Well-being Of Healthcare Workers Research Articles

Physical and Psychological Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Workers, Including End of Life Care Providers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only caused unprecedented distress in the community but has also resulted in significant physical and psychological exhaustion among healthcare workers (HCWs). This exhaustion could potentially lead to serious effects on our healthcare system. The aim of this study was to gain more insight on the effect of COVID-19 on burnout among oncologists and other healthcare professionals at a large academic center. A 10-minute electronic questionnaire was distributed to actively employed physicians, APRNs, and PAs affiliated with the University of Miami. The survey encompassed a range of personal and professional characteristics, including stress related to COVID-19. The survey was distributed to a total of 739 HCWs, with 182 respondents (24.6%) completing the entire survey. The impact of the pandemic on these professionals included increased workload (59.5%), reduced leadership opportunities (32.2%), job insecurity (28.6%), and rescheduling of professional activities (22.2%). Out of the 182 respondents, 70 were primarily from the fields of Oncology and Palliative Care. Several factors have contributed to increased physical and psychological stress among HCWs, such as extended working hours, sleep deprivation, job insecurity, the shift to telemedicine, the risk of contracting the virus and endangering their families, lack of childcare options, and the added pressure of homeschooling. This study serves as a foundation for more comprehensive research aimed at elucidating and guiding the development of wellness programs crucial for the overall well-being of HCWs.

Digital Engagement Strategy and Health Care Worker Mental Health

The health care workforce continues to experience high rates of depression and anxiety. Finding ways to effectively support the mental health and well-being of health care workers is challenging. To test the effectiveness of remote, pushed digital assessments and engagement to improve depression and anxiety among health care workers compared with usual care. This was a 9-month randomized clinical trial with a 6-month intervention period. Participants were health care workers with self-reported daily access to a smartphone and at least 4 clinical hours per week. Participants were randomized to usual care or the intervention between January 2022 and March 2023. Data analyses were conducted between May and July 2023. All participants completed baseline, 6-month, and 9-month mental health, well-being, and burnout assessments. The control group had open access to a web-based mental health platform. Participants in the intervention group received monthly text messaging about mental health, mental health assessments, and linkages to care. The primary outcomes were mean change in depression and anxiety scores at 6 months from baseline. Secondary outcomes include mean change in well-being, burnout, and self-reported workplace productivity. In this study, 1275 participants were randomized (642 [50.4%] to the intervention group and 633 [49.6%] to control group). Participants had a mean (SD) age of 38.6 (10.9) years, 1063 participants (83.4%) were female, 320 (25.1%) self-identified as Black, and 793 (62.2%) self-identified as White. Across the groups, the mean difference in depression score was significantly different at 6 months (-0.96 [95% CI, -1.52 to -0.40]) and at 9 months (-1.14 [95% CI, -1.69 to -0.58]). The mean difference in anxiety score from baseline to 6 months was statistically significantly larger for those in the intervention group vs usual care (-0.71 [95% CI, -1.25 to -0.17]) and held true at 9 months (-1.06 [95% CI, -1.59 to -0.52]). In a trial of health care workers, a proactive digital engagement strategy, including pushed text messaging, mobile mental health assessments, and connection to care, improved depression and anxiety over a 6-month period compared with simply making the same resources available for individuals to find and use. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05028075.

Corrigendum: The mental health and well-being of healthcare workers during COVID-19 in South Africa

No abstract available.

The effects of different types of organisational workplace mental health interventions on mental health and wellbeing in healthcare workers: a systematic review.

To determine if and which types of organisational interventions conducted in small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) in healthcare are effective on mental health and wellbeing. Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched six scientific databases, assessed the methodological quality of eligible studies using QATQS and grouped them into six organisational intervention types for narrative synthesis. Only controlled studies with at least one follow-up were eligible. We identified 22 studies (23 articles) mainly conducted in hospitals with 16 studies rated of strong or moderate methodological quality. More than two thirds (68%) of the studies reported improvements in at least one primary outcome (mental wellbeing, burnout, stress, symptoms of depression or anxiety), most consistently in burnout with eleven out of thirteen studies. We found a strong level of evidence for the intervention type "Job and task modifications" and a moderate level of evidence for the types "Flexible work and scheduling" and "Changes in the physical work environment". For all other types, the level of evidence was insufficient. We found no studies conducted with an independent SME, however five studies with SMEs attached to a larger organisational structure. The effectiveness of workplace mental health interventions in these SMEs was mixed. Organisational interventions in healthcare workers can be effective in improving mental health, especially in reducing burnout. Intervention types where the change in the work environment constitutes the intervention had the highest level of evidence. More research is needed for SMEs and for healthcare workers other than hospital-based physicians and nurses.

Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on the well-being of healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundGrowing evidence attests to the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), but their effectiveness for healthcare workers remains uncertain.AimsTo evaluate the evidence for MBIs in improving healthcare workers’ psychological well-being.MethodsA systematic...

Testing an Intervention to Improve Health Care Worker Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.

Stress First Aid is an evidence-informed peer-to-peer support intervention to mitigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being of health care workers (HCWs). To evaluate the effectiveness of a tailored peer-to-peer support intervention compared with usual care to support HCWs' well-being at hospitals and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cluster randomized clinical trial comprised 3 cohorts of HCWs who were enrolled from March 2021 through July 2022 at 28 hospitals and FQHCs in the US. Participating sites were matched as pairs by type, size, and COVID-19 burden and then randomized to the intervention arm or usual care arm (any programs already in place to support HCW well-being). The HCWs were surveyed before and after peer-to-peer support intervention implementation. Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis was used to evaluate the intervention's effect on outcomes, including general psychological distress and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The peer-to-peer support intervention was delivered to HCWs by site champions who received training and subsequently trained the HCWs at their site. Recipients of the intervention were taught to respond to their own and their peers' stress reactions. Primary outcomes were general psychological distress and PTSD. General psychological distress was measured with the Kessler 6 instrument, and PTSD was measured with the PTSD Checklist. A total of 28 hospitals and FQHCs with 2077 HCWs participated. Both preintervention and postintervention surveys were completed by 2077 HCWs, for an overall response rate of 28% (41% at FQHCs and 26% at hospitals). A total of 862 individuals (696 females [80.7%]) were from sites that were randomly assigned to the intervention arm; the baseline mean (SD) psychological distress score was 5.86 (5.70) and the baseline mean (SD) PTSD score was 16.11 (16.07). A total of 1215 individuals (947 females [78.2%]) were from sites assigned to the usual care arm; the baseline mean (SD) psychological distress score was 5.98 (5.62) and the baseline mean (SD) PTSD score was 16.40 (16.43). Adherence to the intervention was 70% for FQHCs and 32% for hospitals. The ITT analyses revealed no overall treatment effect for psychological distress score (0.238 [95% CI, -0.310 to 0.785] points) or PTSD symptom score (0.189 [95% CI, -1.068 to 1.446] points). Post hoc analyses examined the heterogeneity of treatment effect by age group with consistent age effects observed across primary outcomes (psychological distress and PTSD). Among HCWs in FQHCs, there were significant and clinically meaningful treatment effects for HCWs 30 years or younger: a more than 4-point reduction for psychological distress (-4.552 [95% CI, -8.067 to -1.037]) and a nearly 7-point reduction for PTSD symptom scores (-6.771 [95% CI, -13.224 to -0.318]). This trial found that this peer-to-peer support intervention did not improve well-being outcomes for HCWs overall but had a protective effect against general psychological distress and PTSD in HCWs aged 30 years or younger in FQHCs, which had higher intervention adherence. Incorporating this peer-to-peer support intervention into medical training, with ongoing support over time, may yield beneficial results in both standard care and during public health crises. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04723576.

Analysis of the 50 Most Impactful Publications Pertaining to COVID-19 and Orthopaedic Surgery: What Have we Learned?

