Well-being Of Healthcare Professionals Research Articles

The Mental Well-Being of Health Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Adopting the protection motivation theory and self-determination theory as frameworks, the present study examined whether the mental well-being of health care workers is determined by a combination of COVID-19-related factors (exposure and resources), organizational factors, and individual and attitudinal factors. The present study is based on Eurofound's Living, Working, and COVID-19 survey, and the fieldwork for this survey was performed via uncontrolled convenience sampling throughout June and July 2020 in the 27 European Union countries. This research utilized a subsample of 1824 health sector employees and 11,750 workers in the other service industries. Further, to meet the objectives of this study, different linear regression models are estimated. Despite the close contact of health care workers with COVID-19, we found that the risk of contracting the coronavirus does not explain their poor or high well-being. However, the availability of personal protection equipment and mistrust in the national health system contribute to well-being, along with other organizational (eg, job insecurity) and individual-attitudinal factors (eg, health and life satisfaction). The present study offers various valuable insights for health institutes, organizations, practitioners, and employers to combat COVID-19 and identify the determinants of the mental well-being of health care professionals.

Mindfulness Integrated Cognitive Behavioural Intervention: Effects on Palliative Cancer Care Professionals

ObjectiveBeing a palliative cancer care professional is challenging and stressful. In recent decades, there has been more interest in mindfulness to improve overall well-being of healthcare professionals. Mindfulness integrated cognitive...

Subjective Well-Being in Healthcare Professionals in Colombia: On the Constitution of Subjectivity and the Ethics of Care in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The purpose of this work is to reveal how subjective well-being has been generated in a group of professionals in the healthcare field in Colombia, who carried out postgraduate studies at the time of the pandemic caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in a synchronous and remote learning course facilitated by employing digital technologies. Two methods were assumed, one was qualitative, taking into account some elements of narrative research and discourse analysis, and the other was quantitative, through a rapid reconnaissance survey. The research assumes the constitution of subjectivity from memory and everyday life, as well as the ethics of care concerning caring for oneself and others, as categories that were (re)signified with the narratives—and as notions that make up a theoretical corpus—to understand subjective well-being.

Comparison of emotional approaches of medical doctors against COVID-19 pandemic: Eastern and Western Mediterranean countries.

BackgroundPandemics are states of disease that occur worldwide and sharply increase in populations. It causes life events which trigger anxiety, depression, anger, sleep deprivation, emotional distress and stress. World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) a pandemic on March 11, pointing to the over 118,000 cases in over 110 countries. Many healthcare workers became ill during the pandemic and some among them died. In this study, we aimed to evaluate and compare level of stress against COVID‐19 pandemic among doctors from Turkey and Italy.MethodsThis research is a cross‐sectional study in which Perceived Stress Scale (PSS‐10) and Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS) are administered online via social networks. All data collection tools were delivered to individuals between 1 and 15 June 2020 and filled in online with Google Forms application. In total, 618 individuals were included in this study and all of them were medical doctors.ResultsHigher PS and STS levels were found related to female gender, being married, working in pandemic hospital and older ages. Stress levels were found statistically higher in Turkish doctors when compared to Italian doctors for both stress scales (Turkish/Italian PSS:20.18 ± 7.90/ 19.35 ± 6.71, STSS: 44.19 ± 13.29/ 38.83 ± 13.74).ConclusionThe number of doctors per 1000 of population is lower and per capita visits to a physician are higher in Turkey when compared to Italy. Besides pandemic, these heavier working conditions, increased weekly working hours can cause stress for Turkish doctors. Reporting information such this study is important and international collaborations are essential to plan future prevention strategies. We need to strengthen international ties and build more international collaborations rather than staying within our national silos. Additionally, interventions to promote mental well‐being in health care professionals exposed to COVID‐19 need to be immediately implemented.

Efficacy of a brief online mindfulness-based intervention on the psychological well-being of health care professionals and trainees during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed method design.

