Healthcare Workers In Settings Research Articles

Long-term impacts of socioeconomic status and childhood trauma on depression in older adults: social work strategies

ABSTRACT This study explores the impact of life course socioeconomic status (SES) and childhood trauma on depressive symptoms in Chinese middle-aged and older adults, while also examining the role of chronic diseases and implications for social work practice. Using data from 9,942 participants, structural equation was established to investigate these relationships. Results reveals that low childhood SES positively affects depressive symptoms through low SES in mid-to-late life (std. β = 0.168, p < .001), and domestic child abuse negatively impacts depressive symptoms through low SES in mid-to-late life (std. β=-0.020, p < .001). Additionally, experiencing peer bullying is directly associated with depressive symptoms (std. β = 0.145, p < .001). Exposure to domestic violence is directly related to depressive symptoms (std. β = 0.078, p < .001) and indirectly leads to more severe depressive symptoms through chronic disease (std. β = 0.023, p < .001). Social workers in healthcare settings can utilize these findings to better understand risk factors for depression and provide trauma-informed care and economic assistance across the life course. Additional training for social workers on the lasting impacts of childhood adversity is warranted. By intervening at both individual and policy levels, social work practitioners can help break cycles of poverty and poor health stemming from childhood.

A Cross-Sectional Study Exploring the Impact of Violence on Healthcare Employees' Work Engagement and Meaningful Work.

This study aims to determine the prevalence of workplace violence against healthcare professionals and its effects on work engagement and meaningful work in healthcare settings. This study is designed as an analytical cross-sectional study. This study surveyed 676 healthcare professionals in Turkiye between June and December 2022, using face-to-face and online methods. Scales measured exposure to and witnessing violence, work engagement, and meaningful work. The study has adhered to STROBE guidelines. Statistical analyses included descriptive, correlation, and linear regression. According to the results, shouting and cursing by patients and their companions were determined as the most common type of violence encountered by healthcare professionals. The effect of healthcare professionals' exposure to violence from patients' companion on work engagement and witnessing to violence from colleagues on meaningful work were found to be negative and significant. The findings emphasise the urgent need for interventions addressing workplace violence against healthcare professionals. Since workplace violence significantly reduces work engagement and the sense of meaningful work in healthcare setting. By highlighting the prevalence of workplace violence and its negative impact on both work engagement and meaningful work in healthcare setting, this study provides critical evidence for policymakers and healthcare administrators. The participants in this study were healthcare professionals who had direct contact with patients and their relatives.

Professional quality of life among Israeli social workers in hospitals and a health maintenance organization (HMO) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We examined differences between social workers in hospitals versus social workers in community health services regarding levels of professional quality of life (ProQoL), proximity to COVID-19, resilience, perceived social support, and preparedness for the next pandemic during waves 3-5 of the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel (December 2020-December 2021, the main COVID-19 variants were Alpha and Delta). We also examined the moderating role of resilience, social support, preparedness for the next pandemic, and health care service type in the association between proximity to COVID-19 and ProQoL. Participants were 163 social workers from four hospitals and 98 social workers from a major health maintenance organization in the community. Social workers in both settings revealed moderate-high levels of compassion satisfaction and moderate levels of burnout and secondary traumatic stress. The study's model indicated that after controlling for the effects of the covariates, higher levels of self-reported-resilience and greater perceived organizational support were associated with higher compassion satisfaction and lower burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Furthermore, a stronger sense of preparedness for the next pandemic was related to lower levels of burnout. The model indicated that the effects of organizational support, informal social support, and preparedness on compassion satisfaction were dependent on the study group (i.e., working in hospital or community settings). Findings indicate that intervention programs should be implemented to help increase compassion satisfaction and prevent/reduce burnout and secondary traumatic stress among social workers in health care settings during health care crises. Enhancing resilience and preparedness should focus not only on the social workers as individuals but also on the institutions for which they work. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Leading innovation in transdisciplinary care.

