Survey Of Healthcare Workers Research Articles

A survey of healthcare workers on the acceptance and value of personal protective equipment for patient care.

Assess healthcare workers' (HCW) attitudes toward universal masking, and gowns and gloves used as part of transmission-based precautions. Cross-sectional survey. Academic, tertiary care medical center in Baltimore, Maryland. HCW who work in patient care areas and have contact with patients. In May 2023, a 15-question web-based survey was distributed by the hospital's communications team via email. The survey contained questions to assess HCW perceptions of universal masking policies prior to the availability of COVID-19 vaccines and at the time of the survey, and the use of gowns and gloves for transmission-based precautions. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data. Differences in agreement with universal masking over time, level of agreement with gown and glove policies, and with all PPE types across respondent characteristics were assessed. 257 eligible respondents completed the survey. Nurses and patient care technicians (43%) and providers (17%) were the most commonly reported roles. Agreement with universal mask use decreased from 84% early in the pandemic to 55% at the time of the survey. 70% and 72% of HCW agreed masks protect themselves and others, respectively. 63% expressed any level of annoyance with mask wearing, the most often due to communication challenges or physical discomfort. 75% agreed with gown use for antibiotic-resistant bacteria compared with 90% for glove use. The majority of HCW agree with the use of PPE to prevent pathogen transmission in the healthcare setting. Agreement with universal mask use for patient care shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hierarchy of Ethical Principles for the use of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Healthcare

The article researches the problem of ethical support of the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine and healthcare, which is topical for modern sci­ence. Despite a significant number of foreign and domestic publications devoted to the topic of AI, the conceptual justification of the ethics of AI application in medicine and healthcare remains poorly developed. Relying on international recommendations and articles, as well as on their own experience of research activities, work in research ethics committees, the results of a pilot survey of health care workers, etc., the authors define and analyze the basic ethical principles of using AI in medicine and health care. The proposed principles are considered in the context of their practical application to protect human and natural rights and interests, which includes preservation of patient confidentiality, prevention of discrimination, protection from AI errors, respect for in­formed consent, as well as compliance with the norms of “open science”, mutual trust of developers and users, etc. The proposed principles are analyzed in the context of their practical application. The application of the proposed principles will orient scientists, AI developers, ethical committees conducting expert review of research, society as a whole to the priorities of humanization of healthcare, respect for human beings and nature, as well as to educate society, create a regulatory framework, ethical recommen­dations and codes of ethics for the use of AI in medicine and healthcare.

System justification theory as a foundation for understanding relations among toxic health care workplaces, bullying, and psychological safety.

Toxic work environments and bullying are rampant in health care organizations. The Joint Commission asserted that bullying is a threat to patient safety, and furthermore, it implied that bullying affects clinician psychological safety. However, after decades of trying to reduce bullying, it persists. The purpose of this study was to determine if system justification (SJ) theory can help explain the persistence of bullying in health care organizations. SJ theory posits that people are motivated to justify the systems with which they are embedded, even if those systems are dysfunctional or unfair. A cross-sectional survey of health care workers ( n = 302) was used to test a moderated mediation model to examine relations between instrumental work climate perceptions and psychological safety, as mediated by SJ and moderated by experiences of workplace bullying. Analysis revealed that SJ fully mediated negative relations between instrumental climate and psychological safety; because of SJ the instrumental climate no longer had a direct negative association with psychological safety. Furthermore, bullying was found to play a moderating role in the instrumental climate-SJ relationship. This study found some support for the role of SJ in perpetuating instrumental workplaces and workplace bullying in health care. Some scholars have proposed that a focus on disrupting workplace contexts that trigger SJ in workers could help break patterns of behavior that enable toxic work environments and bullying to persist.

Training Among Noncustodial Health Care Workers Caring for Patients Experiencing Incarceration: A Preliminary Investigation.

People experiencing incarceration in the United States receive much of their health care outside of custodial settings. Optimizing care in this setting requires further understanding of the training and experiences of noncustodial health care workers. We conducted a cross-sectional, exploratory survey of health care workers at a single academic institution to assess their training and experiences related to caring for this patient population. Of 333 respondents, 94.1% had cared for patients experiencing incarceration but only 22.5% had received any formal training, with 94.6% somewhat or very interested in further training. Common challenges included lack of privacy, difficulty obtaining patient history or completing an examination, and patient distress. Health care workers frequently experience challenges and report strong interest in further training to address knowledge gaps, and further detailed investigation is needed.