BackgroundDuring the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health professionals were pushed to the front line of a global health crisis unprepared and resource constrained, which affected their mental well-being.AimThis study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a brief online mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on stress and burnout for health professionals training and working in South Africa during the COVID-19 crisis.SettingThe context of the study is the overburdened, under-resourced health care system in South Africa during a global pandemic.MethodsA mixed method framework was adopted for this study. The quantitative data was analysed using descriptive analysis and the participants’ qualitative experiences were interpreted using interpretative phenomenological analysis.ResultsForty-seven participants took part in this study. The study found a statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction in stress levels and emotional exhaustion as well as an increase in mindful awareness and feelings of personal accomplishment after the intervention. The participants’ shared experiences were analysed in two parts. The pre-intervention analysis presented with central themes of loss of control and a sense of powerlessness because of COVID-19. The post-intervention analysis comprised themes of a sense of acquired control and empowerment through increased mindfulness.ConclusionsThe study found that a brief online MBI can be associated with reduced levels of stress and burnout as well as an increased sense of control and empowerment, felt both personally and professionally, during a global crisis.ContributionThe impact of an online MBI for health care professionals amidst a pandemic has not been previously documented.

Impaired psychological well-being of healthcare workers in a German department of anesthesiology is independent of immediate SARS-CoV-2 exposure - a longitudinal observational study.

Background: The study aimed to assess the mental well-being of healthcare professionals at a German department of anesthesiology and critical care with a specialized ICU for treatment of COVID-19 patients during the first two peaks of the 2020 pandemic, and identifying risk and protective factors.Methods: A single-center longitudinal, online-based survey was conducted in healthcare workers from a department of anesthesiology and critical care in Bavaria, the most affected federal state in Germany at the time of assessment. Validated scores for depression, anxiety, somatic disorders, burnout, resilience, and self-management were used and complemented by questions about perceived COVID-19-related stressors. In parallel, patient characteristics in the ICU were collected.Results: 24 and 23 critically ill COVID-19 patients were treated during both observation periods in April/May and November/December 2020, respectively. 87.5% and 78.2% of patients had moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. From March 6, 2020 onwards, the hospital had switched to a command and control-based hospital incident command system (HICS) and increased work forces. Point prevalence of depression-like symptoms (13.6% and 12.8%) and burnout (21.6% and 17.4%) in the department’s healthcare professionals was high. Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 did not increase psychological burden. Consequences of the lockdown were rated as highly distressing by a majority of all ICU personnel. High self-reported trait resilience was protective against signs of depression, generalized anxiety, and burnout.Conclusions: During the pandemic, healthcare professionals have been suffering from increased psychological distress compared to reference data for both the general population and ICU personnel. General effects of the lockdown appear more relevant than actual COVID-19 patient contact. High trait resilience has a protective effect, yet vulnerable individuals may require specific support. Prevention against potential after effects of the lockdown, and in particular measures allowing to avoid another lockdown, appear warranted.

Anxiety, trauma and well-being in health-care professionals during COVID-19 first wave in Spain: the moderating role of personal protection equipment availability

