quest for Worth at Work

This article examines the use of psychoactive substances for cognitive enhancement in the context of work. By drawing upon existing qualitative research and sociological theories on meaningful work, valuation, and human agency, I explore cultural and institutional processes encouraging individuals to engage in such practices and argue that pharmaceutical neuroenhancement aids them in navigating contemporary workplaces characterized by increasingly more fragile autonomy, dignity, and recognition. Simultaneously, dominant criteria of worth generate individual worth based on achievement, self‐reliance, and material success. This interplay between institutional orders and public culture creates conditions of possibility for future‐oriented agency that resorts to pharmaceuticals as an instrument of anticipating and mitigating risks such as failure to perform, job loss due to inadequate performance, or accidents and mistakes. Often, they are attributed to individual workers' imperfections rather than to prolonged working hours or a stressful work environment. I conclude that, in the context of fragile meaningful work at the organizational level, pharmaceutical neuroenhancement becomes a tool to struggle for meaningfulness—work autonomy, dignity, and recognition—at the agent level.

The association of physical activity with kidney function risk among adults with long working hours.

Long working hours are likely associated with the decreased of kidney function, while physical activity (PA) was linked to improvements in kidney function. However, whether PA can offset the negative impact of long working hours on kidney function was unclear, which is the focus of this study. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Three approaches were adopted to distinguish the association between long working hours and regular working hours. Moderate to vigorous physical activity (PA) was assessed by a structured questionnaire. eGFR and chronic kidney disease (CKD) or not were utilized to evaluate the kidney function. Linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between weekly working hours, PA, and kidney function. A total of 18,431 adults were enrolled in this study, including 9981 males (54.2%) and 8450 females (45.8%). The average eGFR was (99.54 ± 17.55 mL/min/1.73 m2). The people worked more than 40 h/wk (98.89 ± 17.06 mL/min/1.73 m2) had lower eGFR compared to those worked less than 40 h/wk (99.93 ± 17.83 mL/min/1.73 m2) (p < 0.05). Individuals working longer hours exhibited lower eGFR (β= -0.772, 95% CI: -1.241, -0.303, for > 40 h/wk compared to working ≤ 40 h/wk). Engagement in moderate to vigorous PA was associated with higher eGFR values (β = 1.159, 95% CI: 0.699, 1.619) compared to low PA (< 150 minutes/wk), but this association did not reach statistical significance for the prevalence of CKD. Furthermore, PA was insufficient to reverse the decline of eGFR related to prolonged working hours. Prolonged working hours were associated with a decline in eGFR, while PA was found to have a protective effect on kidney function. However, PA alone may not fully mitigate the negative impact of prolonged working hours on renal health. More robust measures to protect renal function should be implemented to mitigate the damage caused by prolonged working hours.

Assessment of Lateral Epicondylitis in Butchers in Islamabad

Background: Lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, is a common overuse injury affecting the extensor muscles of the forearm, particularly in professions requiring repetitive manual tasks, such as butchery.Objective: To assess the prevalence of lateral epicondylitis among butchers in Islamabad and its association with occupational risk factors.Methods: A correlational study was conducted between February and July 2022, involving 205 butchers selected through convenience sampling. Participants with at least one year of work experience were included, while those with pre-existing injuries or diabetes were excluded. Data were collected using the Pain Rating Scale, DASH questionnaire, and Cozen’s test. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed using SPSS version 25, with a significance level of 0.05.Results: The prevalence of lateral epicondylitis was 23.41% (n=48). Butchers working more than 9 hours daily had a significantly higher prevalence (p=0.001). Mild to moderate pain was reported by 26.3% to 21.5% of participants, particularly in the arm and shoulder.Conclusion: The study found a high prevalence of lateral epicondylitis among butchers, linked to prolonged working hours and repetitive tasks. Ergonomic interventions and work modifications are recommended to reduce risk.