Purpose There has been abundant research published regarding the impact of COVID-19 on orthopaedic surgical patients which have varying degrees of impact on clinical practice. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the most influential articles relating to COVID-19 and patients undergoing orthopaedic surgical procedures. Though the global pandemic is over, it is beneficial to understand how the resilience of the healthcare system adapted to guide policy development and improve patient care amidst a worldwide time of crisis. Methods The Clarivate Web of Science Core Collection was searched for ‘COVID-19 AND orthopaedic surgery’ and returned 388 articles. The most influential peer-reviewed publications were determined by citation number. Expert opinion and review articles were excluded. Article title, journal name, type of study, country of publication, and clinically relevant findings of each study were collected. Results The top-50 most influential manuscripts concluded these articles were collectively cited 1875 times. The total citations ranged from 13 to 111 citations per article with a mean of 38 (95% confidence interval [31, 44]). England (14), the United States (11), and Italy (10) had the top number of publications. The top affiliations were IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi (5) and the University of London (4). The most popular journals were Bone & Joint Open (10) and International Orthopaedics (10). Though the articles were largely heterogeneous, they described the necessity of orthopaedic surgeons during the pandemic as well as safety precautions to prevent COVID-19 transmission in orthopaedic patients. Conclusion This comprehensive analysis identified the 50 most influential peer-reviewed clinical publications regarding COVID-19 and orthopaedic surgery, which is a concise resource that can be used to inform patient decision-making regarding orthopaedic care and COVID-19. The top-50 articles highlighted the importance of resource utilization, increased use of telemedicine, enhanced infection control measures, patient-centered care, and the well-being of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Assessing the Effectiveness of a Multicomponent Intervention on Hand Hygiene and Well-Being in Primary Health Care Centers and Schools Lacking Functional Water Supply in Protracted Conflict Settings: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

Hand hygiene is crucial in health care centers and schools to avoid disease transmission. Currently, little is known about hand hygiene in such facilities in protracted conflict settings. This protocol aims to assess the effectiveness of a multicomponent hand hygiene intervention on handwashing behavior, underlying behavioral factors, and the well-being of health care workers and students. Moreover, we report our methodology and statistical analysis plan transparently. This is a cluster randomized controlled trial with 2 parallel arms taking place in 4 countries for 1 year. In Burkina Faso and Mali, we worked in 24 primary health care centers per country, whereas in Nigeria and Palestine, we focused on 26 primary schools per country. Facilities were eligible if they were not connected to a functioning water source but were deemed accessible to the implementation partners. Moreover, health care centers were eligible if they had a maternity ward and ≥5 employees, and schools if they had ≤7000 students studying in grades 5 to 7. We used covariate-constrained randomization to assign intervention facilities that received a hardware, management and monitoring support, and behavior change. Control facilities will receive the same or improved intervention after endline data collection. To evaluate the intervention, at baseline and endline, we used a self-reported survey, structured handwashing observations, and hand-rinse samples. At follow-up, hand-rinse samples were dropped. Starting from the intervention implementation, we collected longitudinal data on hygiene-related health conditions and absenteeism. We also collected qualitative data with focus group discussions and interviews. Data were analyzed descriptively and with random effect regression models with the random effect at a cluster level. The primary outcome for health centers is the handwashing rate, defined as the number of times health care workers performed good handwashing practice with soap or alcohol-based handrub at one of the World Health Organization 5 moments for hand hygiene, divided by the number of moments for hand hygiene that presented themselves during the patient interaction within an hour of observation. For schools, the primary outcome is the number of students who washed their hands before eating. The baseline data collection across all countries lasted from February to June 2023. We collected data from 135 and 174 health care workers in Burkina Faso and Mali, respectively. In Nigeria, we collected data from 1300 students and in Palestine from 1127 students. The endline data collection began in February 2024. This is one of the first studies investigating hand hygiene in primary health care centers and schools in protracted conflict settings. With our strong study design, we expect to support local policy makers and humanitarian organizations in developing sustainable agendas for hygiene promotion. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05946980 (Burkina Faso and Mali); https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05946980 and NCT05964478 (Nigeria and Palestine); https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05964478. DERR1-10.2196/52959.

Psychological work climates and health care worker well-being.

Psychological work climates and health care worker well-being.