BackgroundThe effect of COVID-19 on Health-Care Professionals’ mental health has received increased attention in the last year’s literature. However, previous studies essentially evaluated psychopathological symptoms and not the presence of positive mental health. Therefore, the first objective of the present research is to evaluate health-care professionals’ mental illness (i.e., anxiety and traumatic intensity) and positive mental health (i.e., well-being) using the Complete State Model of Health. Our second objective is to study the effect of Personal Protection Equipment availability on professionals’ mental health.MethodsTwo-hundred and thirty-two health-care professionals working in Spain in the first line of COVID-19 patient care participated in the study. To measure anxiety, traumatic intensity and well-being participants completed the State Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Davidson Trauma Scale, and the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form. Pearson correlations were used to examine the relationships between all scales. In order to test the two continua model of mental health, we used parallel analysis and exploratory factor analysis. To analyze anxiety, traumatic intensity, and well-being differences between health-care professionals with and without Personal Protection Equipment availability we conducted different ANOVAS. To test our hypothesis regarding the moderating role of Personal Protection Equipment availability in the effect of mental illness on positive mental health, data were subjected to a hierarchical regression analysis.ResultsAs in previous studies, health-care professionals showed high levels of anxiety and traumatic intensity. They also presented low levels of well-being indicators. According to our hypothesis, results of parallel analysis and exploratory factorial analysis indicated that the measures of mental illness and positive mental health loaded on separate but correlated factors. Finally, Personal Protection Equipment availability moderated the effects of state anxiety and traumatic intensity on professionals’ well-being.ConclusionsHealth-care professionals’ mental illness and positive mental health reflect distinct continua, rather than the extreme ends of a single spectrum. Therefore, it is essential to measure both psychopathology and the presence of positive health to comprehensively evaluate professionals’ mental health. Finally, our results indicated that Personal Protection Equipment availability is essential not only for professionals’ physical health, but also for their mental health.

Books: The Wellbeing Toolkit for Doctors. A Supportive Guide to Help Everyone Working in Healthcare

Lesley Morrison Dr Watkins Publishing, 2021, PB, 192pp, £10.99, 978-1786785213 The increasing pressures brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic has led to greater scrutiny and new literature focused on the wellbeing of healthcare professionals. Prior to this, in 2018, the General Medical Council’s report Caring for Doctors, Caring for Patients stressed the importance of doctor wellbeing on patient care1 and, more recently, the British Medical Association survey on the personal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on doctors’ wellbeing highlighted that 41% of doctors were suffering with mental health conditions, with 29% of them saying this had got worse during the pandemic.2 This book is therefore very well timed and, with appraisals now focusing more on wellbeing, would be likely to earn some CPD points as well as providing plenty to consider and reflect on. The structure is free-flowing and outlines thirty-two tools (one per chapter), which …

Taking care of the caretaker: navigating compassion fatigue through a pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating on the mental health and well-being of healthcare professionals (HCPs). HCPs have had to withstand the prolong suffering of their patients, with some outcomes resulting in death. As a result, HCPs are predisposed to compassion fatigue. Compassion Fatigue is an extreme state of tension and preoccupation with the suffering of those being helped to the degree that it can create a secondary traumatic stress for the HCP. It is estimated that 48– 53 percent of nurses experience compassion fatigue. Nurses are known for their ability to alleviate patient suffering, however, lack of effective resources and knowledge of how to effectively treat patients with COVID-19 has left many HCPs feeling powerless to care for the sick and suffering in their care. Known protective factors against and strategies to reduce compassion fatigue and other emotional stresses include; socialising, mindfulness habits, healthy lifestyle habits, journaling, and seeking professional help. The management of compassion fatigue must be multi-dimensional and include prevention, assessment, and consequence minimisation. The nursing profession has to be bold and acknowledge that compassion fatigue is a critical risk within many healthcare environments, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, over four million people have died from the COVID-19 virus worldwide, and approximately 700 thousand in the United States. The impact of the pandemic has been traumatising for many nurses and midwives. A collaborative effort between hospital administrators and HCPs is imperative in assessing, implementing, and mitigating compassion fatigue that is a normal response to the abnormal exposure to trauma in this critical frontline workforce. Keywords: COVID-19, pandemic, Compassion Fatigue, Mental Health. Healthcare Professionals

Well-Being of Health Care Professionals Treating Opioid Use Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results From a National Survey.