BackgroundBenefits of effective team-based working in healthcare settings are well established, with the ultimate form being transdisciplinary teams. Achieving transdisciplinary teams at the large organisation or system level has not been extensively studied.PurposeTo examine and describe exemplar organisations where transdisciplinary working was enabled and that can be reproduced in other organisations.MethodsAn expert panel reached consensus on three healthcare organisations in the USA that exemplified transdisciplinary working. Available public information about each organisation was reviewed and site visits with direct observation and interviews were conducted with two of the three exemplar sites (the third completed remotely due to the onset of COVID-19). The process of immersion-crystallisation was used to review the collated material and to identify key themes that were then repeatedly checked with the expert panel.ResultsConsistent themes were identified across all three organisations, although they each arrived at these commonalities via distinctly different routes. All had a clear and shared creation story as to how they came about as an entity, which was supported by consistent longitudinal leadership. This enabled an environment whereby each organisation created its own language that reflected their culture as an organisation, thus continually reinforcing the uniqueness of their organisation.ConclusionsLarge healthcare organisations can achieve the concepts of transdisciplinary practice. While no single achievement pathway was identified, common themes noted were a clear creation story, consistent leadership, and building a language that reflected the organisation.

Defeating Nurse Workplace Bullying Through Political Activism.

Workplace bullying is a social injustice with a detrimental impact on nurse retention, job satisfaction, self-esteem, and patient care. Nurses can engage in individual-, unit-, and policy-level activities aimed at promoting a healthier work environment. In the public sphere, political activism by nurses to promote the anti-bullying Healthy Workplace Bill can help improve the safety of healthcare work settings. Christian nurses' political advocacy enhances social justice as reflected in the Bible and can be seen as another avenue for godly service.

Workplace Violence in Healthcare Settings: A Cross-Sectional Survey among Healthcare Workers of North India.

Workplace violence (WPV) is a significant problem in both developed and developing countries, especially among healthcare workers. It has widespread implications for their overall health and well-being. The study was conducted to assess the problem of violence among doctors and other healthcare workers in healthcare settings. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a validated questionnaire from August 21 to September 18, 2021, based on purposive and snowball-sampling techniques for data collection. Appropriate statistical methods were applied to study the association between sociodemographics and characteristics of violence. A total of 601 responses were analyzed. The results showed that approximately 75% of the participants experienced violence in some form at their workplace. These episodes lead to a significant impact on the physical and mental health of these workers. Around one-third of the participants felt uncomfortable reporting these incidents. Some of the most common risk factors and mitigation strategies were also reported by the participants. The findings of this study can be used by the legislators, administrators, and policymakers to develop strategies that can help in mitigating these episodes of violence for the better functioning of the healthcare system.

Nature and extent of disruptions to staff clinical supervision practices in health care settings due to COVID-19: A survey study.

To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical supervision practices of health care workers in health care settings in one Australian state. A bespoke survey was developed and administered online using Qualtrics™. The survey consisted of Likert scale and closed questions, with options for free text comments. Numerical data were analysed descriptively and using Chi-Square tests. Textual data were analysed through content analysis. Of the 178 survey respondents, 42% were from allied health disciplines, 39% from nursing and midwifery, and 19% from medicine. The type and mode (i.e., face-to-face, telesupervision) of clinical supervision prior to the pandemic and at the time of survey completion (i.e., July-August 2021) were similar. Eighteen percent of respondents had a change in supervision arrangements but only 5% had a change in supervisor. For the 37% who changed roles due to COVID-19, 81% felt their current supervisor was still able to support them, 69% were still having their supervisory needs met. Analyses of textual data resulted in the development of two categories: Supervision deteriorating, and some clinical supervision functions (i.e., formative and restorative) being more impacted than others (i.e., normative). There were substantial disruptions to several parameters of clinical supervision due to COVID-19, that may pose a threat to high quality supervision. Health care workers reported pandemic-induced stress and mental health challenges that were not always addressed by effective restorative supervision practices.

The good, the bad and the grey areas of care: a review of the anthropology of care in health care

Current societal transformations in health care and other fields of care have led to an enormous increase in the number of publications in the anthropology of care. Yet, the field turns out to be fragmented and complex. To provide some orientation, we present results of a scoping review on empirical research on paid care work in health-care settings. We structure our findings according to whether the authors tend to focus on ‘good’, ‘bad’ or ‘grey’ areas of care. Anthropology might contribute to the field of care studies by making aspects of care visible that often remain concealed otherwise.