Estimating work engagement from online chat tools

The Covid-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-Cov2- virus, has transformed our lives. To combat the spread of the infection, remote work has become a widespread practice. However, this shift has led to various work-related problems, including prolonged working hours, mental health issues, and communication difficulties. One particular challenge faced by team members is the inability to accurately gauge the work engagement (WE) levels of subordinates, such as their absorption, dedication, and vigor, due to the limited number of in-person interactions that occur in remote work settings. To address this issue, online communication systems utilizing text-based chat tools such as Slack and Microsoft Teams have gained popularity as substitutes for face-to-face communication. In this paper, we propose a novel approach that uses graph neural networks (GNNs) to estimate the work engagement levels (WELs) of users on text-based chat platforms. Specifically, our method involves embedding users in a feature space based solely on the structural information of the utilized communication network, without considering the contents of the conversations that take place. We conduct two studies using Slack data to evaluate our proposal. The first study reveals that the properties of communication networks play a more significant role when estimating WELs than do conversation contents. Building upon this result, the second study involves the development of a machine learning model that estimates WELs using only the architectural features of the employed communication network. In this network representation, each node corresponds to a human user, and edges represent communication logs; i.e., if person A talks to person B, the edge between node A and node B is stretched. Notably, our model achieves a correlation coefficient of 0.60 between the observed and predicted WEL values. Importantly, our proposed approach relies solely on communication network data and does not require linguistic information. This makes it particularly valuable for real-world business situations.

Development of productivity model of continuous miner operators working in hazardous underground mine environmental conditions

Engaging in underground coal mining involves inherent risks, as miners confront hazardous conditions and unpredictable surroundings. Despite the increasing prevalence of renewable energy, coal continues to be a significant source of power. Extended work hours and exposure to underground conditions can have detrimental effects on miners’ well-being, safety, and efficiency. The competence of continuous miner (CM) operators is pivotal for the overall effectiveness of mining operations. This study undertakes an examination of how the underground environment influences the health and productivity of CM operators through the measurement of real-time data. Moreover, it investigates the economic implications stemming from environmental and physiological factors. Even slight adjustments in conditions have the potential to bolster annual revenue by up to INR 2.66 crores. Additionally, prolonged work hours and exposure may lead to a notable 5.5% decline in productivity levels.

Psycho-emotional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing professionals in Ecuador: a cross-sectional study

Aim and objectivesTo analyse the levels of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and burnout among nursing professionals working in the Imbabura region of Ecuador during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify the contributing socio-occupational factors.BackgroundThe high demand for care of COVID-19 patients led to increased work pressure on nurses, owing to increased demands for care and shortages of medical supplies and protective equipment.DesignA cross-sectional study was conducted from September to December 2022 using a self-administered questionnaire addressed to nursing professionals who cared for COVID-19 patients.MethodsThe questionnaire included socio-demographic characteristics, the Spanish adaptation of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-Spanish), Impact of Event Scale–Revised (IES-R) for the evaluation of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the Spanish adaptation of the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS-Spanish) for burnout assessment. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.ResultsOf the 782 participants, 88.6% had a high level of burnout (MBI-HSS-Spanish scale score > 27). Female nurses, nurses with eight-hour work shifts, and older professionals exhibited high levels of anxiety and depression. Prolonged working hours in COVID-19 patient care services were found to be a risk factor for burnout and post-traumatic stress.ConclusionsParticipating nurses presented with a high level of chronic work stress and exhibited signs of anxiety and depression during the period under consideration. Providing nurses with psychological support measures and performing liaison consultations will alleviate the psychological burden on nurses.Relevance to clinical practiceThe study has shown that accounting for the environments where the emotional impact is greatest and how to reduce it would not only reduce anxiety, depression, and burnout in nurses but also improve the quality of care, not only in pandemic.Patient or public contributionNurses contributed to the conduct of the study by participating in the data collection via questionaries.

