Search Results (389)

Introduction: As seasonal influenza vaccination coverage among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Serbia remains suboptimal, we aimed to identify HCW beliefs associated with their intention to receive seasonal influenza vaccine (“vaccination intention”) in the season 2024/2025. Methods: In a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2024, healthcare institutions were selected from a national registry, using multi-stage sampling stratified by geographical region and healthcare level. All consenting HCWs present on the survey day self-completed questionnaires. Five dichotomised Health Belief Model constructs were assessed: perceived susceptibility to influenza, perceived disease severity, perceived vaccination benefits, perceived physical and psychological barriers, and perceived cues for action (recommendation by another HCW, someone close, or a supervisor). The association of vaccination intention (yes/no/undecided) with Health Belief Model constructs, demographic and occupational factors were assessed using multinomial logistic regression. Results: Of 1919 respondents, 30% declared positive vaccination intention, 52.5% no intention, and 17.5% were undecided. Compared with no intention, positive vaccination intention was associated with perceived self-benefit (aOR = 6.22, CI = 3.49–11.08), perceived patient benefit (aOR = 2.26, CI = 1.48–3.45), perceived susceptibility (aOR = 3.26, CI = 2.19–4.86), and perceived vaccine safety (aOR = 2.95, CI = 1.93–4.50). Participants were more likely to be undecided than reject vaccination if they experienced higher perceived susceptibility (aOR = 2.93, CI = 1.89–4.54), perceived influenza as severe (aOR = 2.04, CI = 1.30–3.21), perceived patient benefits (aOR = 1.77, CI = 1.14–2.74), or recalled receiving a recommendation from another HCW (aOR = 2.63, CI = 1.17–5.85). Conclusions: HCWs’ positive vaccination intention was associated with beliefs relevant for personal health and patient benefits. The undecided group showed a distinct pattern of beliefs warranting their separate analysis and specific approaches. Full article

Background: Malaria is a significant public health challenge in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In conflict-affected areas, access to quality-assured ACTs is restricted by chronic stockouts and circulation of substandard and falsified antimalarials. This study investigates perceptions and social acceptability of Artemisia annua herbal tea in the Kalima Health Zone. Methods: Distinct from the prior provider-arm cross-sectional survey of the same program in the Kalima Health Zone which sampled only biomedical healthcare workers (n = 337), this exploratory qualitative study adopted a socio-anthropological design across three stakeholder strata (community users, biomedical providers, opinion leaders). Maximum-variation purposive sampling recruited 30 informants across five health areas (11 end-users, 11 providers, 8 opinion leaders). Sample-size adequacy was assessed against Malterud’s information power framework; data collection continued until operational thematic saturation. Hybrid inductive–deductive thematic content analysis followed COREQ reporting. Results: End-users demonstrated high willingness, driven by accessibility, perceived three-day recovery, and avoidance of unreliable ACTs. Biomedical providers voiced intense posological anxieties over uncalibrated raw biomass and sub-therapeutic dosing. Behavioral patterns were shaped by socio-religious norms and digitally mediated religious discourse. A unanimous demand for industrial galenic transformation of raw biomass into calibrated tablets emerged across all groups. Conclusions: This study does not validate the clinical efficacy, safety, posological adequacy, or resistance-attenuation potential of Artemisia annua herbal tea. It documents a transversal household-level consensus, across the three strata and five health areas, that Artemisia annua herbal tea adoption responds to documented double ACT supply chain failure. A unanimous demand for industrial galenic transformation emerged across all stakeholder groups. Full article