Second Victim Syndrome and Organizational Support for Healthcare Providers: A Scoping Review

Purpose: Healthcare providers may experience critical incidents, medical errors, or other adverse patient events in their clinical practice.Providers that encounter such events can experience second victim syndrome (SVS), a condition where providers feel psychological, cognitive, or physical reactions rendering care in these instances. Organizational support may mediate the impacts of SVS after an adverse patient event. We conducted a scoping review to explore and synthesize the literature on the support strategies implemented by healthcare organizations for healthcare providers after adverse patient events. Methods: The initial search strategy yielded 244 articles, 84 of which were removed for duplication. The 3-person review team completed title and abstract screening, reference screening, and full-text review, reaching 2-person consensus for article inclusion at each phase. To be included in analysis, studies had to be conducted in the United States, include real or perceived outcomes of organizational support strategies for healthcare providers related to adverse patient events. During title and abstract screening, 144 articles did not meet inclusion criteria. The references of the remaining articles (n = 16) were screened and 6 articles were added to the review pool. Twenty-two articles were included in the full text analysis, 16 articles were removed for not meeting the inclusion criteria. Six articles were included in the final extraction and analysis. Results: The 6 studies assessed SVS and organizational support across a variety of healthcare work settings and professions. Findings indicated that healthcare providers believe organizational support after adverse patient events was or would be beneficial for minimizing SVS. They further demonstrated a discrepancy in the types of support strategies healthcare providers preferred or desired after an adverse event, as the level of agreement differed between sampled populations.Conclusion: Healthcare providers believe support from their organization is important after experiencing an adverse patient event, but support strategies may not be universal. Organizations should establish provider support systems for adverse events, but first need to assess provider preferences to implement the strategies most desired. As organizations develop their support systems, they should consider the interprofessional nature of their staffs to aid in collective support following an adverse event.

Experiences of environmental services workers in a tertiary hospital in Asia during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a significant impact on all walks of life, in particular, environmental services workers in healthcare settings had higher workload, increased stress and greater susceptibility to COVID-19 infections during the pandemic. Despite extensive literature describing the impact of the pandemic on healthcare workers such as doctors and nurses, studies on the lived experiences of environmental services workers in healthcare settings are sparse and none has been conducted in the Asian context. This qualitative study thus aimed to examine the experiences of those who worked for a year of the COVID-19 pandemic. A purposive sample of environmental services workers was recruited from a major tertiary hospital in Singapore. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in-person, lasting around 30min, and included open-ended questions pertaining to five main domains: work experiences during COVID-19, training and education needs, resource and supplies availability, communication with management and other healthcare staff, and perceived stressors and support. These domains were identified based on team discussions and literature review. The interviews were recorded and transcribed for thematic analysis, as guided by Braun and Clarke. A total of 12 environmental services workers were interviewed. After the first seven interviews, no new themes emerged but an additional five interviews were done to ensure data saturation. The analysis yielded three main themes and nine subthemes, including (1) practical and health concerns, (2) coping and resilience, and (3) occupational adaptations during the pandemic. Many expressed confidence in the preventive efficacy of proper PPE, infection control practice and COVID-19 vaccination in protecting them against COVID-19 and severe illness. Having prior experience with infectious disease outbreaks and previous training in infection control and prevention appeared to be useful as well for these workers. Despite the various challenges presented by the pandemic, they could still find meaning in their everyday work by positively impacting the wellbeing of patients and other healthcare workers in the hospital. Besides uncovering the concerns shared by these workers, we identified helpful coping strategies, resilience factors and certain occupational adaptations, which have implications for future pandemic planning and readiness.

Occupational Hand Dermatitis in Health Care: Development and Evaluation of an Online Training E-Module.

