Search Results (18)

Background/Objectives: Violence against workers (physical, verbal, or psychological abuse), even if it affects all professional categories, is up to ten times higher in healthcare workers. A University Hospital of Central Italy has gradually implemented a series of preventive measures, which might have impacted the trend of the phenomenon. Methods: In order to monitor the episodes, an aggressive event reporting form was adopted throughout the hospital. Data extracted both from this form and the root cause analysis documentation regarding the period January 2019–December 2023 were used. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-squares test, while the join point regression program was used to analyze the trends. Results: The average age of the sample is 43.5 years, with twice as many female workers as male workers. Nurses are more frequently involved (76.6%), and 58% of the events involved 2 to 4 HWs. Verbal violence was reported by 51.2% of HWs, and over 35% of them did not suffer any damage, while 25% suffered mild to moderate damage (illness, injury, or material harm, whether physical or psychological). The hospital divisions which are primarily concerned are the Psychiatry department (36.2%) and the Emergency Room (33.4%). There is no difference in hospital management of aggressive events between males and females. Join point regression analyses showed that there was a significant increase in the reporting of episodes of aggression. Conclusions: The presence of a strong culture of reporting among HWs guarantees a seemingly constant increase in the reporting of nonphysical forms of violence. The statistically significant differences found will allow hospital management to categorize the risk levels and act accordingly. Full article

Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic had significant implications for healthcare workers (HWs), especially those that work in hospitals. This study evaluated health related quality of life (HRQOL) and its relationship with dyspnea approximately one year after COVID-19 infection in HWs. Methods: HWs with previous COVID-19 infections were interviewed, and the EuroQol five-dimensional three-level questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) with a visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate HRQOL. Self-reported clinical and sociodemographic data were also obtained. Data were stratified by the presence of self-reported dyspnea in the moment of the study interview. The association between self-reported dyspnea and HRQOL was evaluated by regression models, either unadjusted or adjusted for potential confounders (for age and sex, marital status, work category, number of comorbidities, and number of days between diagnosis and evaluation). Results: A total of 109 HWs were interviewed; the median number of days post COVID-19 diagnosis for this group was 400 (IIQ 25–75% 321–428). The majority were women (67.9%); the median age was 44 (IIQ 25–75% 38–52) years. Overall, the median EQ-5D-3L score was 0.79 (IIQ 25–75% 0.74–0.85), and the median VAS score was 80 (IIQ 25–75% 70–90). Self-reported dyspnea was indicated by 22 individuals (20.2%). Self-reported dyspnea was associated with lower EQ-5D-3L and VAS scores, both in adjusted and non-adjusted models. In addition, self-reported dyspnea was associated with more problems in carrying out usual activities in both the non-adjusted and adjusted models (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Our results underscore the long-term implications of COVID-19, based on persistent perceptions of self-reported dyspnea and its relationship with HRQOL in HWs. Future studies, with extended follow-up and the employment of cardiopulmonary and mental health testing, may help to elucidate the nature and extent of COVID-19 sequelae. Full article

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic greatly impacted healthcare workers (HWs) around the world. Italy was the first Western country hit by the pandemic, and several studies have been published targeting the mental health burden held by Italian HWs. Notwithstanding, only a few studies focused on the impact of COVID-19 on HWs’ levels of functioning. Methods: An online survey was distributed to HWs in Italy through physicians’ and nurses’ associations, social networks, and researchers’ direct contacts, between 4 April and 13 May 2020. Participants provided sociodemographic, work-related, and pandemic-related data and filled out a set of psychometric questionnaires (Patient Health Questionnaire-9—PHQ-9, General Anxiety Disorder-7—GAD-7, Impact of Event Scale—Revised—IES-R, and Work and Social Adjustment Scale—WSAS). Results: The final sample included 1041 HWs (mean age 45.01 ± 11.62, 63.9% females). In total, 58.1% of the subjects screened positive on the GAD-7, 27.5% on the PHQ-9, and 25.9% on the IES-R. Furthermore, 67.4% showed a significant level of impairment in functioning according to the WSAS, while 35.8% reached scores of moderate or worse impairment. In the multiple linear regressions, screening positive on any of the psychometric scales and being exposed to unusual suffering significantly predicted worse scores in all WSAS domains (p < 0.05). Having a history of mental disorders significantly predicted worse scores in the WSAS domain of work ability (p = 0.002), while being the parent of children younger than 18 years significantly predicted worse WSAS family functioning scores (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results corroborate extant data about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HWs’ mental health and shed light on its detrimental effect on functioning. Tailored interventions should be designed in order to support HWs during times of crisis. Full article