A Quality Improvement Study to Improve Oxygen Prescription in the PICU of a Tertiary Care Centre in Delhi, India.

Introduction Oxygen has been gravely misused since its inception as a therapeutic agent. There is a deficit of audits and baseline data for the Indianpopulation, especially in the pediatric age group, which doesn't allow for standardization of protocols and guidelines. Objective Our study aimed at increasing valid prescription rates to 90% by implementation of quality improvement interventions, and assessing knowledge and perception of healthcare workers towards oxygen therapy. Methodology It followed a before-and-after prospective observational study model where baseline audit data was compared with data observed after the implementation of quality improvement strategies. The data was collected through an audit of the medical records of all pediatric patients receiving oxygen therapy in the PICU. Knowledge and perception of healthcare workers about oxygen therapy were assessed via a self-designed questionnaire. The study was undertaken in three phases, including Quality Improvement (QI) team formation and data collection, root cause analysis, and implementation of Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles. Observations and results In the baseline audit, 1.4% of the prescriptions were complete and valid. Subsequently, over the course of four PDSA cycles, valid prescription rates increased; 62.07% in the first, 79.51% in the second, 81.81% in the third, and 91.42% in the fourth cycle respectively. After applying the chi-square test to compare PDSA4 and baseline data, the p-values for written prescriptions and target saturation were found to be statistically significant. In the healthcare worker survey, we found that 100% of them were aware of indications of oxygen prescription, FiO2, and side effects of excessive usage of oxygen therapy, 95% were aware of conditions affecting pulse-oximetry in the pediatric age group, and 75% knew about target saturation and its significance and the procedure to change alarm settings on the monitor. Conclusion Currently, there exists a lack of effective oxygen prescription audits, especially in India, which can be attributed to a lack of awareness and partly, a lack of initiative. Quality improvement initiatives are effective in improving the valid oxygen prescription rate. However, sustained goals can be achieved through regular audits only.

A global survey of health care workers' awareness of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: The AwareNASH survey.

The estimated global prevalence and burden of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its advanced stage, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is increasing. Yet, NAFLD remains largely underdiagnosed. In addition to hepatic morbidity and mortality, NAFLD is associated with increased cardiovascular complications, warranting a multidisciplinary approach. Despite its rapidly increasing prevalence, knowledge of NAFLD among healthcare workers is limited, especially with specialists outside the field of hepatology and gastroenterology. To investigate knowledge, practice and opinions/attitudes of healthcare workers towards diagnosis and management of NAFLD/NASH. The survey was designed in collaboration with a multidisciplinary scientific committee established especially for this study. The survey was disseminated to healthcare workers from seven different disciplines through four collaborating societies, social media and at a cardiology-themed conference from February to June 2022. Median and interquartile range were mentioned for numeric responses and proportions for categorical responses or responses on a Likert scale. Likert scale responses were treated as ordinal data and analysed with the appropriate tests. The full dataset included 613 respondents from 88 different countries (including 488 physicians). 64% of the surveyed physicians underestimated the prevalence of NAFLD. General practitioners and cardiologists underestimated the prevalence most often (74% and 77%, respectively). Compared to the other disciplines, cardiologists were least familiar with the symptoms and diagnostic criteria and felt least confident in diagnosing and managing NAFLD. Overall, 65% of physicians reported regularly using evidence-based guidelines for managing NAFLD, yet 72% reported challenges in providing lifestyle recommendations. A lack of awareness was the most common reported reason for the lack of screening for NAFLD (68% respectively). Despite the growing burden of NAFLD, there is a significant gap in awareness, knowledge, and management among physicians treating patients with cardiometabolic comorbidities, particularly cardiologists. Hepatologists and gastroenterologists could play a role in educating their fellow physicians.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student supervision and education in health care settings: A state-wide survey of health care workers.