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected health care delivery, effects that are juxtaposed with health care professional (HCP) burnout and mental distress. The Opioid Use Disorder Provider COVID-19 Survey was conducted to better understand the impact of COVID-19 on clinical practice and HCP well-being. The cross-sectional survey was e-mailed to listservs with approximately 157,000 subscribers of diverse professions between July 14 and August 15, 2020. Two dependent variables evaluated HCP functioning and work-life balance. Independent variables assessed organizational practices and HCP experiences. Covariates included participant demographic characteristics, addiction board certification, and practice setting. Multilevel multivariate logistic regression models were used. Among 812 survey respondents, most were men, White, and physicians, with 46% located in urban settings. Function-impairing anxiety was reported by 17%, and 28% reported more difficulty with work-life balance. Difficulty with functioning was positively associated with having staff who were sick with COVID-19 and feeling close to patients, and was negatively associated with being male and having no staff changes. Difficulty with work-life balance was positively associated with addiction board certification; working in multiple settings; having layoffs, furloughs, or reduced hours; staff illness with COVID-19; and group well-being check-ins. It was negatively associated with male gender, older age, and no staff changes. Demographic, provider, and organizational-practice variables were associated with reporting negative measures of well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. These results should inform HCPs and their organizations on factors that may lead to burnout, with particular focus on gender and age-related concerns and the role of well-being check-ins.

Mediating Role of Burnout Between the Job Demands-Control Model and Psychological Well-being in Healthcare Professionals in Pakistan

Integrating the Job Demand-Control model (JDC) with the Conservation of Resource Theory, this study tested the JDC model for the direct and indirect effects of job demands (JD) and control (JC) on the psychological well-being (PWB) of healthcare professionals working in hospitals in Karachi, along with the mediating effects of burnout. The study employed Structural Equation Modelling using SMART PLS for data analysis of a sample of 316 healthcare providers from different hospitals in Karachi. The results supported the direct effects of JD and JC on PWB and the mediating effects of burnout The findings of the study add further empirical evidence to current literature on job stress. The results indicated that healthcare professionals in Pakistan are confronted with a demanding job that causes burnout and ultimately becomes a reason for their decreased PWB. The study also presented various practical implications for different stakeholders. From a sustainability standpoint, this study indicated the need to balance job demands and job control in order to design psychologically healthy jobs.

Supporting the mental well-being of healthcare professionals during a pandemic.

11037 Background: Burnout amongst healthcare professionals has been well-documented as a phenomenon that compromises the quality and viability of patient-centered care, particularly in oncology. Due to the extraordinary demands of the pandemic, burnout has emerged as a public health crisis that warrants immediate attention to preserve the wellbeing of healthcare staff. At the onset of the pandemic, The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (SKCC) at Jefferson, an urban NCI-designated cancer center, translated its support offerings to virtual events. Initially, healthcare providers (HP) sought support by attending patient programs. In response, SKCC initiated virtual programming to support the well-being and needs of the HP team. Methods: Within weeks of the state shutdown due to the pandemic, programs were initiated to address HP self-reported distress: Coping Effectively and Mindfulness Moments Each 30-minute session was facilitated by a licensed psychologist and social worker. Coping Effectively offers strategies from evidence based treatment including Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, to cope with distress and burnout. Mindful Moments draws from Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction practices including observing breath and guided meditations. These programs have been offered consistently throughout the pandemic. Schwartz Rounds, geared towards supporting the human side of healthcare, provided “hot” topic moderated discussions, four of which focused on the pandemic These discussions allow for HP to come together to discuss difficult topics and emotions impacting a variety of professionals. All programming was evaluated with a single question to measure the impact of the session on reducing distress. Each program began and ended with a poll asking, “How distressed do you currently feel?” Attendees respond on a Likert scale from 0 to 10, in which10 indicated the highest level of distress. Results: Since March 31st, 340 staff have attended Mindful Moments and 236 staff have attended Coping Effectively. From March 2020-February 2021, 382 attendees measured their distress before and after attending a staff program. Schwartz Rounds hosted 471 HP from a variety of disciplines. Participants were asked to complete an evaluation following rounds. 31% of program participants’ completed an evaluation form and 89% rated the program exceptional/very good. Conclusions: Despite the challenges of COVID-19, the pivot to virtually create programs to support staff during the pandemic was swift and thoughtful. The increased attendance and the feedback from evaluations are promising indicators of decreasing burnout amongst HP. How Distressed do you Currently Feel? (Average Score scale 1-10)[Table: see text]

Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Professional Dementia Caregivers Burnout

ABSTRACT Objectives: To implement and assess the efficacy of a 6-week Acceptance and Commitment Therapy intervention to reduce anxiety and burnout in healthcare professionals working with dementia, and to increase their psychological flexibility and life satisfaction. Methods: A total of 105 workers from the XXXXX Hospital were randomly assigned to an intervention group (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) or a wait list control group. Psychological Flexibility (AAQ-II), Life Satisfaction (SWLS), Anxiety (STAI-T), and Burnout (MBI) were measured before and after the intervention. Follow-up data were collected 3 months and 12 months post-intervention. Split-plot analyses were performed following intention to treat approach. Results: No significant differences were found in baseline outcome measures. No time effects were found in wait list control group in any variable. In the intervention group, pre-post comparison showed a significant decrease in levels of MBI emotional exhaustion (p = .001) and anxiety (p < .001), and an increase in life satisfaction levels (p < .001) and MBI personal accomplishment (p < .001). These results were maintained at the 3- and 12-month follow-up periods. No significant intervention effects were observed in pre-post flexibility scores; however, data suggest slight progressive increase in flexibility at follow-up. Conclusions: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy showed positive effects in healthcare professionals working with dementia by reducing anxiety and burnout. Clinical implications: The implementation of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy could help to increase the psychological well-being of healthcare professionals working with dementia.

The interactive effects of heart rate variability and mindfulness on indicators of well-being in healthcare professionals' daily working life

ObjectiveHeart rate variability (HRV) and mindfulness have been described as correlates of self-regulation and well-being. The goal of the present study was to investigate their interactions from a within-person perspective in the context of work. MethodsApplying an ambulatory assessment approach, we studied 89 healthcare professionals across two to four work shifts. Self-reports of momentary job demands, mindfulness, and well-being (as indicated by emotional exhaustion, relaxation, and contentment) were provided three to four times a day via smartphone questionnaires. Electrocardiogram and activity sensors continuously recorded data from the beginning to the end of the shifts. Multilevel models based on 937 measurements were built for emotional exhaustion, relaxation, and contentment. ResultsAfter controlling for covariates, including bodily movement, shift, and job demands, short-term HRV was marginally significantly related to decreased emotional exhaustion and significantly related to increased relaxation. State mindfulness was significantly related to decreased emotional exhaustion, and increased relaxation and contentment. Furthermore, HRV and mindfulness significantly interacted such that emotional exhaustion was lowest and relaxation was highest when both HRV and mindfulness were high. ConclusionsTogether, the findings provide insights into the use of HRV and mindfulness as indexes of psychophysiological regulatory resources that seemingly intensify their respective beneficial effects on the daily well-being of employees.

Impact of a Yogic Breathing Technique on the Well-Being of Healthcare Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for healthcare globally, the brunt of which has been borne by the health care providers (HCPs). These challenges are felt more keenly in India, as they stretch an insufficiently resourced healthcare system. The long hours, cross over of responsibilities, lack of resources to adequately care for patients, and concerns around safety of self and loves ones, have led to a spike in anxiety, depression, insomnia and other stress – related disorders in healthcare providers. Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) is a mind-body intervention that has been studied in multiple clinical populations. Prior to this study, there has been no exploration of the impact of SKY on healthcare providers, specifically the impact of a mind-body intervention like SKY on HCPs during a pandemic.ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the impact of SKY on the well-being of HCPs during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsWe conducted a pilot feasibility study with a single arm pre-post design. SKY was taught to participants in a 4-day online breath and meditation workshop. We measured outcomes related to depression, anxiety, resilience, life satisfaction, and quality of sleep.ResultsNinety-two subjects completed the study survey before and after the intervention. A significant reduction was observed in the levels of stress, anxiety and depression immediately after the program. In addition, the participants reported sig1nificant improvement in life satisfaction, resilience, and the quality of their sleep.ConclusionThe results indicate that SKY breathing technique had a positive impact on the well-being of healthcare professionals during the pandemic. Participants experienced improved quality of sleep, enhanced satisfaction with life, and increased resilience after SKY. This pilot study provides important data for future multi-site randomized controlled trials to study the impact of yogic techniques on well-being of the HCPs.

