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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Care Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2025) | Viewed by 16290

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Leodoro Labrague

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Guest Editor

School of Nursing, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL 60660, USA
Interests: health services; healthcare policy; patient safety; leadership; nurse work environment

Dr. Sulaiman Al Sabei

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Guest Editor

College of Nursing, Sultan Qaboos University, Al Khoudh, Muscat 123, Oman
Interests: nursing leadership; practice environment; interprofessional collaboration; quality of care

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Occupational health and wellbeing are central to the intricate landscape of healthcare, significantly influencing the performance, satisfaction, and overall quality of care provided by healthcare providers. The literature underscores the urgency of addressing occupational stress and burnout among healthcare professionals, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. Concurrently, investigations into the mental health of healthcare professionals reveal a complex interplay of stressors necessitating comprehensive approaches to support psychological wellbeing. Exploring the physical health aspects, ergonomic challenges in healthcare settings have been documented as significant contributors to musculoskeletal issues, and other work-related diseases. Implementing evidence-based ergonomic solutions is crucial to prevent injuries and ensure the sustained physical and mental health of healthcare providers.

In this Special Issue, we delve into the nuanced dimensions impacting the physical and mental health of healthcare professionals. Navigating the challenges inherent to the healthcare environment, this Special Issue strives to illuminate evidence-based practices, interventions, and innovative strategies enhancing the holistic wellbeing of those dedicated to patient care. The Special Issue extends its focus to topics like work-life balance, flexible scheduling, professional development, and the dynamics of teamwork, intricately linked to the overall wellbeing of healthcare providers. With a foundation rooted in literature-backed insights, this Special Issue aspires to contribute substantially to the ongoing discourse on occupational health and wellbeing. By exploring these critical aspects, we aim to offer a nuanced understanding resonating with researchers, practitioners, and experts alike, fostering a healthier and more sustainable work environment for dedicated healthcare providers.

Dr. Leodoro Labrague
Dr. Sulaiman Al Sabei
Guest Editors

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Keywords

occupational health
wellbeing
healthcare providers
burnout
mental health
ergonomics
work–life balance
professional development
team dynamics
evidence-based interventions

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 997 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) Program Is Associated with Sustained Improvement in Clinician Well-Being: Results from an Observational Cohort Study

by Brittany L. Garcia, Maureen A. Craig, Nicole Adams, Elyse R. Park and Michelle L. Dossett

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(2), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23020161 - 28 Jan 2026

Viewed by 1056

Abstract

Background: Burnout negatively impacts clinicians, patients, and healthcare systems. We examined the immediate and sustained effects of an evidence-based, multi-modal Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) Program on clinician well-being. Methods: Clinicians who registered to participate in the SMART Program were invited to join an observational study and complete questionnaires before the program started, at two months (post-program), and at eight months (six months following program completion). Results: We found significant improvements in well-being, burnout, perceived stress, stress coping, resilience, and self-compassion at 2 months (all p < 0.001), with moderate-to-large effect sizes (d = 0.57 to 1.0). Significant benefits were maintained at 8 months, with small-to-moderate effect sizes (d = 0.41 to 0.65). Exploratory analyses found significant correlations between improvements in well-being from baseline to 8 months and the number of stress-management techniques used at 8 months (r = 0.53, p < 0.0001) and the number of days on which participants practiced meditation for at least 10 min (r = 0.28, p = 0.049). Conclusion: Participation in the SMART Program was associated with significant improvements in clinician well-being that persisted six months following program completion and was positively associated with the number of stress-management tools used and meditation practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health and Wellbeing for Healthcare Providers)

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10 pages, 555 KB

Open AccessArticle

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Perfusion Staff in Germany

by Andreas Richard Greßler, Maximilian Kehmann, Claus Backhaus and Niels Hinricher

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(2), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23020156 - 27 Jan 2026

Viewed by 552

Abstract

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are highly prevalent among healthcare workers, particularly nurses, with reported prevalence rates ranging from 57% to 93%. Perfusionists are highly specialized healthcare professionals responsible for operating heart–lung machines during cardiac surgery. To date, the prevalence of MSDs in this professional group has not been systematically investigated. To address this gap, perfusionists in Germany were surveyed regarding MSDs. Methods: The German version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was administered. Pearson’s correlation and chi-square tests were applied. Results: A total of 287 perfusionists (72 female, 215 male; age 42.6 ± 11.9 years, professional experience 13.5 ± 10.9 years) from 45 German cardiac centers participated. Overall, 86% reported MSDs, with the lower back (65.5%) and neck (58.9%) being the most frequently affected regions, and 4.5% to 36.6% in other body regions. Increasing age was significantly associated with a higher prevalence in six body regions, and greater professional experience was associated in five regions. Occupational risk factors previously identified in nursing are assumed to apply to perfusion practice. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a high prevalence of MSDs among perfusionists in Germany. These findings underscore the need for preventive measures, coping strategies, and further research to reduce work-related musculoskeletal strain among perfusionists. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health and Wellbeing for Healthcare Providers)

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23 pages, 772 KB

Open AccessArticle

Measuring the Risk of Violence Through Health Surveillance

by Nicola Magnavita, Igor Meraglia, Giacomo Viti and Martina Gasbarri

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(12), 1708; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21121708 - 22 Dec 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2117