Background: Occupational hand dermatitis (OHD) is an important health concern for health care workers (HCWs), yet there is a lack of accessible training materials on this topic. Objectives: The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate an OHD training e-module for HCWs. Methods: The e-module was created in collaboration with an expert advisory committee and tested by Ontario HCWs through pre- and post-training OHD knowledge tests, a usability survey, and a survey about intent to change work skin care practices. Analyses of survey results included means and paired t-tests. Results: The 10-minute OHD training e-module for HCWs was tested by 254 HCWs and found to be highly usable, to increase OHD knowledge immediately and sustainably, and to change workplace skin care practices. Average OHD knowledge test scores significantly improved by 19% between the pretest (64.50%) and post-test (83.50%). Most 6-month follow-up survey respondents reported changing their skin care work practices (76.69%). Conclusions: This research addresses the previous lack of accessible OHD training for workers in health care settings. The creation and evaluation of a no-cost accessible OHD training e-module for workers in health care settings showed promising results across knowledge increase, knowledge retention, skin care behavior changes, and usability.

Relationship between workplace structural empowerment and spirit of nurses at work in selected hospitals in Cairo

Background Structural empowerment is the presence of social structures in the workplace that enable employees to accomplish their work in meaningful ways. Aim The study aimed to determine the relationship between workplace structural empowerment and spirit of nurses at work in selected hospitals in Cairo. Design A descriptive correlational design was used. Setting The study was conducted at five hospitals representing different health care sectors. Sample A convenient sample of 470 consenting staff nurses was included in the study. Tools Two data collection tools were used: the Conditions of Work Effectiveness Questionnaire II tool and the Spirit at Work Measurement Scale. Results The findings revealed that nurses in the selected hospitals in Cairo had moderate access to workplace empowerment structures and a high level of spirit at work. Conclusion The result indicated a strong, positive, and statistically significant relationship between workplace empowerment and nurse’s spirit at work. Recommendations Spirit at work in health care settings is still in its embryonic stage and requires much empirical and theoretical research.

Prevalence of workplace violence against young workers in the United States.

Workers under the age of 25 may be at particular risk for workplace violence, given their predominant employment in the high-risk retail and service industries. Little research exists, however, that estimates the scope of the problem within this population. To fill this gap, we conducted the first national study of workplace violence against young people in the United States. We analyzed survey data collected via telephone interview from a national sample of 1031 young workers ages 14 through 24 who held a formal job in the last 12 months. Weighted frequencies were calculated and χ2 tests of significance were used to detect differences between groups. Many youth experience workplace violence (60%). Verbal abuse of the sort that made victims feel scared and unsafe (53%) and sexual harassment (24%) were the most commonly reported forms of violence. Females were more likely than males to experience workplace violence overall (p < 0.001) and sexual harassment (p < 0.001) in particular. Males were more likely to experience verbal abuse (p < 0.001). Workplace violence was most prevalent among workers in healthcare settings and eating and drinking places. The occupation with the highest prevalence of workplace violence was customer service. Workplace violence is common among young workers in the United States and more widespread than prior estimates have suggested. This study is the first to provide a true national prevalence estimate of the problem of workplace violence among young workers ages 14 to 24 in the United States. These findings should be used to locate areas of concern and target resources where they are needed most to address this significant problem.

Factors correlate acceptance of applying electronic health solution records among emergency nurses

ABSTRACT Using Electronic Health Records results in better quality and safety in healthcare provided to patients. It enhances the productivity in health-care services and communication between health-care providers. Nurses are the largest group of health-care professionals anticipated to use Electronic Health Records during their work in health-care settings, including the emergency department. Thus, this study purposed to assess the factors that correlate acceptance of applying for Electronic Health Solutions Records among Jordanian emergency department nurses. A cross-sectional, descriptive correlational design was adopted. A total of 422 nurses participated in this study. A self-reported questionnaire included demographic data, acceptance of applying for Electronic Health Records, and acceptance-related factors of applying for this program were used to collect data. Findings showed that emergency nurses agreed on the acceptance of applying Electronic Health Records. There was a positive relationship between acceptance of applying Electronic Health Records and perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and nurses’ involvement. Thus, the correlated factors should be considered during the implementation of Electronic Health Records in any health-care institution, especially the emergency department to enhance the nurses’ acceptance of this system.