The agricultural sector in Greece heavily relies on migrant workers, particularly from South Asian countries, such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. Research has shown that these workers face numerous challenges, including unsanitary living conditions, exposure to hazardous working conditions, harmful chemicals, a lack of safety equipment, accidents, abuse, violence, and exploitative conduct from employers. Drawing on 45 in-depth interviews, this article analyzes the experiences of Bangladeshi migrant farmworkers employed as strawberry pickers in Nea Manolada, Greece. This study specifically examines how precarious and harsh working conditions in the agricultural sector affect the health, quality of life, and social integration of these unskilled workers. Evidence from the empirical sample reveals that Bangladeshi workers experience hazardous working environments, a lack of labor rights and contracts, chronic job insecurity, and exposure to harmful chemicals and are particularly vulnerable to injury, exploitation, and poverty due to the ethnic–racial division of labor, legal uncertainty, threats of deportation, overcrowded and unsanitary housing, poor nutrition, persistent job insecurity, health risks, and limited access to healthcare. These challenges and inequalities, both in employment and health, are seen as situations akin to modern slavery. This study underscores the urgent need for legislative, labor, and public health interventions to address the specific conditions faced by Bangladeshi migrant workers in the agricultural sector. While this research provides an in-depth insight into this group, it also acknowledges limitations regarding gender, sector, and wider representativeness. The results contribute to a nuanced understanding of the intersection between legal status, the ethnic–racial division of labor, working conditions, health, and quality of life among South Asian migrant agricultural workers in Southern Europe. Full article

Objective: Patient safety culture (PSC) is a critical determinant of healthcare quality. This study aimed to assess the current status of PSC among healthcare workers at Kien An Hospital, Hai Phong, Vietnam, and identify associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using the 12-dimension hospital survey on patient safety culture (HSOPSC). A total of 324 healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, and allied staff) participated. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression. Results: The positive response rate (PRR) across the 12 dimensions of patient safety culture (PSC) varied widely. The highest positive perceptions were observed in “Teamwork within units” (98.5%) and “Teamwork across units” (98.1%). Conversely, severe vulnerabilities in psychological safety were identified, with “Communication Openness” recording the absolute lowest PRR at 25.9%, closely followed by “Non-punitive response to error” at 29.0%. Comparative analysis between professional strata revealed broad alignment across 11 dimensions, with the sole significant divergence occurring in “Feedback and communication about error”, where physicians reported a significantly higher PRR than nurses & allied staff (85.8% vs. 75.2%; p = 0.04). In the multivariable logistic regression model, age emerged as the single independent predictor of overall positive PSC; compared to early-career staff (<30 years), healthcare workers aged 30–40 years (AOR = 4.17, p = 0.02) and 40–50 years (AOR = 5.03, p = 0.02) had significantly higher odds of favorable safety perceptions. Conclusions: Healthcare workers at the study hospital exhibit exceptionally strong collaborative teamwork, yet low communication openness and the fear of a punitive environment remain critical systemic barriers to safety. Because safety culture challenges are macro-institutional and disproportionately impact junior personnel, interventions should shift away from role-specific policies. Instead, hospital leadership must prioritize establishing non-punitive reporting mechanisms, enhancing open dialogue, and designing targeted safety culture onboarding initiatives tailored specifically to the needs of early-career healthcare workers to foster continuous organizational learning. Full article