Burnout and distress among allied health care professionals in a cardiovascular centre of a quaternary hospital network: a cross-sectional survey.

Background:Burnout and distress negatively affect the well-being of health care professionals and the treatment they provide. Our aim was to measure the prevalence of burnout and distress among allied health care staff at a cardiovascular centre of a quaternary hospital network in Canada, and compare outcomes to those for nonphysician employees in the United States.Methods:We conducted a survey of allied health care staff, including physical, respiratory and occupational therapists, pharmacists, social workers, dietitians and speech-language pathologists, in a cardiovascular centre at 2 quaternary referral hospitals in Toronto, Ontario, between Nov. 27, 2018, and Jan. 31, 2019. The survey tool included the Well-Being Index (WBI), which measures fatigue, depression, burnout, anxiety or stress, quality of life, work–life integration, meaning in work and overall distress; a score of 2 or higher indicated high distress. We carried out standard univariate statistical comparisons using the χ2, Fisher exact or Kruskal–Wallis test as appropriate to perform univariate comparisons in the sample of respondents. We assessed the relation between a WBI score of 2 or higher and demographic characteristics. We compared univariate associations among WBI data for nonphysician employees in the US who completed the WBI to responses from our participants.Results:The response rate to the survey was 86% (45/52). Thirty-three respondents (73%) reported experiencing burnout in the previous month, and 31 (69%) reported emotional problems. Compared to respondents who perceived fair treatment in the workplace, those who perceived unfair treatment (20 [44%]) were more likely to report emotional problems (17 [85%] v. 13 [54%], p = 0.05), to worry that work was hardening them emotionally (15 [75%] v. 8 [33%], p = 0.008), and to feel down, depressed or hopeless (12 [60%] v. 4 [17%], p = 0.005). Twenty-five respondents (56%) and 13 respondents (29%) reported WBI scores consistent with high (≥ 2) or severe (≥ 5) distress, respectively. Respondents were more likely to have a high WBI score if they perceived unfair treatment or inadequate staffing levels. Our respondents had a higher prevalence of burnout (73.3% v. 53.6%, p = 0.008) and a higher average WBI score (2.6 [SD 2.8] v. 1.7 [SD 2.6], p = 0.05) than 9096 nonphysician employees in the US.Interpretation:The prevalence of burnout, emotional problems and distress was high among allied health care staff. Fair treatment in the workplace and adequate staffing may lower distress levels and improve the work experience of these health care professionals.

Understanding the lived experiences of healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

ABSTRACT Background: Little research has examined the impact of working within the context of COVID-19 on UK healthcare professionals (HCPs) mental health and well-being, despite previous pandemic findings indicating that HCPs are particularly vulnerable to suffering PTSD and other mental health difficulties due to the nature of healthcare work. Specifically, it appears that no research has employed qualitative methodologies to explore the effects of working amidst COVID-19 on mental health for HCPs in the UK. Objective: To qualitatively examining the lived experiences of HCPs in Northern Ireland, working during the early stages of the pandemic and lockdown period (14.04.20 and 29.04.20). Method: Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to explore the experiences of healthcare professionals, who were working during the COVID-19 outbreak. Ten HCPs were recruited via a social media campaign and snowball sampling. All interviews were conducted via telephone and transcribed verbatim. Results: Three superordinate themes with subordinate themes were elicited through the analysis. Theme one centred on specific challenges of HCPs working during the pandemic, such as redeployment, isolation from loved ones, infection concerns, lack of PPE and impact on patient interpersonal care. Theme two offered insights into the mental health and wellbeing of HCPs, while many experienced feelings of fear, sadness and hypervigilance, all also demonstrated a marked resilience. Finally, many felt undervalued and misunderstood, and wished to press upon the general public seriousness of the disease. Conclusion: To the authors’ knowledge this is the first study to explore in depth, the unique experiences of frontline HCPs in Northern Ireland, offering a detailed account of the challenges confronted in these unprecedented circumstances and highlighting support needs within this cohort.