To investigate student supervisor experiences of supervising students on clinical placements since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies on the impact of COVID-19 on student clinical placements have focused largely on student reports and have been specific to individual professions or topic areas. There is a need to investigate student supervisor experiences. This study was conducted in Queensland (Australia) in four regional and rural public health services and four corresponding primary health networks. The anonymous, mixed methods online survey, consisting of 35 questions, was administered to student supervisors from allied health, medicine, nursing and midwifery between May and August 2021. Numerical data were analysed descriptively using chi-square tests. Free-text comments were analysed using content analysis. Complete datasets were available for 167 respondents. Overall trends indicated perceived significant disruptions to student learning and support, plus mental health and well-being concerns for both students and supervisors. Extensive mask wearing was noted to be a barrier to building rapport, learning and teaching. Some positive impacts of the pandemic on student learning were also noted. This study has highlighted the perceived impact of the pandemic on supervisors' mental health, and on the mental health, learning and work readiness of students. This study provides evidence of the pandemic impacts on student clinical placements from a supervisor point of view. Findings can assist in future-proofing clinical education and ensuring that students continue to receive learning experiences of benefit to them, meeting curriculum requirements, in the event of another pandemic.

End-user acceptability of personal protective equipment disinfection for potential reuse: a survey of health-care workers in Aotearoa New Zealand

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted personal protective equipment (PPE) supply, distribution, and disposal issues worldwide. Calls to conserve PPE stocks and increase supply resulted in the rapid development of potential disinfection methods, with the possibility of improvements in medical waste reduction. However, how receptive health-care workers are to PPE reuse remains unknown. We aimed to examine the views of health-care workers who used PPE during the first COVID-19 wave in Aotearoa New Zealand, in relation to acceptability of PPE disinfection and reuse. In this multi-methods survey, health-care workers in New Zealand, were invited via a multimodal recruitment strategy to complete a survey regarding use of PPE during the first COVID-19 wave. Gender question options were male, female, gender diverse, or prefer not to say. Demographic differences in self-reported PPE reuse and acceptability were examined. The survey included closed (single-response, multi-response, ranking, and Likert-scale questions) and open-text questions. Any open-text comments were analysed with thematic analysis. The survey was built and deployed using Qualtrics software. 1411 health-care workers completed the survey between Oct 7 and Nov 30, 2020. 1397 participants had gender data available (1140 [82%] female and 257 [18%] male) and 995 (74%) of 1347 were of New Zealand European ethnicity. PPE reuse was common and reported by 628 (45%) of the 1411 participants, with 396 (63%) of the 628 reporting reusing PPE multiple times in 1 day. Acceptability of the concept of PPE disinfection for potential reuse was high overall (1196 [85%] of 1411) but varied depending on the type of PPE. Thematic analysis confirmed that PPE reuse was already occurring and respondents recognised the potential benefits of reduced medical wastage and increased PPE supply. Important caveats for consideration included the availability of scientific evidence, level of negotiated risk, and trust in the organisation undertaking PPE disinfection, with clear communication about decontamination processes being crucial to acceptability. PPE reuse occurred frequently during the first wave of COVID-19 in New Zealand. Although support for the disinfection of PPE for reuse was high, the success of any future programmes to reuse PPE will require meaningful engagement and clear communication with health-care workers. Further research into PPE disinfection safety and logistics is warranted, alongside the development of standard operating procedures and clearly communicated policies for the end user, should this more sustainable health-care practice be planned for adoption in certain settings. New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (COVID-19 Innovation Acceleration Fund) and the Medical Assurance Society Foundation.

Patient Safety Culture and Speaking Up Among Health Care Workers

Although previous research showed the importance of safety culture on health care workers' speaking up behaviors, it is not clear how particular safety culture domains are associated with the speaking up behaviors of hospital staff. Also, researchers have suggested that health care workers' speaking up behaviors vary by profession, but there has been limited research into such differences. Thus, this study examined differences in perceptions of patient safety culture and the promotive and prohibitive speaking up behaviors of health care workers by profession and investigated the relationships between patient safety culture and the two types of speaking up behaviors. A descriptive correlational study was conducted using secondary data collected through an online survey of health care workers at a private, nonprofit, tertiary-level teaching hospital in South Korea. The sample (N=831) consisted of nurses (54.0%), physicians (13.0%), and other licensed and unlicensed hospital personnel (33.0%). Analyses of variance were conducted to examine differences in study variables by profession. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the effects of the seven patient safety culture factors on promotive and prohibitive voice after controlling for tenure and profession. Perceptions of safety culture and promotive voice behaviors were higher for physicians compared with nurses. Communication openness, reporting patient adverse events, and unit supervisors' and hospital managements' support for patient safety were significant predictors of both types of voice behaviors. Hospital administrators and unit managers should create a supportive environment where staff feel free to voice their concerns and suggestions. They should also pay attention to the varying perspectives held by different groups of hospital workers and their different voice behaviors. Knowing which dimensions of patient safety culture are most strongly related to health care workers' voice behaviors can guide patient safety improvement activities in health care organizations.