Construction workers face disproportionate rates of fatal and nonfatal injuries, including falls, heat strain, overexertion, and struck-by incidents, that passive personal protective equipment cannot continuously monitor. Smart garments, which embed sensors and microelectronics directly into textile apparel, offer a deployable infrastructure for continuous worker-level physiological and kinematic monitoring. This PRISMA-guided systematic review synthesizes 76 records (search executed 31 December 2025; coverage 2000–2026), of which 63 are empirically validated and used for benchmarking. Four analytical contributions are made: (i) a tiered corpus classification separating construction-direct, transferable, and contextual evidence; (ii) stratification of all performance claims by validation context; (iii) explicit transferability assessment for records from healthcare, occupational safety, sports, and rehabilitation; and (iv) a deployment-maturity framework evaluating readiness across technical performance, validation maturity, operational durability, human and organizational acceptance, and system integration, extending beyond single-dimension scores such as NASA TRL. Only 7 of 63 empirical records (11%) were field or field-simulated, of which 6 reached TRL 5; most other systems remain at TRL 4. The framework suggests that technical performance is less often the primary limiting dimension than validation maturity, durability, and integration, although this conclusion is constrained by the dominance of laboratory and transferable evidence. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate radiation safety knowledge, perceptions, and self-reported protective practices among healthcare workers (HCWs) working in radiology and nuclear medicine departments, with particular attention to occupational dose limits, radiation protection principles, dosimetry, and personal protective equipment use. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 138 HCWs (25 specialist doctors, 101 technicians, 9 nurses and 3 radiophysicists) in radiology and nuclear medicine departments from May to June 2024. Data were collected using a structured 31-item survey assessing sociodemographic characteristics, perceived radiation exposure risk, knowledge of radiation protection principles and occupational dose limits, dosimeter use, personal protective equipment use, and awareness of institutional radiation safety procedures. The total knowledge score was calculated by summing correct responses to knowledge items (range: 0–10) and analyzed as a continuous outcome using multivariable linear regression with HC3 robust standard error. Because of the small and uneven distribution of some subgroups, item-level subgroup comparisons were interpreted descriptively and cautiously. Results: Although most HCWs reported receiving radiation safety information through formal education or institutional training, important knowledge and self-reported practice gaps remained. While 96.4% perceived themselves to be at high risk of radiation exposure, 61.6% reported not using any PPE in routine practice and 21.0% reported not using a dosimeter. Only 13.8% correctly identified the 5-year average permissible occupational dose, whereas 32.6% correctly identified the annual maximum dose limit. Knowledge of ionizing-radiation methods was higher among postgraduates than undergraduates (100% vs. 27.5%, p < 0.001) and among nuclear medicine staff than radiology staff (100% vs. 37.8%, p < 0.001). Knowledge of all three basic radiation protection methods was also higher among postgraduates than undergraduates (100% vs. 15.6%, p < 0.001). Because some subgroup distributions were small and uneven, these item-level subgroup findings should be interpreted descriptively and with appropriate caution. In multivariable linear regression with HC3 robust standard errors, technicians (B = −3.09, 95% CI = −3.52 to −2.67, p < 0.001) and nurses (B = −3.84, 95% CI = −5.26 to −2.43, p < 0.001) had lower total knowledge scores than specialist doctors. Nuclear medicine was associated with a higher total score than radiology (B = 2.33, 95% CI = 0.81 to 3.85, p = 0.003), whereas >3 years of work experience was associated with a lower score than ≤3 years (B = −1.53, 95% CI = −2.40 to −0.66, p = 0.001). When postgraduate education was evaluated instead of professional role because of collinearity, postgraduate education was associated with a higher total knowledge score. Because of the cross-sectional design, these associations should not be interpreted as causal. The internal consistency of the knowledge subscale was minimally acceptable (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.694). Conclusions: Significant gaps and variations were observed in radiation safety knowledge and self-reported practices among HCWs. These patterns differed according to educational level, professional role, departmental affiliation, and experience; however, they should be interpreted in light of the cross-sectional design and the small and uneven distribution of some subgroups. These findings identify potential areas for future institutional quality-improvement efforts, including targeted education programs and review of radiation safety policies, whose effectiveness should be evaluated in future studies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Burnout among healthcare professionals has emerged as a major occupational and organizational challenge with important implications for workforce sustainability, patient safety, and healthcare system performance. Although the scientific literature on burnout has expanded substantially, an integrated understanding of its global development, research structure, and scientific impact remains limited. This study aimed to examine the evolution, thematic development, and citation dynamics of burnout research among healthcare professionals through an integrated bibliometric approach combining science mapping, multilevel citation modelling, and critical literature synthesis. Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted using publications indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection between 1987 and 2024. Science mapping techniques were applied using Bibliometrix and VOSviewer to evaluate publication trends, collaboration networks, thematic development, and citation patterns. In addition, a multilevel negative binomial regression model was used to identify publication characteristics associated with citation impact. Results: A total of 1232 publications were included in the analysis. Scientific production increased markedly after 2020, temporally coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic and growing scientific interest in healthcare workforce wellbeing. Research output was concentrated in high-income countries, particularly the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Physicians and nurses dominated the literature, while non-clinical healthcare workers remained underrepresented. The thematic analysis indicated an increasing emphasis on organizational and system-level determinants of burnout alongside the continued presence of individual-centered perspectives. The multilevel negative binomial model identified longer title length and a greater number of author-provided keywords as being associated with lower expected citation counts, whereas a greater number of Keywords Plus terms was associated with higher expected citation counts. Conclusions: Burnout research has evolved into a rapidly expanding and increasingly interdisciplinary field. However, important gaps persist regarding geographic representation, workforce diversity, methodological standardization, and organizational intervention research. Future studies should move beyond descriptive approaches and further evaluate organizational interventions and workforce-related strategies to strengthen the evidence base that may inform healthcare policy and organizational practice. Full article