The assessment of the health status of healthcare workers (HWs) is related to the growing interest in the sustainability of the medical profession. This study explores for the first time the level of burnout, coping strategies, and pulse wave velocity (PWV), the correlations between them, and possible connections with the workplace. It included 154 HWs, aged 25–64 years, 83.76% women, divided into five groups (oncology, cardiology, intensive care, occupational health, and residents). The Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT-23) questionnaire for the burnout level and the Carver Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) questionnaire for the coping strategies were used. PWV was measured with a TensioMed arteriograph. Regarding BAT subscales, all studied groups are at burnout for exhaustion (E), prone to burnout for mental distancing (MD), emotional impairment (EI), and no burnout for cognitive impairment (CI). On the four subscales of the BAT, the MANOVA shows a medium-sized effect of the workplace on MD and on CI. All subjects use positive coping strategies. Problem-solving mechanisms are often used, followed by emotional support-based and social support-based coping. PWV correlates with age and BMI and has a small positive correlation with MD, CI, and EI. High burnout levels are related to the healthcare profession, not to the workplace. Our research shows the practical need to supervise the mental and physical health of HWs in order to preserve their health through medical and organizational methods. Full article

Introduction: Following the concerning levels of spread and severity of the infection, on 11 March 2020, the World Health Organisation declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. In response to the pandemic, governments adopted several mitigation strategies. The pandemic posed a great threat to the Italian healthcare workforce (HW), with Italy being one of the hardest-hit countries. The aim of this study is to estimate the economic burden of COVID-19 on the workforce of a teaching hospital in Central Italy. Two periods are compared: 1 March 2020–9 February 2021 vs. 10 February 2021–31 March 2022. Methods: This study is conducted from a societal perspective. The database (n = 3298) of COVID-19-confirmed cases among the HW was obtained from the occupational health office of the hospital. The first entry on the database refers to 1 March 2020. Cost data were used to assess the economic burden of COVID-19 on the hospital workforce. They include two main groups: hourly salaries and medical expenses. The cost of productivity loss, hospital admission, at-home treatments, and contact tracing and screening tests were computed for the first and second periods of the analysis. Results: The total economic burden during the first period is estimated to be around EUR 3.8 million and in the second period EUR 4 million. However, the average cost per person is smaller in the second period (EUR 1561.78) compared to the first one (EUR 5906). In both periods, the cost of productivity loss is the largest component of the economic burden (55% and 57%). The cost of hospital admission decreased by more than 60% in the second period. Conclusion: Outcomes of the analysis suggest that the economic burden of COVID-19 on the HW is higher in the first period of analysis compared to the second period. The main reason could be identified in the shift from more severe and critical confirmed cases to more asymptomatic, mild, and moderate cases. The causes of this shift are not easily detectable. Vaccination, variants of the virus, and an individual’s determinants of health could all be causes of the decrease in the economic burden of COVID-19 on the HW. COVID-19 can generate a high economic burden on healthcare workers and, more generally, on HWs. However, a comprehensive estimate of the economic burden of the pandemic needs to integrate the mental health repercussions and the long-term COVID-19 that will become evident in the coming years. Full article