Anxiety, depression, and somatic symptom disorders in health care workers at high altitude during the rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant: A prospective cohort study.

The ongoing spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant and hypoxia exposure to high altitude are the susceptible factors of people's psychological abnormalities, especially the health care workers (HCWs) in the front line of the epidemic. There is no dynamic observation data on the prevalence of mental health disorders among HCWs at high altitude. The study is to assess the prevalence of mental health outcomes and its influencing factors among HCWs at high altitude exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. This prospective cohort study collected sociodemographic data and mental health measurements from 647 HCWs in 3 hospitals in Xining, Qinghai province from 13 April to 4 May 2022. After the mental health intervention for the above-mentioned people in the Chengdong district, we collected mental health indicators on days 7 and 14, respectively. We used the generalized linear model and the generalized estimation equation and for further analysis. The baseline cross-sectional survey of 647 HCWs in the Chengdong and Chengbei districts of Xining, Qinghai province shows that the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and somatic disorders were 45.75, 46.52, and 52.55%, respectively. The multivariable model showed that chronic diseases and nucleic acid collection were associated with increased scores of GAD-7, PHQ-9, and PHQ-15. And the GAD-7 score of HCWs with elderly people at home increased by 0.92 points. Subsequent repeated measurements of the mental health of HCWs in Chengdong district in Xining, Qinghai province, showed that anxiety, depression, and somatic disorders were significantly relieved, and physical exercise showed a significant protective effect, while loans and nucleic acid collection showed an adverse effect after 2 weeks of intervention. Additionally, engaged in nucleic acid collection was the risk factor of anxiety and depression. In this survey of HCWs on frontline at high altitude during the rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, participants reported experiencing mental health disorders, especially in those with chronic disease, loans, and those who worked with longer hours and engaged in nucleic acid collection in Xining, Qinghai province, China. Exercise may help to improve anxiety and physical disorders.

Antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial stewardship in South Africa: a survey of healthcare workers in academic and nonacademic hospitals.

Antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) facilitate appropriate antimicrobial use and require contextualization for optimal functioning. We aimed to investigate perceptions of and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and ASPs among healthcare workers in academic and nonacademic hospitals. Cross-sectional survey. Three academic (Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic, Inkosi Albert Luthuli, Tygerberg) and three nonacademic hospitals (Leratong, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial, and Paarl) in South Africa from January to June 2022. Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. Voluntary questionnaire using Google Forms, encompassing AMR, ASPs, and selected discipline-specific components. Participants comprised 79 doctors (50 academic), 178 nurses (169 academic), and 21 pharmacists (18 academic) and were female predominant. AMR was a problem in academic hospitals (74.7% vs 51.2%, p 0.004); 73.5% overall reported inappropriate antimicrobial use as a major contributor. Adequate education on antimicrobials occurred in only 36.4% overall. Microbiological testing guided therapy more often in nonacademic settings (80.0% vs 50.2%, p <0.001). In both settings, antimicrobial availability drove selection in 48.2%. Overall, ASPs improved patient care (89.8%) and reduced antimicrobial use (86.9%), although felt to override prescriber autonomy in academic settings (29.4% vs 7.5%, p 0.007), mainly among nurses. Only 50.2% reported successful local ASPs. A minority of pharmacists (20.0%) reported sufficient hospital support for ASPs. Education, involvement of infection control staff, and inclusion of nurses in ASPs were most impactful on AMR. Selected healthcare worker perspectives differ by category and setting and can be targeted to improve ASPs. Further studies should target a higher number of clinical staff in both settings.