Effects of the Brief Simha Kriya Breathing Practice for Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, health care workers (HCWs) experienced increased anxiety, depression, loneliness, and other mental health issues. HCWs need additional resources to cope with the mental health impact of their work. Yoga techniques could be helpful strategies to manage different stressors during times of uncertainty. Methods: This prospective, single-arm, trial examined the effects of a brief pranayama yoga practice on the wellbeing of HCWs during the height of COVID-19. HCWs were recruited through announcements and institutional websites at a large major cancer center in the southern United States. A short, prerecorded, 5-min breathwork video intervention called "Simha Kriya" was provided to participants, and they were encouraged to practice one to two times daily for 4 weeks. Participants completed self-report instruments at baseline and weeks 1 and 4, including: (1) Perceived Stress Scale (PSS); (2) Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS); and (3) a questionnaire assessing the experience of COVID-19 among HCWs that had five subscales. HCWs also conducted a measure of breath holding time. Paired sample t-tests and mixed-effects analysis of variance models examined changes over time. Results: One hundred participants consented to the study, with 88 female, 60 white, 39 worked remotely, and 27 were clinical staff. Sixty-nine participants provided data at week 1 and 56 at week 4. Participants' adherence to the breathing exercises between weeks 1 and 4 was similar, with a mean of six times per week. At week 4, there were significant decreases in the COVID-19 Distress score (p < 0.0001) and COVID-19 Disruption (p = 0.013), yet no changes in the PSS. There were also significant increases in COVID-19 Stress Management (p = 0.0001) and BRCS scores (p = 0.012), but no changes in Perceived Benefits of COVID-19 and no changes in breath holding time. Discussion: Brief yoga-based breathing practices helped reduce pandemic-specific stress, improved resilience, and stress management skills in HCWs. Trial Registration Number: NCT04482647.

Riding to the Rescue: A Comprehensive Review of Health and Safety Measures in Ambulance Cars

Paramedics are registered health professionals in numerous countries. Whilst ambulance services must prioritize their patients, they also require personnel to be healthy to perform at their utmost to provide optimal patient care. Ambulance transport is associated with predictable and likely preventable occupant hazards. Ambulance services provide care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and shift work is known to be a risk factor for poor health. Working unsociable hours has detrimental consequences on the health and well-being of healthcare workers and can ultimately result in compromised patient care. Ambulance service utilization rates are high, with paramedics working in unpredictable environments, and undertaking complex clinical and manual handling tasks whilst caring for critically unwell patients; thus, there are several reasons postulated for poor health in this professional group. These include injuries, serious infections, high rates of musculoskeletal diseases, stress, and mental health problems. This review article aims to identify the occupational risks in an ambulance service, assess their impact on the health of employees, and explore control measures that can be implemented to reduce the risks and improve the safety of healthcare workers and patients.

The Wellbeing of Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Era in Public Primary Health Facilities in Johannesburg, South Africa.

As the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) continued to provide uninterrupted health care service delivery; therefore, this disproportionately affected their wellbeing. Our study explored the wellbeing of HCWs during the COVID-19 era in public health facilities in the City of Johannesburg, Gauteng province, South Africa. A qualitative study was conducted among twenty (20) HCWs through face-to-face in-depth interviews (IDIs) in the form of semi-structured interviews, audiotapes, and transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed with NVivo version 10. The findings showed that over half of HCWs (aged between 27 and 60 years) tested positive for COVID-19. Also, one third of HCWs' family members tested positive while some died due to COVID-19 infection. Informed by the workers' wellbeing framework, four themes emerged with fourteen sub-themes. Firstly, unsafe work environment was characterized by human resource related challenges such as increased workload; staff shortage; insufficient resources, e.g., personal protective equipment (PPE); poor policies in terms of compensation/allowance for being infected with COVID-19; poor health services; and death of colleagues. Secondly, poor health outcomes were described as strained emotional (psychosocial distress) and physical (respiratory related conditions) wellbeing. Thirdly, home and community environments were negatively impacted by interrupted relationships with family and friends, and experiences of deaths of loved ones. Finally, HCWs engaged personal wellbeing strategies through self-motivation; staying positive; family support; and participating in resilience-promoting extra mural activities to cope during the pandemic. In conclusion, the wellbeing of HCWs was aggravated during the COVID-19 era and led to low morale and compromised healthcare quality. This study advocates for promotion of greater resilience, and psychological and physical safety of HCWs through evidence-based, multilevel-multicomponent interventions at the workplace, home, and community environments in addition to strengthening public health policies and response to future pandemics.