Despite the high impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on social interactions and healthcare workers’ (HWs’) mental health, few studies have investigated the association between social network characteristics and HWs’ mental health, particularly during the pandemic. Therefore, we aimed to assess the associations between public health residents’ (PHRs’) social network characteristics and depression. We used data from the Public Health Residents’ Anonymous Survey in Italy (PHRASI), a nationwide cross-sectional study. Social network characteristics were self-reported. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Linear and logistic models adjusted for age, sex, physical activity, and alcohol were used. A moderation analysis by sex was also performed. A total of 379 PHRs participated in the survey (58% females, median age of 30 years). More peer-to-peer (odds ratio OR = 0.62 (0.47–0.83)) and supervisor support (OR = 0.49 (0.36–0.68)), more social participation ((OR) = 0.36 95% CI (0.25–0.50)), and having a partner (OR = 0.49 (0.25–0.96)) were significantly associated with a lower risk of clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Work-to-private-life interference was significantly associated with a higher risk of clinically relevant depressive symptoms (OR = 1.77 (1.28–2.45)). Promoting a supportive work environment and social participation as well as reducing work-to-private life interference can contribute to reducing the high burden among PHRs. Full article

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) and specific traumatic events have been poorly explored in the literature focusing on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among healthcare workers (HWs) tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. In a large sample of Italian HWs, we investigated the kinds of traumatic events and whether PTG affects the risk of PTSD, along with its prevalence and features, during the first COVID-19 wave. COVID-19-related stressful events, Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and PTG Inventory-Short Form (PTGI-SF) scores were collected through an online survey. Out of 930 HWs included in the final sample, 257 (27.6%) received a provisional PTSD diagnosis based on IES-R scores. Events referring to the overall pandemic (40%) and to a threat to a family member (31%) were reported as the most stressful events. Female sex, previous mental disorders, job seniority, unusual exposure to sufferance and experiencing a threat to one’s family significantly increased the provisional PTSD diagnosis’ risk, while being a physician, the availability of personal protective equipment and moderate/greater scores on the PTGI-SF spiritual change domain were found to be protective factors. Full article

The validation and psychometric properties of the Individual and Organization related Stressors in Pandemic Scale for Healthcare Workers (IOSPS-HW) were presented. This is a new measure to assess individual factors related to the health and well-being of individuals, such as family and personal relationships, as well as organizational factors related to the management of the pandemic, including workplace relationships, job management and communication. Across two studies conducted at different time points of the pandemic, psychometric evidence of the IOSPS-HW is presented. In Study 1, through a cross-sectional design, we conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis through which the originally developed 43 items scale was reduced to a 20-item bidimensional scale with two correlated dimensions: Organization-related Stressors (O-S; 12 items) and Individual- and Health-related Stressors (IH-S; 8 items). Internal consistency and criterion validity were also provided by investigating the relationship with post-traumatic stress. In Study 2, we provided evidence for the temporal invariance of the measure and for temporal stability through a Multigroup-CFA through a longitudinal design. We also supported the criterion and predictive validity. The results suggest that IOSPS-HW is a good instrument to simultaneously investigating individual and organizational factors related to sanitary emergencies in healthcare workers. Full article

There is much discussion about the skills of people in understanding and managing online health information. The Italian survey “SEI Donna” aimed to investigate perceptions and use of the web in women regarding health issues considering their health literacy (HL) and healthcare skills. We used an online questionnaire to explore different aspects of online health-related information-seeking behavior. The study participants (n = 7027) were categorized into healthcare workers (HW), healthcare students (HS), and non-healthcare women (non-HW). Half the sample (52%) searched online for a second opinion after the medical examination without statistical difference among HW, HS, and non-HW. Women in the age range of 26–40 years (OR = 1.28, p < 0.001), having chronic illness (OR = 1.48; p < 0.001), and being moderately (OR = 1.58; p < 0.001) or not satisfied (OR = 2.04; p < 0.001) with healthcare professionals were more likely to use the Internet to seek medical insight. Overall, 34% of women had a functional HL, the same being higher in HW (64%) and in HS (43%) than the rest of the women (18%) (p < 0.0001). The suboptimal HL suggests the need to improve HL in the general population to be skilled in surfing the web and, at the same time, to reorganize health training to improve the HL of healthcare professionals, also enriching their communication skills. Full article