Assessment of the Awareness, Perception, Attitudes, and Preparedness of Health-care Professionals Potentially Exposed to COVID-19 in the United Arab Emirates.

BackgroundSince COVID-19 surfaced in December 2019, health-care organizations across the globe have struggled to maintain the safety and well-being of health-care professionals (HCPs).PurposeThis study investigates the HCPs’ general understanding of the health risks of COVID-19 and to what extent they are equipped with the knowledge to protect themselves and others against this contagion.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used a web-based structured questionnaire posted on the UAE government electronic survey portal. A collection of 941 HCPs from diverse general and specialty hospitals in the UAE responded to an electronic participation invite.ResultsOur analysis showed that the majority of HCPs (97.6%) had updated information about COVID-19 modes of transmission, risks of contamination, high-risk groups, and the potential consequences of testing positive. Furthermore, the results of the chi-squared testing revealed that the HCPs' confidence and vigilance of the COVID-19 threats were significantly increased (p< 0.01) by being experienced, having had infection control training, or/and having undergone COVID-19 education.ConclusionWe conclude that HCPs have an evidence-based understanding of the ways their own health is at risk while they are performing their duties in hospital setups. Further, the study found that HCPs who undergo special infection control training and who are kept posted on the official updates on COVID-19 are more likely to remain vigilant at all times to minimize the risks to themselves and their patients. Although the generalizability of the study findings should be considered with caution, the results could be generalizable to health-care professionals who received similar COVID-19 related training in the UAE or other regional countries.

Applied Positive Psychology and Mindfulness: An Intervention Study

Healthcare professionals face numerous challenges in their daily work with core areas of treatment and care, but also in relation to organizational changes, changes in work assignments, and education. These challenges entail a need for mental robustness to prevent strain symptoms and stress. The aim of this study was to examine if the mental health and well-being of healthcare professionals can be improved via the teaching of and training in positive psychology and mindfulness. An intervention study was conducted with a four-day course with training in applied and theoretical aspects of positive psychology and mindfulness. The 23 participants were nurses and secretaries employed at a regional hospital in Denmark. The effects of the intervention were assessed by semi-structured interviews and quantitative measurements of well-being, positivity, and self-compassion. The participants described that they had learned techniques to face problems and challenges in a new way. The main themes from the qualitative analysis were increased positivity and strengths/skills, better mental gearshift, serenity, and increased self-compassion. Quantitative results showed an increase in the positivity-test, self-compassion test, and WHO-5 scale during the training period and a fade in the results 3-months post-intervention. Further research is necessary to confirm a significant increase in robustness and reduction in strain symptoms. Applying positive psychology and mindfulness may increase the positivity and mental robustness among healthcare professionals, and this study has described a model to teach knowledge and train practice skills from theories related to positive psychology and mindfulness.

The lungs of the world

‘The Lungs of the World’ begins by questioning the values and actions that have led to a world in which deforestation, carbon emissions, greed, the misuse of power and the pursuit of profit that have worsened air pollution even more than today. Leaving these behind, the story describes a global shift in values towards collaboration and genuine care for human, plant and animal life alike. ‘The Lungs of the World’ reminds us that environmental problems will affect the health and wellbeing of healthcare professionals and patients alike, and so require us to work together beyond these boundaries. In this story, understanding and celebrating the intertwined relationships between all people, anatomy, physiology, today’s social and environmental problems, seems to release a new energy, creativity and novel opportunities. It feels as though thinking and acting at much larger scales than the individual body enables dealing with well-known problems in entirely new ways and doing so with a strong sense of purpose and meaning.