Healthcare systems face increasing pressure from demographic, technological, and organizational changes that intensify psychosocial risks and threaten both healthcare workers’ well-being and patient safety. This study investigates whether burnout mediates the relationship between psychosocial risk factors and patient safety culture in healthcare settings. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 220 Portuguese healthcare workers using three validated instruments: the Psychosocial Risks Scale (INSAT_ERPS), the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT-23), and the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC). Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and mediation analyses were performed using SPSS (version 31.0) and the PROCESS (version 5) macro. Results showed a moderately strong positive association between psychosocial risks and burnout, and a significant negative association between burnout and patient safety culture. Psychosocial risks were not directly associated with patient safety culture. However, burnout indirectly mediated this relationship, indicating that adverse working conditions impair safety perceptions through their impact on psychological strain. These findings highlight burnout as a significant key mediator linking unsustainable working conditions to unsafe care, showing the relevance of the psychosocial environment. Targeted interventions to reduce psychosocial risks are thus fundamental to improving patient safety culture and promoting the sustainable functioning of healthcare systems. Full article

Objective: Varicella zoster virus (VZV), a member of the Herpesviridae family, is known as the causative agent of chickenpox (varicella). Following primary infection, VZV can remain latent for life and may reactivate over time to cause herpes zoster (shingles). Advanced age, immunodeficiency, and certain chronic illnesses are major risk factors for the development of herpes zoster. To prevent herpes zoster, a live zoster vaccine was licensed in 2006, followed by a recombinant zoster vaccine with higher efficacy in 2018. In Türkiye, the recombinant zoster vaccine was licensed in 2024. Raising awareness among healthcare workers is important both for their own health and the safety of vulnerable patients. This study aimed to evaluate healthcare workers’ knowledge and awareness of herpes zoster infection and zoster vaccines across the country, as well as to determine the prevalence of prior herpes zoster infection among them. Methods: After obtaining ethical approval, a nationwide multicenter survey was conducted. A questionnaire was distributed to healthcare workers via an online link. Participation was entirely voluntary. The survey collected demographic information (age, sex, profession, years of experience) and included questions on knowledge of herpes zoster, history of zoster infection, symptoms and severity (if applicable), awareness of the zoster vaccine, and vaccination attitudes. Results: A total of 5180 healthcare workers participated, of whom 3505 were female. The participants ranged in age from 18 to 79 years (mean age: 34.24 ± 11.52). Regarding professions: 47.9% were physicians, 21.3% were nurses or midwives, 0.8% were dentists or dental technicians, and 30% were from other healthcare professions. Among participants, 54.4% had ≤10 years of professional experience, 20% had comorbidities, and 10.5% were using immunosuppressive medications. It was found that 9.6% had previously had herpes zoster, 8.8% had no knowledge of the disease, 39.6% were aware of the vaccine, and 20.1% were unwilling to pay for vaccination. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis revealed that being a physician significantly increased the likelihood of having correct knowledge by 1.961 times compared to other professions (p < 0.001, CI: 1.608–2.392). Similarly, those who had heard of herpes zoster were 3.191 times more likely to answer correctly than those who had not (p = 0.011, CI: 1.650–6.172). Male gender was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of having accurate knowledge compared to females (p = 0.001, OR = 0.720, CI: 0.594–0.874). Conclusions: This study revealed that healthcare workers’ knowledge and awareness regarding herpes zoster and its vaccines are generally insufficient. The recent licensing of the vaccine in Türkiye may explain this, but it is critical for healthcare professionals to be more informed about risk groups and vaccination indications in order to enhance the effectiveness of preventive healthcare services. Given the potential for serious complications of herpes zoster in elderly and immunocompromised individuals, the importance of vaccination should be emphasized more strongly to healthcare workers. Furthermore, the finding that 20.1% of those aware of the vaccine were deterred by its cost highlights the need to improve vaccine accessibility. Economic barriers preventing healthcare workers from being vaccinated emphasize the importance of making the vaccine widely available through public support to protect both healthcare workers and patient safety. Full article