A Pilot Feasibility Evaluation of a Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback App to Improve Self-Care in COVID-19 Healthcare Workers.

COVID-19 exacerbated burnout and mental health concerns among the healthcare workforce. Due to high work stress, demanding schedules made attuned eating behaviors a particularly challenging aspect of self-care for healthcare workers. This study aimed to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) mobile app for improving well-being among healthcare workers reporting elevated disordered eating during COVID-19. We conducted a mixed methods pre-mid-post single-arm pilot feasibility trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04921228). Deductive content analysis of participants' commentary generated qualitative themes. Linear mixed models were used to examine changes in pre- mid- to post-assessment scores on well-being outcomes. We consented 28 healthcare workers (25/89% female; 23/82% Non-Hispanic White; 22/79% nurses) to use and evaluate an HRVB mobile app. Of these, 25/89% fully enrolled by attending the app and device training; 23/82% were engaged in all elements of the protocol. Thirteen (52%) completed at least 10 min of HRVB on two-thirds or more study days. Most participants (18/75%) reported being likely or extremely likely to continue HRVB. Common barriers to engagement were busy schedules, fatigue, and technology difficulties. However, participants felt that HRVB helped them relax and connect better to their body's signals and experiences. Results suggested preliminary evidence of efficacy for improving interoceptive sensibility, mindful self-care, body appreciation, intuitive eating, stress, resilience, and disordered eating. HRVB has potential as a low-cost adjunct tool for enhancing well-being in healthcare workers through positively connecting to the body, especially during times of increased stress when attuned eating behavior becomes difficult to uphold.

Spirituality and anxiety in pastoral care workers and physicians in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic had serious impact on the well-being of health care workers and highlighted the need for resources to help hospital staff to cope with psychologically negative consequences. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potentially protective effect of spirituality, as measured by the construct of transpersonal trust, against anxiety in physicians and in hospital pastoral care workers. In addition, transpersonal trust was compared to the effects of other potential resources, namely sense of coherence, optimism, and resilience. We also explored the relationship between transpersonal trust and anxiety and how it was moderated by sense of coherence and expected a significant effect. The sample included N = 405 participants (n = 151 pastoral care workers and n = 254 physicians) who completed an online survey during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic between 20th April and 05th July, 2020, that comprised established questionnaires assessing anxiety, transpersonal trust, sense of coherence, and resilience. There was no statistically significant negative relationship between transpersonal trust and anxiety in either profession or broken down by occupational group. Multiple regression analysis revealed that sense of coherence inversely predicted generalized anxiety, while transpersonal trust, resilience, and optimism did not. As hypothesized, the association between transpersonal trust and anxiety was moderated by sense of coherence. However, we could not confirm our hypothesis of a protective effect of transpersonal trust against anxiety. Our results point to the significant role of sense of coherence as a protective factor against anxiety and highlight the complexity of the relationship among spirituality, transpersonal trust, and anxiety.