Prevalence of Burnout Syndrome among Physical Therapy House Officers

Burnout syndrome is a psychological syndrome that is caused by inter-personnel stressors related to prolonged and hectic working hours in a hospital setting. It is overwhelming exhaustion feelings of cynicism, detachment from the job, and lack of accomplishment. Objective: To find the prevalence of burnout syndrome in physical therapy house officers working in the hospitals of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Methods: The selection of participants was done by the purposive method of sampling and data collection from the 161 included participants was done by using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey. The analysis of data were done by using IBM Statistics SPSS version 22.0. Results: The means and standard deviation for the three components of burnout were found to be 25.09 ± 9.56 for Emotional Exhaustion (EE), 10.093 ± 5.93 for Depersonalization (DP), and 31.248 ± 9.45 for Personal Accomplishment (PA). The mean values fall in the range of moderate level for Emotional Exhaustion (EE), moderate level for Depersonalization (DP), and low level for Personal Accomplishment (PA). Overall, an average of moderate to high levels of burnout was found in the included participants. Conclusions: It is concluded that physical therapists working in Rawalpindi and Islamabad are at high risk of developing burnout because of hectic routines and because of the reason that they are not being paid for their work

Prevalence of work-related lower back pain and psychosocial impacts in dentistry

Background: In dentistry, musculoskeletal (MSK) pain creates a significant occupational health hazard jeopardizing the efficient delivery of care to the patients. There are several factors linked to the job that contribute to the higher incidence of MSK pain among dental practitioners. Uncomfortable postures and movements, frequent and prolonged working hours, the amount of time spent with each patient are some of the work-related factors of work related lower back pain which need to be addressed to prevent the disabling effects in the long run. The study aims to evaluate the prevalence of work related lower back pain and significance of associated risk factors in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Self-administered questionnaire were distributed to 384 dental practitioners who were working in various clinics in Saudi Arabia. This survey had four sections with questions related to demographic data, clinical practice, ergonomic principles, and psychosocial impacts. Descriptive statistics including chi-square analyses and associated significance were performed. Results: The relationship between age, years of experience and back pain among dental professionals was found to be significant with back pain lasting between 1 to 7 days in 34.2% among the participants. Older individuals with more experience tend to use back braces, analgesics, and physiotherapy more often. The cumulative prevalence of back pain in the study was 42.2%, with the majority of participants working for 2-8 hours per day. Various types of back strain injuries were observed across age groups and experience levels. Psychosocial impacts like job dissatisfaction and missed workdays were more pronounced in older individuals. The type of dental work and sitting posture also influenced back pain in specific age groups with significant associations observed. Conclusions: Our study sheds light on the significant issue of MSK pain among dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing its complex nature involving physiological, ergonomic and psychosocial factors. Found high prevalence of MSK pain, especially lower back discomfort, linked to factors like sitting postures and long working hours.

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on occupational satisfaction, work-related stress of nursing personnel and quality of patient care

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated adversities associated with the working conditions of healthcare professionals, contributing to the deterioration of their physical and mental health, particularly as a result of work overload and daily stressors such as long working hours, low pay, lack of professional recognition, and high risk of infection. Purpose: The investigation of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, on occupational satisfaction, on work-related stress and in the quality of care of the nursing staff. Material and Method: Articles were searched in the electronic databases Medline, PubMed central, and Google Scholar. In Medline databases, PubMed central, Google Scholar, the combination of indexing words was used: “oc¬cupational satisfaction, nurses, quality of patient care, Covid -19 pandemic”, while in the PubMed database the ad¬vanced search option was used and the key words: "work-related stress, nurses, quality of care, Covid -19 pandemic". Results: From the literature search, ten (10) studies met the inclusion criteria of the review. Upon analysis of these ten (10) studies, six (6) found an impact on occupational satisfaction affecting the quality of care, and four (4) studies identified a relationship between work-related stress and quality of care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussion - Conclusions: The collection of data and their analysis demonstrated that the healthcare system was severely tested during the COVID-19 pandemic. Factors influencing the occupational satisfaction and work-related stress of nurses, as well as patient care quality, include the increase in patient numbers, workload and working con¬ditions, prolonged work hours, and shortages of staff and resources. Healthcare professionals endeavoured to cope with challenging work conditions, aiming ultimately to provide the best possible care to patients.