The spread of COVID-19 created a state of emergency all over the world and played a big role in the decline of the mental health of citizens. The context of the workplace became an important variable in the impact of the lockdown on individuals. In this study, we deepened the categories of healthcare workers (HWs), virtual workers (VWs), and the elderly, along with their emotional approach to this emergency. A sample of 257 participants (ElderlyN = 62; HWsN = 104; VWsN = 91) completed: a semi-structured interview on their experience during lockdown via telephone; an online survey with a sociodemographic questionnaire; the Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale (DERS); and the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Linguistic measures of the Referential Process were utilized to code the interviews. An independent ANOVA explored the variability among groups. The results show more affective language in the Elderly (M = 0.0310, SD = 0.0070) and a growth in spirituality (M = 4.16, SD = 3.17). HWs displayed a higher PTGI (M = 56.84, SD = 20.29), while VWs displayed a lower PTGI (M = 50.02, SD = 21.05). Moreover, VWs presented higher scores in Impulse on the DERS (M = 11.67, SD = 5.05) and a more cognitive/abstract narration (Reflection IREF M = 0.0260, SD = 0.0071; Reorganization IWRRL M = 0.5419, SD = 0.0032; Referential Activity IWRAD M = 0.4978, SD = 0.0029). This study aims to take the work context into consideration to create focused interventions. Full article

Background: Optimization of COVID-19 vaccination rate among healthcare personnel is of utmost priority to secure provision of uninterrupted care and to protect the most vulnerable patients. This study, as part of the global CoVaST project, aimed to assess the occurrence of short-term adverse events (SRAEs) of two most administered COVID-19 vaccines, mRNA-based (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) and viral vector-based (AstraZeneca) in healthcare sector workers (HWs). Methods: A cross-sectional survey-based study was carried out for the first time among 317 Polish healthcare sector personnel and medical students using a validated and pre-tested questionnaire. The online questionnaire included 25 pre-tested, validated questions concerning demographic data, medical parameters, COVID-19-related anamneses, and local or systemic reactions (reactogenicity) associated with COVID-19 vaccination. Descriptive statistics, inferential tests and binary logistic regression were performed. Results: Out of the 247 participating HWs, 79.8% were females, and 77.5% received mRNA-based vaccines, while 24.5% received a viral vector-based vaccine. Cumulatively, 78.9% and 60.7% of the participants reported at least one local and one systemic SRAE respectively, following their COVID-19 first or second dose of vaccine. A wide array of SRAEs was observed, while pain at injection site (76.9%) was the most common local SRAE, and fatigue (46.2%), headache (37.7%), muscle pain (31.6%) were the most common systemic SRAEs. The vast proportion of local (35.2%) and systemic (44.8%) SRAEs subsided up to 1 day after inoculation with both types of vaccines. The mRNA-based vaccine versions seem to cause higher prevalence of local SRAEs, mainly pain within injection site (81.3% vs. 71.7%; p = 0.435), while the viral vector-based vaccine was linked with increased incidents of mild systemic side effects (76.7% vs. 55.3%; p = 0.004) after both doses. Pooled analysis revealed uniform results while comparing the prevalence of SRAEs in HWs as recipients in four central European countries (OR = 2.38; 95% CI = 2.03–2.79). Conclusions: The study confirmed the safety of commonly administered vaccines against COVID-19, which were associated with mild, self-resolving adverse events. No major vaccine-related incidents were reported which would affect every day functioning, significantly. The younger age group (below 29 y.o.) were associated with an increased risk of adverse events generally. The results enhanced current data regarding COVID-19 vaccination active surveillance in selected occupational groups. Full article

Fear of becoming infected is an important factor of the complex suite of emotional reactions triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among healthcare workers (HWs), fear of infection can put at risk their psychological well-being and occupational efficiency. The aim of this study was to analyze the role of personality (i.e., the big five traits) and adult attachment in predicting levels of fear (as measured by the FCV-19S) in 101 HWs employed in a COVID-19 university hospital. The three significant predictors retained by the stepwise regression model were age (beta = 0.26, t = 2.89, p < 0.01), emotional stability (i.e., the inverse of neuroticism) (beta = −0.26, t = −2.89, p < 0.01), and fearful attachment (beta = 0.25, t = 2.75, p < 0.01). Older HWs with higher levels of neuroticism and fearful attachment reported more intense fear of COVID-19. Our results can be useful to identify vulnerable subgroups of HWs and to implement selective programs of prevention based on counseling and psychological support. Full article