Background: Herpes zoster (HZ), commonly known as shingles, and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) represent growing public health concerns, particularly among older adults. Despite the established efficacy of the herpes zoster vaccine (HZV), global uptake remains suboptimal. Objectives: This scoping review maps evidence from Saudi Arabia evaluating the baseline knowledge, awareness, attitudes, acceptance, hesitancy, and clinical uptake of the HZV among general adults, high-risk populations, and healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods: The JBI and PRISMA-ScR methodological frameworks were strictly adhered to during mapping. Eligible sources included peer-reviewed, observational cross-sectional studies conducted in Saudi Arabia and published in English between 2022 and 2026. The search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Data were systematically extracted and charted using a standardized digital piloting framework to capture study characteristics (author, year, and region), sample sizes, target populations, knowledge percentages, actual vaccine uptake rates, and self-reported barriers. Results: Out of 25 retrieved records, 19 unique primary studies were mapped. Public knowledge of HZ complications and vaccine eligibility criteria was consistently low to moderate, falling below 50% across most cohorts. Conversely, while verbal willingness to receive the vaccine was highly favorable (ranging from 60% to 75%), a profound “intention–behavior gap” was observed, with actual clinical uptake being below 10%. Key barriers included a lack of public health campaigns, safety concerns regarding reactogenicity, online misinformation, and a lack of proactive provider communication. For HCWs, barriers included unclear local guidelines and a lack of workplace mandates. Ultimately, a proactive physician recommendation was identified as the single most powerful clinical facilitator, increasing vaccine acceptance by over 80% across all cohorts. Conclusions: While the shingles vaccine is now distributed completely free across Saudi Arabia, high public willingness has not translated into actual vaccination rates (10%) due to low public awareness of disease severity. Free vaccine availability alone is insufficient; primary care systems must shift from a passive delivery model to an active, provider-driven framework to successfully close this gap Full article