How healthy are the healthcare staff in a rural health service? A cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the need to understand the health and wellbeing of healthcare workers in hospital settings. Crises like the COVID-19 pandemic create poor health outcomes for healthcare workers, yet little is understood about underlying patterns of modifiable health determinants. ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to examine the health and wellbeing data of healthcare workers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and inform future healthy intervention activities within the workplace. DesignRepeat cross-sectional study pre-2018 and mid-COVID-19 2020. Setting(s)Rural health service in Victoria, Australia. ParticipantsAll 800 healthcare workers within the health service were invited; of these, 184 (23%) participated at Time 1 and 87 (11%) at Time 2. MethodsDiet, physical activity, sleep behaviours, and psychological distress were collected via online survey in Qualtrics. Pre-COVID-19 pandemic, anthropometry (height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure), and type 2 diabetes risk were collected by a trained practitioner. However, to reduce burden on healthcare workers mid-COVID-19 pandemic, only self-reported anthropometry was collected. ResultsThe majority of participants were Australian-born females (84% at both timepoints) with half over the age of 45 (63% Time 1, 53% Time 2). Around half worked part-time (49% Time 1, 54% Time 2), over a third full-time (39% Time 1, 36% Time 2), and the majority reported working regular day shifts in the past 3 months (70% Time 1, 65% Time 2). Among this sample, there were few smokers (9% Time 1, 7% Time 2), and two thirds of participants were living with overweight or obesity (64% Time 1, 67% Time 2). Across both time points, compliance with health guidelines was low; 41% (Time 1) and 42% (Time 2) met fruit, 17% (Time 1) and 12% (Time 2) met vegetable, and just under 50% met physical activity guidelines at both time points. Those reporting moderate to very high levels of psychological stress increased from 42% (Time 1) to 59% (Time 2) (p< 0.05). At Time 1, >80% were at intermediate (39%) or high (33%) risk of developing type 2 diabetes within the next 5 years; and a third (32%) were hypertensive. Reasons for physical inactivity at work included already exercising out-of-work hours (28%), living too far from work (18%), available time (9%), and inflexible work hours (8%). ConclusionsSeveral high-risk health areas along with opportunities for supporting improved wellbeing were identified in this group of healthcare workers. Psychological distress of healthcare workers urgently needs to be addressed, and this is reinforced by the need to understand the longitudinal impact of COVID-19 on the health and wellbeing of healthcare workers. Workplace settings, such as a health service, is an ideal setting to invest in healthcare workers with individual, organisational, and broader community benefits.

Work precarity, employment characteristics and health among Canada's long-term care and seniors' home workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted several issues among health care workers in Canada's long-term care and seniors' (LTCS) homes, including labour shortages, staff retention difficulties, overcrowding, and precarious working conditions. There is currently a lack of information on the health, well-being and working conditions of health care workers in LTCS homes - many of them immigrants - and a limited understanding of the relationship between them. This paper examines differences between immigrant and non-immigrant workers' health outcomes and precarious working conditions during the pandemic. The data were from the 2021 Survey on Health Care Workers' Experiences During the Pandemic, which collected information on LTCS home health care workers' (n=2,051) health, employment or work experiences, and working environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Summary statistics and multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to examine the association between precarious work and workers' health (life stress, mental health and general health), stratified by immigrant status. Selected working characteristics were included in the regression models as covariates, namely occupation, number of locations worked, facility ownership status and number of years worked. Immigrant health care workers were more likely than non-immigrant health care workers to experience precarious work in LTCS homes. Precarious work - characterized by income loss, reduced hours of work, and unpaid leave - was associated with stress and poor general health among immigrant and non-immigrant workers in the sector. Employment precarity was also associated with poor mental health for immigrant workers, but there was no association for non-immigrant workers. Employment precarity and the health and well-being of health care workers warrants further attention, in particular among immigrants employed in the LTCS residential care sector.

Culture, conditions and care support mental health of healthcare workers during crises.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented immense challenges to health systems worldwide and significantly impacted the mental health of frontline healthcare workers. This study drew on the experiences of frontline healthcare workers to examine organizational strategies needed to support the mental health and well-being of healthcare workers during times of crisis. Semi-structured focus groups or individual interviews were conducted with healthcare workers to examine their perspectives on organizational strategies for enhancing staff mental health and well-being during crises. Data were analysed thematically. Following this, evidence for the identified strategies was reviewed to assess alignment with participant views and recommendations. Thirty-two healthcare workers from diverse disciplines (10 allied health, 11 nursing, 11 medical) participated in the study. Data analysis identified three broad themes contributing to supporting mental health and well-being. These themes can be encapsulated as the 'Three Cs'-culture (building an organizational culture that prioritizes mental health); conditions (implementing proactive organizational strategies during crises) and care (ensuring fit-for-purpose strategies to support mental health and well-being). Study findings underscore the necessity of an integrated and systemic organizational approach to address mental health and well-being in the healthcare workplace. This approach must be long term with the components of the 'Three Cs', particularly cultural change and conditions, viewed as a part of a suite of strategies to ensure crisis preparedness. It is imperative that organizations collaborate with their staff, providing support and fostering a safe and inclusive work environment that ultimately benefits patients, their care and staff well-being.