Examining the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on social work in health care.

This qualitative study examined the COVID-19 pandemic as experienced by healthcare-based social workers in relation to practice, and personal and professional impacts of providing care in this context, with recommendations for pandemic preparedness and response. A total of 12 focus groups were convened between June 2020 and March 2021, comprising 67 hospital social workers across multiple hospitals and other care facilities in western Canada. Based on an Interpretive Description approach, themes emerged reflecting practice shifts; increased work and changing roles; imposed restrictions; problems in communication and decision-making; distress, fear, and demoralization; and co-existing silver linings amid challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially impacted social workers and their delivery of service. Addressing concerns through proactive responsiveness, both during and beyond the pandemic, are important in nurturing patient-centered care and a supported workforce. Along with that of interdisciplinary colleagues in health care, social workers' practice has been profoundly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This article explores the experiences of social workers in healthcare settings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Examining the knowledge work of person-centred care: Towards epistemic reciprocity

ObjectiveIt is increasingly recognised that when healthcare staff fails to give adequate credence to patients' illness-related knowledge work, this epistemic injustice undermines person-centred care. Therefore, we set out to examine the experiences of people with long-term conditions with knowledge work in healthcare settings to identify changes needed to strengthen person-centred primary care. MethodsWe designed a qualitative study and recruited people with long-term conditions in the UK. We conducted individual interviews (analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis) and focus groups (analysed using thematic analysis), then integrated findings from both methods through an approach focused on their complementarity. ResultsParticipants described how successful person-centred consultations were characterised by a negotiation between patient and doctor and moments of broad exploration, reflexive listening, and reciprocal enquiry, which allowed for epistemic reciprocity. ConclusionsEpistemic reciprocity is a core component of person-centred clinical consultations, fostering the co-creation of new knowledge of patient experience and need through the interactive knowledge work of patient and doctor. Practice implicationsMedical education could benefit from initiatives that develop knowledge use and integration skills across primary care professionals. Accommodating for patient’s and doctor’s knowledge work during clinical practice requires redesigning the consultation process, including timing, headspace, pre-consultation, and post-consultation work.

Operating room team strategies to reduce flow disruptions in high-risk task episodes: resilience in robot-assisted surgery

In healthcare work settings, flow disruptions (FDs) pose a potential threat to patient safety. Resilience research suggests that adaptive behavioural strategies contribute to preventing cognitive overload through FDs at crucial moments. We aimed to explore the nature and efficacy of operating room (OR) team strategies to prevent FDs in robot-assisted surgery. Within a mixed-methods design, we first asked surgical professionals, which strategies they apply, and secondly, identified behavioural strategies through direct observations. Findings were analysed using content analysis. Additionally, FDs were assessed through live observations in the OR. The sample included four interviewed experts and 15 observed surgical cases. Sixty originally received strategies were synthesised into 17 final OR team strategies. Overall, 658 FDs were observed with external FDs being the most frequent. During high-risk episodes, FDs were significantly reduced (p < 0.0001). The identified strategies reveal how OR teams deliberatively and dynamically manage and mitigate FDs during critical tasks. Our findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of adaptive strategies to safeguard performance in robot surgery services. Practitioner Summary: Flow disruptions (FDs) in surgical work may become a severe safety threat during high-risk situations. With interviews and observations, we explored team strategies applied to prevent FDs in critical moments. We obtained a comprehensive list of behavioural strategies and found that FDs were significantly reduced during a specific high-risk surgical task. Our findings emphasise the role of providers’ and teams’ adaptive capabilities to manage workflow in high-technology care environments.