Support for health care workers and psychological distress: thinking about now and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic

This study explores the relationship between emotional support, perceived risk and mental health outcomes among health care workers, who face high rates of burnout and mental distress since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional, multicentred online survey of health care workers in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada, during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic evaluated coping strategies, confidence in infection control, impact of previous work during the 2003 SARS outbreak and emotional support. Mental health outcomes were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, the Impact of Event Scale - Revised and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Of 3852 participants, 8.2% sought professional mental health services while 77.3% received emotional support from family, 74.0% from friends and 70.3% from colleagues. Those who felt unsupported in their work had higher odds ratios of experiencing moderate and severe symptoms of anxiety (odds ratio [OR] = 2.23; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.84-2.69), PTSD (OR = 1.88; 95% CI: 1.58-2.25) and depression (OR = 1.88; 95% CI: 1.57-2.25). Nearly 40% were afraid of telling family about the risks they were exposed to at work. Those who were able to share this information demonstrated lower risk of anxiety (OR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.48-0.69), PTSD (OR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.41-0.56) and depression (OR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.47-0.65). Informal sources of support, including family, friends and colleagues, play an important role in mitigating distress and should be encouraged and utilized more by health care workers.

Use of a Practitioner-Friendly Behavior Model to Identify Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccination and Other Behaviors.

The lack of capacity for the design and implementation of behavioral interventions in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs) has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other global health institutions. There is a need to task-shift, to translate social and behavioral science concepts into “practitioner-friendly” models—models which can be used by intervention designers, implementers, and evaluators with limited technical and financial resources. We illustrate the use of the Fogg Behavior Model (FBM), a model identified as being easy for practitioners to adopt in low-resource settings. The study uses data across four different behaviors in Nigeria, Pakistan, and India. The behaviors examined are COVID-19 vaccine uptake, condom use, iron folate use, and modern contraceptive use. The data are from surveys of healthcare workers (HCWs), married men, women of reproductive age, and adolescents, respectively. The FBM states that behavior happens when both motivation and ability are present, and a prompt occurs. In other words, persons with high motivation and high ability are the first to adopt a behavior. We created a categorical variable for motivation and ability and tested whether high motivation and high ability are associated with a greater likelihood of adopting a behavior. In Nigeria, HCWs with high motivation and high ability had 27 times higher odds of being vaccinated. In Pakistan, married men with high motivation and high ability had 35 times higher odds of condom use with their wives. In India, women with high motivation and high ability had 9 times higher odds of iron folate use. In Nigeria, adolescents and young women with high motivation and high ability had 8 times higher odds of contraceptive use. The study findings suggest that the FBM has the potential to be applied in low resource settings for the design, implementation, and evaluation of behavioral interventions. Rigorous testing of the FBM using data from experimental or quasi-experimental studies is recommended.

Gepercipieerd psychisch welzijn bij en steunfiguren van artsen tijdens de eerste golf van de Covid-19-pandemie

Psychological well-being and support mechanisms among physicians during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic Objectives. Determining the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among physicians and mapping of the perceived sources of social support. Design. Secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional survey. Methods. From a repeated survey of health care workers in Flanders (Belgium) (n = 8,350), practicing physicians were retained (n = 873). The survey, conducted between April and June 2020 during the first wave of the pandemic in Belgium, questioned respondents about the perceived occurrence of 11 personal and 8 professional reactions during the last week and in normal circumstances. Using odds ratios, the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and the occurrence of these reactions was examined. Furthermore, the perceived sources of social support were listed and are descriptively presented. Results. For the 11 perceived personal reactions and 2 negative and 1 positive professional reaction, there is a significant association with the COVID-19 pandemic, namely a more frequent occurrence. Through the pandemic, significant differences have emerged between general practitioners and medical specialists with a more frequent occurrence of negative reactions in the general practitioner population. Respondents indicate that mental support is mainly found in their immediate environment and in colleagues outside their organization. Conclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on the mental well-being of physicians. While the impact on general practitioners remains high throughout the crisis, some normalization among medical specialists is seen towards the end of the first wave. Long-term follow-up and initiatives regarding mental support for physicians are necessary.

A survey of healthcare workers' recommendations about human papillomavirus vaccination.