Working Hours, Shift, and Remote Work by Industry and Occupation in U.S. Full-time Workers.

This study examines working hours, shift work, and remote work patterns by occupation and industry among U.S. full-time workers, along with the association between working and sleeping hours. Utilizing data from 2011 to 2020 American Time Use Survey, this national household survey examines how individuals aged 15 years or older in the United States spend their time within a 24-hour period. In 2011 to 2019, U.S. full-time workers averaged 8.1 hours of work and 7.8 hours spent sleep on workdays, increasing to 9.6 hours on non-workdays. Among all occupations, Emergency medical technicians and paramedics had the longest average working hours (10.4 hours). Protective services occupations had the highest percentage (41.7%) of workers reporting often working shifts other than daytime. Among all industries, truck transportation industry had the longest average working hours (9.2). Food services and drinking places industries had the highest percentage (28.6%) of workers reporting often working shifts other than daytime. Working hours showed a negative association with sleeping hours. In 2020, 34.0% of full-time workers reported remote work due to COVID-19, with the largest percentage (72.3%) occurring in business and financial operations. The study findings offer essential benchmarks for comparing working hours and schedules across diverse occupations and industries. These insights empower occupational health practitioners to advocate for prevention measures, addressing health concerns arising from prolonged working hours and shift work.

Beyond Rhetoric: The European Parliament as a Workplace for Parents and Current Reform Debates

Doing justice to their families and the political mandate is especially difficult for MEPs. Parents struggle to balance family obligations and work, particularly when the children are young. They undertake extensive journeys between their home constituencies and Brussels or Strasbourg. This taxing routine is further compounded by prolonged working hours, often devoid of leisurely weekends. In combination with the absence of a comprehensive parental leave policy, these challenges disproportionately affect parents of young children, particularly mothers, influencing the diversity and representation within the European Parliament. This study critically examines the existing conditions that shape the working environment of MEPs who are parents. It explores recent endeavors to reform these conditions and the underlying obstacles that hinder the progress of these reformative initiatives. Referring to relevant documents, this study first outlines formal regulations governing parental rights in the European Parliament. We then address informal rules and recent reform proposals using insight from MEP interviews. This examination investigates how parent MEPs assess working conditions and balance competing demands. Despite expectations, the European Parliament falls short of being as family-friendly as anticipated. Nevertheless, recent times have witnessed increased attention to the topic and various reform proposals. The obstacles posed by diverse national legacies and variant conceptions of MEP mandates and statuses for reform are highlighted.

Why is surgery not popular among medical students and young doctors? - Review of literature

Introduction: Contemporary medicine is witnessing significant advancements in conservative treatment modalities. However, surgery remains paramount for radical cancer treatment and emergent conditions such as trauma, peritonitis, gastrointestinal obstruction, and cholecystitis. Despite the essential role of surgeons, there is a global trend indicating waning interest among medical students in pursuing surgical specialties. Concurrently, practicing surgeons report heightened levels of professional burnout, and many regions face a looming shortage of surgical professionals, posing a threat to healthcare quality. Brief Overview of Current Knowledge: Research conducted across Poland, Germany, Argentina, the United Kingdom, and Japan highlights the declining inclination towards surgery among medical students. Students cite unattractive working conditions, poor work-life balance, elevated stress levels, and limited avenues for scholarly growth as deterrents. Gender plays a role, with females expressing heightened concerns regarding work-life balance and family aspirations. Furthermore, the surgical work environment, inadequate preparatory training in medical schools, and prolonged working hours are identified as factors exacerbating burnout risk among surgeons. Summary: Professional burnout represents a significant concern among surgeons, impacting both their work satisfaction and patient safety. Despite the strides made in conservative medical therapies, surgery remains indispensable, yet its allure as a specialty is diminishing among medical students. Understanding and addressing the discouraging factors, along with promoting healthy work practices, may mitigate burnout and encourage young physicians to consider surgical careers.

Work-Related Fatigue Among Indonesian Offshore Oil and Gas Workers.

Work-related fatigue, combined with shift work and prolonged work hours, has a significant effect, contributing to increasing accident rate by 50-100%. To assess the level of work-related fatigue over a 4-week work period among offshore rig oil and gas workers in Indonesia. This cohort study evaluated acute fatigue, chronic fatigue, and intershift recovery scores among offshore oil and gas rig workers using the Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion Recovery 15 (OFER15) questionnaire. Fatigue levels were assessed weekly throughout the study duration, which was 4-week work period. Additionally, atthe fourth week, participants were asked about psychosocial factors that could bepotentially related to fatigue. Of 67 participants, the average scores of acute and chronic fatigue were 30.0 and 33.3, and the scores had significantly increased over 4 weeks (P < 0.001). The intershift recovery scores statistically significantly decreased over 4 weeks (P < 0.001), and the differences between weeks (Week 1 versus 2, Week 1 versus 3 and Week 1 versus 4) were also statistically significant (P < 0.001). Acute and chronic fatigue scores had a significant positive correlation with psychological job demands and negatively correlated with influence at work and job satisfaction. Over 4 weeks, acute fatigue augmented chronic fatigue, while acute and chronic fatigue demanded a longer recovery. Workers at the offshore rig experienced work fatigue during their on-duty periods, with the level of fatigue significantly increasing over the 4 weeks. Comprehensive fatigue management at offshore rigs is vital to mitigate work fatigue and minimize the risk of work-related accidents.

Types of shop stewards in a South African higher education institution and their varying challenges

ABSTRACT The main role of shop stewards, whether part-time or full-time, is to act as workplace representatives for trade unions. However, they face several challenges while fulfilling their roles, more specifically shop stewards in the higher education sector due to marginalisation and politicisation in the sector. This study employs qualitative research methods to explore these challenges and proposes effective solutions for shop stewards. The study involved interviews with 15 shop stewards from a higher education organisation. After analysing the data, the findings revealed that part-time shop stewards get challenged by role overload and face the risk of career suicide. On the other hand, full-time shop stewards are challenged by the prolonged working hours. Similarly, both types of shop stewards experience work-family and interpersonal conflicts. South African labour legislation needs to be relooked at to accommodate the dual roles of part-time shop stewards and reduce the hostility they encounter from line managers or employers. Moreover, shop stewards need to develop on self-and others’ awareness skills, and create own awareness with workplace policies so that they carefully navigate between their two roles without any major ramifications like disciplinary hearings. These findings provide new information on shop stewards challenges by type in the higher education sector.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Musculoskeletal Complaints Among Clinical Healthcare Workers

This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal complaints among health workers in clinical wards, examining the relationship between these complaints and various work-related and personal variables. Conducted between December 2022 and April 2023, this descriptive study utilized a non-probability, voluntary sample of 100 health workers. Results indicated that 26% of participants reported lower back pain, 49% arm or neck complaints, 44% regular back pain, and 51% leg complaints. Key risk factors included extended work hours without breaks (67%), time pressure (33%), lifting (45%), and stooping (54%). Despite high medium-risk exposure (85%), no participants reported high-risk levels. This study highlights the significant burden of WMSDs among clinical healthcare workers and underscores the need for interventions to reduce duce these risks and improve occupational health. Highlight: Prevalence: A significant portion of healthcare workers reported musculoskeletal complaints, with 51% experiencing leg pain and 49% arm or neck pain. Risk Factors: Key risk factors identified include prolonged work hours without breaks (67%), time pressure (33%), lifting (45%), and stooping (54%). Implications: The study underscores the need for targeted interventions to mitigate WMSDs and improve the occupational health of clinical healthcare workers. Keywords: Musculoskeletal Disorders, Healthcare Workers, Risk Factors, Occupational Health, Clinical Wards

Occupational hazards and pregnancy in orthopaedics: female surgeons are at increased risk of infertility and pregnancy complications.

Female surgeons have increased rates of infertility and pregnancy complications compared to the general population. Reported infertility rates in surgeons are 32% compared to 10.9% in the general population. Reported pregnancy complication rates in surgeons range from 25% to 35%. In the orthopaedic operating theatre occupational hazards that have an effect on pregnancy outcomes include radiation, exposure to methyl methacrylate in bone cement, surgical smoke, sharps injuries, exposure to anaesthetic waste gases and the effects of the physical demands of surgery including prolonged work hours and night shift work. Outside the operating theatre exposure to nitrous oxide, formaldehyde, surgical scrub also have evidence of negative pregnancy outcomes. This review summarizes the available evidence as it relates to specific occupational hazards that face health workers in an orthopaedic operating theatre. This information, while targeted at orthopaedic health workers, is also relevant to anaesthetists, radiographers, nursing staff, medical device company representatives and female surgeons in other specialties.

Consequences of medical negligence and litigations on health care providers - A narrative review.

Medical professionals face high stress due to the type of work they do and the prolonged working hours. Frequent burnout results due to the challenging nature of their work. Added to the stress of work, malpractice lawsuits add to their burden. In India, most doctors work in compromised settings with poor infrastructure and manpower but are expected to follow the best practices. In court, they are judged with the Bolam and Bolitho tests being essential considerations. Several tragic incidents have been reported, including depression, anger issues, and even suicide deaths of healthcare professionals (HCPs) after accusations of negligence and subsequent inquiry. Such incidents demonstrate the multitude of challenges an HCP faces in day-to-day practice. It is crucial to find ways to tackle these problems and enhance the capacity of HCP to handle such demanding circumstances. Malpractice litigation can significantly impact the mental health of HCPs. It is common to experience emotional turmoil when faced with a lawsuit. Second victim syndrome (SVS) is a term used to describe a set of symptoms experienced by HCPs who make an error leading to injury to a patient. However, it also happens if he is traumatized by the consequences of violence during healthcare services or a lawsuit or defamation article in newspaper/social media. Following a litigation crisis in their career, many HCPs go through various stages of grief, including shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. At times, death by suicide of the HCPs is well known. SVS is known to profoundly affect the personal, family, economic, professional (defensive practice), and social life of HCPs. HCPs should accept the allegations of negligence as an occupational hazard and prepare for the eventual litigation at least once in a lifetime by knowing about the medical laws, HCP's rights, becoming aware of the emotional turmoil of the lawsuit, preparing to cope with the lawsuit, and seeking help from colleagues and indemnity insurance. Frequent training of the HCPs is strongly recommended to know about the changing laws and also to undergo periodic professional competence enhancement to reduce the incidents of errors amounting to medical negligence. Medical and hospital administration should debrief after any incident and conduct internal investigations to identify systemic flaws and prevent future recurrence, resolve issues within their control at their level, and manage media (mainstream and social media) appropriately. If established, a reporting system with online and offline services will ease the internal administrative investigation process and take appropriate, timely actions. During the crisis, HCPs should have adequate and appropriate insurance or indemnity coverage and mental health support systems.

Work Related Problems Experienced By Community Health Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Community Health Workers (CHWs) play a pivotal role in delivering essential healthcare services, particularly in resource-constrained settings. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges for CHWs, amplifying the complexity of their work and exposing them to various occupational hazards. Objective: The study intended to assess the work related problems experienced by community health workers during COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 361 Community Health Workers by face-to-face interview using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire from January 2021 to December 2021 at six Upazila health complex’s in Pabna District. Data were collected by convenience sampling technique. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23 was used to enter and analyze data. Results: A total 361 of respondents, 55.4% were female and the mean age of the respondents was 39±0.854 years. Here, 50.7% (183) protect themselves in pandemic situation by given special attention to hand hygiene, 12.7% (46) said PPE is interference with verbal communication. Majority 48.2% (174) respondents were always wear personal protection equipment (PPE) during procedure. Most of the respondents 53.5% (193) had not feeling of fear during their work. Conclusion: The study revealed a range of difficulties, including prolonged work hours in personal protective equipment (PPE), vision problems related to face shields and goggles, and communication barriers due to PPE.