During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HW) have faced an extremely difficult work environment, with an increased workload and traumatic events. Our study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on HW’s mental wellbeing. We analyzed the correlations between levels of burnout and other mental health disorders and we searched for the presence of specific risk factors of post-traumatic symptomatology related to the pandemic. A structured an on-line questionnaire and validated instruments were completed by a sample of HW from some hospitals in Genoa, Italy. Anxious, depressive, post-traumatic and other psychological symptoms were assessed and risk factors, related to the pandemic, were considered. Then, we investigated the correlation between levels of burnout and the risk of developing psychopathology. A total of 731 HW were screened, and we found increased levels of anxiety (61%), depression (62%), PTSD (34%) and high levels of burnout; especially emotional exhaustion (37%). A statistically significant association between burnout and insomnia, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic symptoms was demonstrated. This study indicates that during the COVID-19 pandemic, HW showed high levels of psychological distress and that burnout is an important predictor of sufferance. These findings support the idea to provide psychological and psychiatric support for HW. Full article

This is an update of our report on COVID-19 among health and social welfare workers in Germany. Workers’ compensation claims for occupational diseases (OD) are recorded in a standardized database of the Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Health and Welfare Services (BGW). We analyzed which workers in the health and welfare sector are most often affected by COVID-19. For the different sectors in healthcare and welfare, the number of full-time workers is known (FTW), allowing for calculation of claim rates by sector. The period for data presentation was extended to 3 May 2021 for this update. The cumulative number of COVID-19 claims increased from 4398 by May 2020 to 84,728 by May 2021. The majority of claims concern nursing homes (39.5%) and hospitals (37.6%). Nursing is the profession most often concerned (68.8%). Relative to the number of workers, the claim rate is highest for hospitals (41.3/1000 FTW). Seventy-seven workers died (0.09%) and three hundred and seventy-five (0.4%) were hospitalized. A total of 65,693 (77.5%) claims were assessed, and for 81.4% of these claims, the OD was confirmed. The number of health and welfare workers affected by COVID-19 is high. With most HW vaccinated by now in Germany, within the next few weeks or months, the number of new cases should decrease. Full article

Background: A previous study demonstrated the performance of the Salivette^® (SARSTEDT, Numbrecht, Germany) as a homogeneous saliva collection system to diagnose COVID-19 by RT-qPCR, notably for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. However, for convalescent patients, the corroboration of molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 in paired nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) and saliva samples was unsatisfactory. Objectives: The aim of the present work was to assess the concordance level of SARS-CoV-2 detection between paired sampling of NPSs and saliva collected with Salivette^® at two time points, with ten days of interval. Results: A total of 319 paired samples from 145 outpatients (OP) and 51 healthcare workers (HW) were collected. Unfortunately, at day ten, 73 individuals were lost to follow-up, explaining some kinetic missing data. Due to significant waiting rates at hospitals, most of the patients ate and/or drank while waiting for their turn. Consequently, mouth washing was systematically proposed prior to saliva collection. None of the HW were diagnosed as SARS-CoV-2 positive using NPS or saliva specimens at both time points (n = 95) by RT-qPCR. The virus was detected in 56.3% (n = 126/224) of the NPS samples from OP, but solely 26.8% (n = 60/224) of the paired saliva specimens. The detection of the internal cellular control, the human RNase P, in more than 98% of the saliva samples, underlined that the low sensitivity of saliva specimens (45.2%) for SARS-CoV-2 detection was not attributed to an improper saliva sample storing or RNA extraction. Conclusions: This work revealed that mouth washing decreased viral load of buccal cavity conducting to impairment of SARS-CoV-2 detection. Viral loads in saliva neo-produced appeared insufficient for molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2. At the time when saliva tests could be a rapid, simple and non-invasive strategy to assess large scale schoolchildren in France, the determination of the performance of saliva collection becomes imperative to standardize procedures. Full article