Background/Objectives: Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration in healthcare promises improved diagnostic accuracy, patient safety, and operational efficiency. However, AI acceptance among healthcare workers remains limited due to knowledge gaps, risk concerns, and governance challenges, particularly in developing countries like Saudi Arabia, where rapid healthcare modernization faces unique infrastructure, organizational, and cultural challenges. This research investigates the factors influencing AI acceptance among medical practitioners, nurses, administrators, and students in Saudi Arabian hospitals to identify key determinants and barriers to adoption. Methods: This cross-sectional study employed an extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework integrated with ethical considerations from the Model for Ethical Assessment and Analysis of AI in Medicine (MEAAM). A structured bilingual questionnaire was administered to 119 healthcare professionals and students across Saudi Arabia, measuring constructs including Awareness and Knowledge, Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Facilitating Conditions, Social Influence, Trust, Perceived Risk, Ethical Governance, and Price Value. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed for quantitative analysis, supplemented by thematic analysis of open-ended qualitative responses. Results: The PLS-SEM analysis explained 59.8% of variance in behavioral intention to adopt AI (R² = 0.598). Awareness and Knowledge emerged as the strongest predictor (β = +0.505, p < 0.001), followed by Performance Expectancy (β = +0.229, p < 0.05) and Social Influence (β = +0.123). Perceived Risk functioned as the primary barrier (β = −0.185, p < 0.05). Qualitative findings identified infrastructure gaps, regulatory ambiguities, and training deficiencies as major implementation barriers, while emphasizing opportunities in diagnostic accuracy and remote monitoring. Conclusions: AI acceptance in Saudi healthcare is primarily driven by knowledge, with perceived usefulness and peer support as secondary facilitators, while safety and accountability concerns remain substantial obstacles. Successful AI integration requires coordinated efforts in education, transparent governance frameworks, and institutional support. This study contributes theoretically by validating extended UTAUT in a non-Western healthcare context and practically by providing evidence-based strategies for sustainable AI adoption that enhance healthcare quality while respecting professional roles and ethical principles. Full article

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) remain a critical patient safety challenge. Hand hygiene is considered the most effective preventive measure, yet traditional monitoring captures only compliance, not technique quality. This prospective before–after study evaluated whether real-time visual feedback via the Semmelweis UV-fluorescence system is associated with improved hand hygiene quality, measured by ATP bioluminescence and microbiological culture. Methods: Three clinical departments (the Intensive Care Unit, Hematology, and Gynecology) at a Romanian tertiary hospital were purposively selected. Seventy-one healthcare workers (HCWs) were enrolled. The 12-week study comprised Phase 1 (baseline, weeks 1–4), Phase 2 (active intervention with Semmelweis feedback, weeks 5–8), a one-week washout (week 9), and Phase 3 (sustainability assessment, weeks 10–12). Paired ATP-CFU samples were collected weekly. Within-group comparisons used Kruskal–Wallis H tests with post hoc Dunn’s tests and Bonferroni correction. Secondary outcomes included Semmelweis global and zone-specific coverage and the correlation between subject-level Semmelweis coverage and ATP bioluminescence (Spearman’s rho). Results: A total of 781 paired ATP-CFU samples and 497 Semmelweis evaluations were analyzed. Mean ATP declined from 195.9 RLU at baseline to 148.2 RLU in Phase 2 (−24.4%) and 154.8 RLU in Phase 3 (−21.0%; Kruskal–Wallis H = 102.73, p < 0.001). CFU/mL declined from 84.8 to 66.2 (−21.9%) and 70.7 (−16.6%; H = 22.48, p < 0.001). Post hoc comparisons confirmed significant Phase 1 versus Phase 2 and Phase 1 versus Phase 3 differences for both markers (all p < 0.01), while Phase 2 versus Phase 3 was non-significant, indicating stabilization at an improved level. Subject-level Semmelweis coverage correlated negatively with ATP (rho = −0.665, 95% CI −0.778 to −0.510, p < 0.001), supporting construct validity at the operator level. Semmelweis global coverage was 93.1% (Phase 2) and 90.6% (Phase 3); interdigital spaces showed the highest inadequacy rate (73.9% protocol-based, 92.5% targeted). Conclusions: Real-time visual feedback via UV-fluorescence imaging was associated with significant and sustained improvements in hand hygiene quality beyond baseline. ATP, CFU, and Semmelweis assessments captured complementary, non-redundant dimensions, supporting multimodal evaluation. Interdigital spaces and fingertips remained persistent failure points requiring targeted educational reinforcement. Full article

Introduction: Streptococcus pneumoniae severely affects adults over 65, especially those with comorbidities. Since vaccination coverage among healthcare workers (HCWs) is unknown despite free availability, this study evaluates knowledge, behaviours, hesitancy and accessibility among employees of an Italian hospital. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional survey was administered via “SurveyMonkey.” From February 22 to June 15, 2024, healthcare and administrative staff aged ≥ 18 at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Gemelli were recruited by email. Descriptive and inferential analyses used Stata 16.1. Results: Among HCWs, 72% are women, with an average age of 48. Pneumococcal vaccination coverage is 20%, with 82.7% vaccinated in-hospital. Preferred information sources include courses, webinars, and institutional websites. For management staff, vaccine safety and effectiveness were significant determinants. Among administrative employees, 65% are women (average age 51); 19% are vaccinated, 24% are unsure, and 43% prefer in-hospital vaccination. Physicians cited trust in vaccines (25.3%) and self-protection (23.2%) as key motivators, compared with 12.4% among nursing, technical and rehabilitative staff. Recommendation to family members was higher among medical and specialist professionals (90%) than in other groups (77% in nursing/technical/rehabilitative; <50% in assistants and auxiliary staff). About half of the groups rated their knowledge at level 2 (scale 1–4). Multivariable regression analysis showed that medical professionals and specialists exhibited a higher perception of the importance and safety of vaccines compared with other categories. Conclusions: HCWs showed greater knowledge of pneumococcal vaccination, while administrative staff had lower awareness and more hesitancy. Both groups preferred in-hospital vaccination and expressed interest in structured educational initiatives. Full article

Background: Nurses’ job satisfaction is an important factor associated with motivation, retention, and performance, potentially influencing the quality and safety of healthcare delivery. Identifying organizational and professional determinants of job satisfaction is essential for the sustainability of healthcare systems. Objective: This study aims to describe nurses’ job satisfaction across its multiple dimensions and examine differences in job satisfaction dimensions across sociodemographic and professional groups. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive–correlational study was conducted with 153 nurses. Data were collected between October and December 2024 using an online questionnaire, with a response rate of 28.9%, which included the Escala de Satisfação dos Enfermeiros com o Trabalho (ESET). Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed, with the significance level set at 0.05. Results: Moderate levels of job satisfaction predominated among participants (75.8%), with 5.2% of participants reporting low satisfaction. The highest mean scores were observed in satisfaction with co-workers and professional recognition, while the lowest scores were found in the recognition and remuneration dimension. Statistically significant differences in mean job satisfaction scores were observed across groups defined by variables such as work setting, work schedule, weekly workload, and employment across multiple workplaces. Conclusions: Nurses’ job satisfaction is multidimensional and varies across different professional and organizational groups. These findings highlight areas of lower job satisfaction that may represent priorities for future organizational assessment and management attention. Full article

Background: The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential to ensure infection prevention, healthcare worker safety, and reduce healthcare-associated infections in clinical settings. Innovative training approaches, such as virtual reality (VR), may enhance competency and clinical preparedness compared with traditional video-based instruction, supporting safer patient care practices. Methods: Participants were 84 students, with 42 participants in each group. The study was conducted at a public university in Saudi Arabia. The video-based group viewed a standardized educational video on PPE procedures, whereas the VR group engaged in a 13-min immersive 360° training module. Both groups completed pre- and post-intervention assessments to evaluate PPE competency. Primary outcomes included the PPE Knowledge Questionnaire and the Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale scores. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS. Results: Both instructional approaches significantly improved PPE-related competency, supporting infection prevention in clinical settings. The VR group demonstrated slightly higher post-intervention scores than the video-based group (p < 0.001). The magnitude of this difference was large (Cohen’s d ≈ 0.87; partial η² = 0.163), indicating a practical advantage of VR-based instruction over video-based learning. High satisfaction and self-confidence were reported among VR participants, indicating positive perceptions of clinical preparedness, although these were not significantly associated with competency gains. Conclusions: Both VR- and video-based training significantly enhanced PPE competency, supporting improved infection prevention practices. VR demonstrated a marginal advantage and was associated with high levels of satisfaction and confidence, highlighting its value as an effective training approach to strengthen healthcare workforce preparedness and patient safety. Full article