Evaluating and Enhancing Nursing Caregiver Well-being Using a Systematic Approach.

The aims of this study were to evaluate nursing caregiver well-being and identify interventions for improving well-being and practice environments. Healthcare worker well-being and burnout command increasing attention in the wake of the pandemic. Experts recommend utilization of validated measurements to assess burnout, well-being, and contributing factors. Using a descriptive, cross-sectional, mixed-methods study design, an online survey, which included the Professional Quality of Life-5, Meaning and Joy in Work Questionnaire, and open-ended questions, was administered to nurses and unlicensed assistive caregivers in an academic health system. Caregivers reported moderate compassion satisfaction, low burnout and compassion fatigue, and low-moderate levels of meaning and joy in work. Overall and subscale scores varied primarily based on age, experience, and role. Top causes of stress and recommendations for improvement were identified. The levels of meaning and joy in work among nursing caregivers continue to be of concern for organizational leaders. The engagement of nurses and other caregiver team members in a systematic mixed-methods approach, including using validated tools to evaluate caregiver well-being, can lead to meaningful, data-driven action planning to promote well-being and increase the meaning and joy of the work they perform.

Health Promoting Self-Care: Evaluating the Impact of 28-Day Food and Fitness Program on the Physical and Mental Well-Being of Health Care Workers

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the impact of the 28-Day Food and Fitness Program on the physical and mental well-being of health care workers. Social determinants of health significantly impact an individual’s overall well-being and quality of life. Access to nutritious foods and physical activity is crucial to positive physical and mental well-being. The urgency for hospital executives, administrators, and leaders to prioritize the physical and mental well-being of health care workers has become increasingly evident with unprecedented rates of burnout, stress, and turnover following the COVID-19 pandemic. This 8-week prospective cohort study followed 65 multidisciplinary health care workers from a single Santa Monica, California, hospital, who voluntarily signed-up for a 28-day Food and Fitness Program in the spring of 2022. Participants completed body composition testing pre- and-post-intervention, and were surveyed using the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) scale at baseline, 28 days (4 weeks), and 56 days (8 weeks). Pre- and-post-intervention data showed nonsignificant decreases in variables such as weight and body mass index with increases in lean body and skeletal muscle mass. Mean scores for all 3 subcategories of the ProQOL numerically improved from baseline, but did not reach statistical significance. Preliminary results support use of the 28-Day Food and Fitness Program to improve caregiver physical and mental well-being, but further research is needed to quantify impact more reliably.

Effect of Occupational Stress on Work Behavior as Perceived by Nurses at Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi.

Every work environment, especially in hospital settings must be conducive, friendly, and stress-free in order to promote quality care and the well-being of healthcare workers, whose job demands are increasing by the day. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceived effect of occupational stress on work behavior among nurses at Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi. From the facility's population of nurses, a quantitative survey randomly chose 150 respondents nurses, for the purpose of gathering information and testing the hypothesis, a well- developed and validated questionnaire was employed to gather data. Using SPSS, the data were descriptively analyzed, and an inferential analysis with a significance level of 5% was performed using Pearson's Chi-square test (0.05). The majority of participants (56.6%) were men with a higher level of education. This study also shows the effect of occupational stress on work behavior as poor work performance 142 (94.7%), counterproductive work behavior 139 (92.7%), increases the incidence of absenteeism 112 (74.7%), high occurrence of medication error 120 (80%), Negative effect on teamwork 98 (65.3%), increases the incidence of Substance use disorders 95 (63.3), and aggressive attitude toward patients during nursing care 137 (91.3). Furthermore, there is a significant association between occupational stress and job satisfaction (x2 = 25.49, df = 8, and p < 0.001), patient safety (x2 = 51.07, df = 8, and P = 0.002), and nurses' attitudes toward their patients (x2 = 86.67, df = 12, and P = 0.012). We discovered that workplace stress can affect how happy nurses are with their jobs and how they behave while providing nursing care. We recommend that hospital administrators implement a plan to create a stress-free working environment for nurses.