Arab healthcare professionals’ knowledge and perception of occupational therapy

BackgroundOccupational therapy (OT) services are not widespread and not well-represented or integrated into many healthcare settings. As a result, OT is not available at many clinical and rehabilitation institutions, which has led to both poor access and reduced knowledge and benefit from OT in many countries worldwide and in the Arab region.ObjectiveTo examine Arab healthcare professionals’ level of knowledge and perception of OT in an attempt to identify what action is required to enhance awareness and promote OT profession.MethodsA descriptive online survey was conducted for healthcare professionals from different disciplines and Arab countries to obtain their knowledge and perceptions of OT.ResultsA total of 281 healthcare professionals completed the survey (57% were male). Of the total, only 96 (34.2%) have had worked with OT before, 144 (51.2%) were uncertain about the main domain of OT, 98 (34.9%) were not fully aware of the diverse OT healthcare work settings and different health conditions handled by OT, and 126 (44.8%) were not sure about the difference between OT and physical therapy (PT). Almost two third of the sample (187; 66.5%) were not satisfied with their knowledge of OT, 195 (69.4%) showed interest in learning further about OT, and 209 (74.4%) agreed that OT plays a vital role in the interdisciplinary rehabilitation team. There were significant associations between the participants’ knowledge of OT and their specialty (p = 0.01) and years of experience (p = 0.02).ConclusionMost Arab healthcare professionals perceive OT as playing a vital role in the interdisciplinary rehabilitation team. However, OT is not clearly understood and healthcare professionals are not well-educated about OT services and benefits. There is an emerging need to educate healthcare professionals on the focus areas of OT practice. Promoting and advocating for OT is key and crucial.

Organizational responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria, Australia: A qualitative study across four healthcare settings.

ObjectiveOrganizational responses that support healthcare workers (HCWs) and mitigate health risks are necessary to offset the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to understand how HCWs and key personnel working in healthcare settings in Melbourne, Australia perceived their employing organizations' responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodIn this qualitative study, conducted May-July 2021 as part of the longitudinal Coronavirus in Victorian Healthcare and Aged Care Workers (COVIC-HA) study, we purposively sampled and interviewed HCWs and key personnel from healthcare organizations across hospital, ambulance, aged care and primary care (general practice) settings. We also examined HCWs' free-text responses to a question about organizational resources and/or supports from the COVIC-HA Study's baseline survey. We thematically analyzed data using an iterative process.ResultsWe analyzed data from interviews with 28 HCWs and 21 key personnel and free-text responses from 365 HCWs, yielding three major themes: navigating a changing and uncertain environment, maintaining service delivery during a pandemic, and meeting the safety and psychological needs of staff . HCWs valued organizational efforts to engage openly and honesty with staff, and proactive responses such as strategies to enhance workplace safety (e.g., personal protective equipment spotters). Suggestions for improvement identified in the themes included streamlined information processes, greater involvement of HCWs in decision-making, increased investment in staff wellbeing initiatives and sustainable approaches to strengthen the healthcare workforce.ConclusionsThis study provides in-depth insights into the challenges and successes of organizational responses across four healthcare settings in the uncertain environment of a pandemic. Future efforts to mitigate the impact of acute stressors on HCWs should include a strong focus on bidirectional communication, effective and realistic strategies to strengthen and sustain the healthcare workforce, and greater investment in flexible and meaningful psychological support and wellbeing initiatives for HCWs.

Mental and cognitive healthcare training targeting primary healthcare workers providing HIV services in Africa: a scoping review

ABSTRACT Mental health and neurocognitive functioning remain a concern among people living with HIV. Symptomatic neurocognitive impairment (NCI) and mental illness can cause difficulties in daily functioning, including problems adhering to treatment. However, many healthcare workers in resource-limited settings have limited knowledge about the relationship between HIV and NCI. A synthesis of available literature on mental health and NCI training provided to healthcare workers delivering HIV services in Africa, is lacking. We conducted a scoping review of published literature to identify training interventions which targeted healthcare workers providing careto people with HIV in Africa. Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. One study focused on NCI, two studies mentioned HIV-associated dementia and seven studies were centred on common mental health disorders. Most studies used a multi-method training approach, with pre-and post-testing as the main evaluation technique. This review highlights the gap in training interventions addressing NCI in Africa. Although there is some commitment to building capacity for mental health and NCI assessment among healthcare workers in this setting, this review suggests that there is a need for research to develop and evaluate training interventions for healthcare workers delivering HIV services in Africa.