PurposeThe human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is safe and effective for preventing HPV-related diseases. However, HPV vaccination rates in Japan are low because the “Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare” had stopped recommending vaccination. We assessed healthcare workers’ (HCWs) current recommendations regarding the HPV vaccine and how the provision of information about HPV vaccination affected their recommendations.Materials and MethodsA survey was conducted among nurses and physicians in Nara prefecture from March 2021 to July 2021. The questionnaire asked about their understanding, recommendations, and opinions regarding HPV vaccination. Before answering the last two questions (optional), the HCWs read evidence-based information quantifying the risks and benefits of HPV vaccination.ResultsA total of 441 HCWs completed the questionnaire. Only 19% of HCWs always recommended HPV vaccination for girls aged 12–16 years. The evidence-based information significantly improved the percentage of HCWs who would “always recommend” vaccination.ConclusionThis study showed that the proportion of HCWs who recommend HPV vaccination to adolescent girls remains low in Japan. However, we found that evidence-based information describing the causal relationship between adverse events and vaccination, quantifying the risks and benefits, noting the importance of HCW communications with families, and reporting the recommendations of national societies, might increase HCWs’ recommendations for HPV vaccination.

Perceptions of exercise interventions in pregnancy; A cross sectional survey of health care workers in Kaduna State

Context: The potential benefits of exercise to pregnant women and their unborn children are immense, yet regular exercise prescription may not be the norm. Aims: Our study aimed to investigate the perceptions and practices of obstetric care providers regarding exercise in pregnancy. Materials and Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey done in Kaduna state between July and December 2020. A pretested questionnaire was given to obstetric care providers and information was obtained about demographics, professional and facility characteristics of respondents, their perceptions, and practices related to exercise in pregnancy, and information they routinely give pregnant women regarding exercise. Descriptive analysis was done using frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation. Results: There were 265 respondents with a mean age of 34.23 ± 9.29 years. They were mostly females (215, 82.1%), married (171, 65.3%), Muslim (137, 52.3%), and Hausa (107, 40.8%). There were more nurses (153, 58.4%) from the public (212, 80.9%) and tertiary (133, 50.8%) health facilities. Almost all respondents agreed that exercise during pregnancy was beneficial (258, 98.5%). The commonest indication for exercise was cited as obesity and diabetes, whereas it was mostly contraindicated with bleeding while pregnant. The commonest barriers to exercise in pregnancy were the fear of pregnancy complications, inadequate knowledge, and high workload. Conclusion: Healthcare workers in this study generally had positive perceptions and practices toward exercise during pregnancy, except for the fact that they feel pregnant women should avoid strength-building exercises, and do not usually recommend individualized programs. Local guidelines need to be developed for EIP and providers better trained.

Suicidal Behavior in the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Purpose of ReviewSince the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been numerous social changes to try to ​​contain the spread of the disease. These sudden changes in daily life have also changed the way we relate to others, in addition to creating a climate of uncertainty and fear. Therefore, the objective of this review is to compile published data of the consequences of suicidal behavior in the first months from the onset of the pandemic.Recent FindingsThe analysis reflects a concern about issues related to suicide since the beginning of the pandemic. A large number of online surveys have been released and have provided data on relatively large populations. The percentage of the population with suicidal ideation in that period seems to be approximately 5–15%. Many studies associate suicidal ideation with being young, female, and presence of sleep problems. Surveys of healthcare workers do not seem to indicate a higher prevalence of suicidal ideation compared to the general population. The incidence of suicide attempts seen in emergency departments did not seem to change, while the number of visits for other issues, unrelated to suicide, did decrease. The few studies on completed suicide do not indicate an increase in incidence in these first 6 months since March 2020, when the WHO declared the start of the pandemic.SummaryIt does not seem that there have been major changes in the figures related to suicidal behavior in the studies from the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, although it is still too early to know the consequences it will have long term. The social and economic damages resulting from the pandemic will certainly take a long time to recover.