Abstract

Workplace violence (WV) is a ubiquitous, yet under-reported and under-studied phenomenon. Prevention measures may be ineffective because risk assessment is often based on unvalidated algorithms. After monitoring the risk of WV in a healthcare company for over 20 years, this paper presents the results collected in 2023 and details of the methodology used. Monitoring WV in health surveillance can involve three actions: (1) asking all the workers who attend periodic medical examinations in the workplace whether they have suffered physical aggression, threats, or harassment in the previous year; (2) investigating WV at the end of workplace inspections by setting up participatory ergonomics groups (PEGs) to suggest solutions; (3) investigating the characteristics and consequences of WV through anonymous online questionnaires. In 2023, 6.9% of the healthcare workers (HCWs) reported having experienced one or more physical attacks during the previous year; 12.7% reported having been threatened, and 12.9% reported other types of violent, harassing behavior. The HCWs observed an increase in violence after the pandemic years and, in the PEGs, suggested using different preventive measures in different health departments. The online survey provided further information on the characteristics of WV and its consequences. The risk of WV can be effectively characterized and measured through health surveillance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health and Wellbeing for Healthcare Providers)

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21 pages, 2108 KB

Open AccessArticle

Tracking Workplace Violence over 20 Years

by Nicola Magnavita, Igor Meraglia, Giacomo Viti and Martina Gasbarri

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(11), 1438; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21111438 - 29 Oct 2024

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4405

Abstract

Introduction. Violence against healthcare workers (HCWs) is a widespread, underreported, and inadequately prevented problem. Only a few companies have efficient systems for assessing the extent of the phenomenon. Methods. In 2005, the health surveillance service of a public health company introduced a system that monitored violence experienced by HCWs by means of three items from the Violent Incident Form (VIF) integrated with departmental in-depth analyses using the participatory ergonomics group technique. Results. In 2005, the annual rate of physical assaults was 8.2%, that of threats was 12.0%, and the harassment rate was 19.6%. Over the past twenty years of observation (2005–2024), the percentage of workers who reported experiencing a physical attack in the previous year at their periodic medical examination has fluctuated between 5.8% and 11.1%, except for the years 2020 and 2021 when, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate was 3.9% and 3.2%, respectively. During the same pandemic period, the annual threat rate, which ranged from 9.4% to 20.1%, dropped to 7.7%, while the prevalence of harassment, which was between 13.5 and 19.6, fell to 7.2%. HCWs believe that (i) limiting visitor access, (ii) a better balance of the demand for services, and (iii) a better attitude towards HCWs were the causes of the reduced rate of violence during the pandemic. Conclusions. Recording the violence experienced during health surveillance is an economical, reliable, and sustainable risk assessment method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health and Wellbeing for Healthcare Providers)

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12 pages, 631 KB

Open AccessArticle

Hospital Chaplain Burnout, Depression, and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Patricia K. Palmer, Zainab Siddiqui, Miranda A. Moore, George H. Grant, Charles L. Raison and Jennifer S. Mascaro

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(7), 944; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21070944 - 19 Jul 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3680

Abstract

Healthcare personnel experienced unprecedented stressors and risk factors for burnout, anxiety, and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. This may have been particularly true for spiritual health clinicians (SHCs), also referred to as healthcare chaplains. We administered a daily pulse survey that allowed SHCs to self-report burnout, depression, and well-being, administered every weekday for the first year of the pandemic. We used a series of linear regression models to evaluate whether burnout, depression, and well-being were associated with local COVID-19 rates in the chaplains’ hospital system (COVID-19 admissions, hospital deaths from COVID-19, and COVID-19 ICU census). We also compared SHC weekly rates with national averages acquired by the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey (HPS) data during the same timeframe. Of the 840 daily entries from 32 SHCs, 90.0% indicated no symptoms of burnout and 97.1% were below the cutoff for depression. There was no statistically significant relationship between any of the COVID-19 predictors and burnout, depression, or well-being. Mean national PHQ-2 scores were consistently higher than our sample’s biweekly means. Understanding why SHCs were largely protected against burnout and depression may help in addressing the epidemic of burnout among healthcare providers and for preparedness for future healthcare crises. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health and Wellbeing for Healthcare Providers)

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10 pages, 1310 KB

Open AccessArticle

“Back Health 24/7/365”—A Novel, Comprehensive “One Size Fits All” Workplace Health Promotion Intervention for Occupational Back Health among Hospital Employees

by Timothy Hasenoehrl, Margarete Steiner, Felix Ebenberger, Philipp Kull, Julia Sternik, Lukas Reissig, Galateja Jordakieva and Richard Crevenna

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(6), 772; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21060772 - 14 Jun 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2776

Abstract

Background: Projects for workplace health promotion (WHP) for back pain traditionally focus exclusively on work-related but not on leisure-time stress on the spine. We developed a comprehensive WHP project on the back health of hospital workers regardless of the physical characteristics of their work and compared its effects on sedentary and physically active hospital workers. Methods: Study assessments were carried out before and six months after participation in the WHP intervention. The primary outcome parameter was back pain (Oswestry Disability Index, ODI). Anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), work ability (Work Ability Index), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), stress (Perceived Stress Scale-10), and quality of life (Short Form-36) were assessed via questionnaires as secondary outcome parameters. Physical performance was measured via the 30 seconds Sit-to-Stand test (30secSTS). Results: Sixty-eight healthcare workers with non-specific back pain were included in the evaluation study of the WHP project “Back Health 24/7/365”. After six months, back pain, physical performance, and self-perceived physical functioning (SF-36 Physical Functioning subscale) improved significantly in both groups. Not a single parameter showed an interaction effect with the group allocation. Conclusions: A comprehensive WHP-intervention showed significant positive effects on hospital workers regardless of the physical characteristics of their work. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health and Wellbeing for Healthcare Providers)

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