Novel Coronavirus (COVID 19) Knowledge and Perception: A Survey of Healthcare workers

Background: Since December 2019, a novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) began its journey around the world. The novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV, officially known as SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19) was first reported in December 2019, as a cluster of acute respiratory illness in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, from where it spread rapidly to over 198 countries. It was declared as a global pandemic by WHO on 12th March 2020.Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly transmittable infection and India due to its geographical location is vulnerable to a worst outbreak. India is suddenly increasing its hike in number of positive cases including number of healthcare professionals (HCPs) also acquired infection. Therefore, the aim of study is to assess knowledge and perception among health care workers in Delhi NCR, a vulnerable region, regarding COVID-19. Method: A web-based, cross-sectional study was conducted using a survey instrument to obtain responses from health care workers in Delhi NCR region. A 45-item survey instrument was developed using course materials available on WHO’s website on emerging COVID-19. The survey covered health care workers socio demographic profile, awareness, information sources, and knowledge and perceptions related to COVID-19. Result: The study findings suggest that the level of knowledge was good among health care workers and overall a positive perception was found about COVID 19. Conclusion: As the global threat of COVID-19 continues to emerge, greater efforts through educational campaigns that target HCWs and the wider population beyond borders are needed.

410. The Importance of Personal Protective Equipment Education Opportunities and Messages of Encouragement at the Workplace to Reduce Burnout: Cross-sectional Survey After the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan

Abstract Background The rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a considerable mental strain on frontline healthcare workers (HCWs). Although a number of studies have reported on burnout during the peak of the pandemic, few studies have analyzed it after the pandemic temporally subsided. This study aimed to identify which intervention or support was helpful to reduce the physical and mental burden during the pandemic. Methods An online cross-sectional survey of HCWs from June 15 to July 6, 2020, was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Tokyo, Japan. Demographic characteristics, results of the Japanese version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey, types of anxiety and stress, changes in life and work after the peak of the pandemic, and types of support aimed at reducing the physical or mental burden, were determined. Results Out of 672 HCWs, 149 (22.6%) met the overall burnout criteria. Figure 1 showed the comparison of what helped reduce their physical and mental burden between the burnout group and the non-burnout group. After adjusted by the potential covariates, burnout was more prevalent in women (OR, 3.11; 95% CI, 1.45–6.67; p = .003), and had heightened anxiety due to unfamiliarity with PPE (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.20–3.27; p=.007). Conversely, participants who reported that PPE education opportunities (OR, .484; 95% CI, .236–.993; p = .048) and messages of encouragement at the workplace (OR, .584; 95% CI, .352–.969; p = .037) helped reduce their physical and mental burden had less burnout. Figure 1. What factors helped reduce the physical or mental burden Conclusion The educational interventions for PPE and messages of encouragement at the workplace may be needed to reduce the mental burden for HCWs. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Patient and Health Care Worker Perceptions of Communication and Ability to Identify Emotion When Wearing Standard and Transparent Masks

Adoption of mask wearing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic alters daily communication. To assess communication barriers associated with mask wearing in patient-clinician interactions and individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing. This pilot cross-sectional survey study included the general population, health care workers, and health care workers who are deaf or hard of hearing in the United States. Volunteers were sampled via an opt-in survey panel and nonrandomized convenience sampling. The general population survey was conducted between January 5 and January 8, 2021. The health care worker surveys were conducted between December 3, 2020, and January 3, 2021. Respondents viewed 2 short videos of a study author wearing both a standard and transparent N95 mask and answered questions regarding mask use, communication, preference, and fit. Surveys took 15 to 20 minutes to complete. Participants' perceptions were assessed surrounding the use of both mask types related to communication and the ability to express emotions. The national survey consisted of 1000 participants (mean [SD] age, 48.7 [18.5] years; 496 [49.6%] women) with a response rate of 92.25%. The survey of general health care workers consisted of 123 participants (mean [SD] age, 49.5 [9.0] years; 84 [68.3%] women), with a response rate of 11.14%. The survey of health care workers who are deaf or hard of hearing consisted of 45 participants (mean [SD] age, 54.5 [9.0] years; 30 [66.7%] women) with a response rate of 23.95%. After viewing a video demonstrating a study author wearing a transparent N95 mask, 781 (78.1%) in the general population, 109 general health care workers (88.6%), and 38 health care workers who are deaf or hard of hearing (84.4%) were able to identify the emotion being expressed, in contrast with 201 (20.1%), 25 (20.5%), and 11 (24.4%) for the standard opaque N95 mask. In the general population, 450 (45.0%) felt positively about interacting with a health care worker wearing a transparent mask; 76 general health care workers (61.8%) and 37 health care workers who are deaf or hard of hearing (82.2%) felt positively about wearing a transparent mask to communicate with patients. The findings of this study suggest that transparent masks could help improve communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing.