scholarly journals The impact of Covid-19 on Belgian mental health care: A Delphi study among psychosocial health professionals, patients, and informal caretakers

Author(s):  
Nele Van den Cruyce ◽  
Elke Van Hoof ◽  
Lode Godderis ◽  
Sylvie Gerard ◽  
Frédérique Van Leuven

AbstractThe Covid-19 pandemic is primarily viewed as a threat to physical health, and therefore, biomedical sciences have become an integral part of the public discourse guiding policy decisions. Nonetheless, the pandemic and the measures implemented have an impact on the population’s psychosocial health. The impact of Covid-19 on the psychosocial care system should be thoroughly investigated to mitigate this effect. In this context, the present study was conducted to establish a consensus about the impact of Covid-19 on psychosocial health and the care system in Belgium. Using the Belgian Superior Health Council’s expert database, a three-round Delphi consensus development process was organized with psychosocial experts (i.e., professionals, patients, and informal caregiver representatives). Overall, 113 of the 148 experts who participated in round 1 fully completed round 2 (76% response rate). Consensus (defined as >70% agreement and an interquartile interval (IQR) of no more than 2) was reached in round 2 for all but three statements. Fifty experts responded to round 3 by providing some final nuances, but none of them reaffirmed their positions or added new points to the discussion (44.25% response rate). The most robust agreement (>80%) was found for three statements: the pandemic has increased social inequalities in society, which increase the risk of long-term psychosocial problems; the fear of contamination creates a constant mental strain on the population, wearing people out; and there is a lack of strategic vision about psychosocial care and an underestimation of the importance of psychosocial health in society. Our findings show that experts believe the psychosocial impact of Covid-19 is underappreciated, which has a negative impact on psychosocial care in Belgium. Several unmet needs were identified, but so were helpful resources and barriers. The Delphi study’s overarching conclusion is that the pandemic does not affect society as a whole in the same way or with the same intensity. The experts, thereby, warn that the psychosocial inequalities in society are on the rise.

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 519-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Joaquín Mira ◽  
Johanna Caro Mendivelso ◽  
Irene Carrillo ◽  
Javier González de Dios ◽  
Guadalupe Olivera ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective To determine the non-adherence to the primary care ‘do not do’ recommendations (DNDs) and their likelihood to cause harm. Design Delphi study. Setting Spanish National Health System. Participants A total of 128 professionals were recruited (50 general practitioners [GPs], 28 pediatricians [PEDs], 31 nurses who care for adult patients [RNs] and 19 pediatric nurses [PNs]). Interventions A selection of 27 DNDs directed at GPs, 8 at PEDs, 9 at RNs and 4 at PNs were included in the Delphi technique. A 10-point scale was used to assess whether a given practice was still present and the likelihood of it causing of an adverse event. Main outcome measure Impact calculated by multiplying an event’s frequency and likelihood to cause harm. Results A total of 100 professionals responded to wave 1 (78% response rate) and 97 of them to wave 2 (97% response rate). In all, 22% (6/27) of the practices for GPs, 12% (1/8) for PEDs, 33% (3/9) for RNs and none for PNs were cataloged as frequent. A total of 37% (10/27) of these practices for GPs, 25% (2/8) for PEDs, 33% (3/9) for RNs and 25% (1/4) for PNs were considered as potential causes of harm. Only 26% (7/27) of the DNDs for GPs showed scores equal to or higher than 36 points. The impact measure was higher for ordering benzodiazepines to treat insomnia, agitation or delirium in elderly patients (mean = 57.8, SD = 25.3). Conclusions Low-value and potentially dangerous practices were identified; avoiding these could improve care quality.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shakti Chaturvedi ◽  
Thomas Enias Pasipanodya

The present work presents an analytical and investigatory view of the existing issues regarding COVID-19 with attention to children and their overall well-being during the second quarter of 2020. The authors conducted an extensive content analysis of media reports, government briefings, social platforms, and provide some recommendations to the policymakers and care providers for building more robust responses for the pandemic affected children. The article contributes to the existing field of study in the following ways. Firstly, the present manuscript describes the impact of COVID-19 on the psychosocial health of children. Secondly, the authors offered some outcome-based responses to policymakers and caregivers to mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic on COVID affected families and children. Thirdly, the article highlights the importance of social media, the role of storytelling, and using the concept of mandalas in handling the pandemic affected sensitive sections of the society. Lastly, the authors furnish some response initiatives to combat the novel COVID-19 pandemic based on real-world observations. These initiatives can influence policymakers as well as help caregivers to design efficient and adequate response programs for the pandemic affected children.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0257289
Author(s):  
Łukasz Kołodziej ◽  
Dawid Ciechanowicz ◽  
Hubert Rola ◽  
Szymon Wołyński ◽  
Hanna Wawrzyniak ◽  
...  

The Coronovirus Disease 2019 –(COVID-19) pandemic had a significant impact on the health care system and medical staff around the world. The orthopedic units were also subject to new restrictions and regulations. Therefore, the aim of our research was to assess how the COVID-19 pandemic affected orthopedic wards in the last year in Poland. We created an online survey, which was sent to 273 members of the Polish Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology. The survey contained 51 questions and was divided into main sections: Preparedness, Training, Stress, Reduction, Awareness. A total of 80 responses to the survey were obtained. In Preparedness section the vast majority of respondents (90%) replied, that they used personal protective equipment during the pandemic, however only 50% of the respondents indicated that their facility received a sufficient amount of personal protective equipment. Most of the respondents indicated that the pandemic negatively affected the quality of training of future orthopedists (69.4%) and that pandemic has had a negative impact on their operating skills (66,7%). In Reduction section most of the doctors indicated that the number of patients hospitalized in their departments decreased by 20–60% (61,2% respondents), while the number of operations performed decreased by 60–100% (60% respondents). The negative impact of pandemic on education was noticeable especially in the group of young orthopedic surgeons: 0–5 years of work experience (p = 0,029). Among the respondents, the level of stress increased over the last year from 4.8 to 6.9 (p <0.001). The greatest increase in the level of stress was observed among orthopedists working in country hospitals (p = 0,03). In section Awareness 36,3% of respondents feel well or very well informed about the latest Covid-19 regulations. In addition, most doctors (82.6%) believe that the Polish health care system was not well prepared to fight the pandemic and that the regulations applied so far are not sufficient to effectively fight the pandemic (66.2%). The COVID-19 pandemic has impact on orthopedics departments in Poland and negatively affected the quality of training of orthopedic surgeons and the level of stress.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 1462-1472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Nanninga ◽  
Gesa Lehne ◽  
Tiara Ratz ◽  
Gabriele Bolte

Abstract Introduction A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the impact of public smoking bans on social inequalities in children’s secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure at home. Methods Five databases were electronically searched for articles on children’s SHS exposure at home related to public smoking bans. In addition, the gray literature and German public health journals were considered. Search was restricted to English and German publications. Of 3037 records screened, 25 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria by either measuring SHS exposure before and after public smoking ban introduction or by comparing exposure between regions with and without smoke-free legislation. Studies were further examined whether they additionally reported on impacts on social inequalities in SHS exposure. Information on children’s SHS exposure at home in relation to smoke-free legislation were extracted by one reviewer and checked for accuracy by a second reviewer. According to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-Equity (PRISMA-E) guidelines for equity-focused systematic reviews, the PROGRESS-Plus framework was applied to data extraction and analysis with focus on social inequalities in SHS exposure. Results were visualized by a harvest plot. Results Eight studies gave results on the impact of public smoking bans on social inequalities in children’s SHS exposure. Whereas only one study indicated widening of the social gap in exposure, seven studies showed no impact or a reduction of social inequalities in exposure. Conclusions First evidence on short-term impact of public smoking bans does not support the assumption of intervention-generated inequalities in children’s SHS exposure at home. Future studies should focus on long-term equity impacts of smoke-free legislation. Implications There are substantial social inequalities in children’s SHS exposure in many countries. Both hypotheses on the effect of smoke-free legislation on children’s SHS exposure at home, the displacement hypothesis and the social diffusion hypothesis, did not take social inequalities into account. Up to now, only few studies analyzed the effects of smoke-free legislation on social inequalities in children’s SHS exposure at home. Public smoking bans had overall no negative impact on social inequalities in children’s SHS exposure at home. More consistent reporting of absolute and relative inequalities is needed to comprehensively assess equity impact of smoke-free legislation.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (34_suppl) ◽  
pp. 204-204
Author(s):  
Jessica A. Church ◽  
Robert D. Adams ◽  
Laura H. Hendrix ◽  
Jordan A. Holmes ◽  
Lawrence B. Marks ◽  
...  

204 Background: The presence of a "just culture" is often noted to be critical in optimizing safety, since workers need to feel comfortable reporting errors. We performed a national survey of radiation therapists and medical dosimetrists to assess their comfort in reporting errors. We herein quantify the impact of workers’ perceptions of their workplace culture (based on prior experiences in reporting errors) on their comfort in reporting safety concerns. Methods: In 2011, a survey was mailed to 1,500 therapists and 528 dosimetrists assessing their comfort in reporting errors. The metric used to assess their perceptions of their workplace culture was if they had, or knew of staff who had been, reprimanded in the past for reporting errors. Comfort in reporting new errors among workers who have (vs. have not) experienced prior reprimand were compared using Fisher’s exact test. Results: Overall, 356 therapists from 47 states (24% response rate) and 190 dosimetrists from 35 States (36% response rate) responded to the survey. 16% of therapists and 5% of dosimetrists reported that they have been personally reprimanded for reporting an error. The proportion of workers comfortable reporting errors was lower among those with prior personal reprimand vs. those without such reprimand (47% vs. 90%, p<.0001). Similarly, 29% of therapists and 8% of dosimetrists reported that other staff members have been reprimanded for reporting, and these reprimands had a similar deterrent effect on reporting errors. On multivariate analysis, previous personal reprimand for reporting errors (OR 4.13, p=.001) and reprimand of other therapists/dosimetrists (OR 2.55, p=.03) were significantly associated with discomfort in error reporting. Conclusions: A sizable proportion of respondents in our study has been personally reprimanded or knows of staff in their facility reprimanded for reporting errors. Prior reprimand has a dramatic detrimental impact on workers’ comfort to report future concerns regarding safety. A potential opportunity for future improvement in radiation oncology treatment facilities is to encourage a culture that allows error reporting without fear of reprimand.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yassine Benrqya

PurposeThe objective of this paper is to examine the impact of cross-docking on the retail out of stock (OOS).Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on a three-phase Delphi study consisting of a seeding/literature review phase, a pre-testing phase and a three-round Delphi study. The Delphi study used in this paper brings together leading supply chain management experts with leading academics.FindingsThe findings of the paper show that cross-docking may impact the retailers OOS drivers positively or negatively. The study demonstrates that cross-docking has a negative impact on ordering, placement, delivery, handling, DC handling and receipt. On the other hand, cross-docking has a positive effect on supplier ordering. Finally, academics and supply chain managers disagreed on the effect of cross-docking on the promotions driver. Academics consider that cross-docking has a positive impact on promotions OOS driver, while supply chain managers believe the opposite.Research limitations/implicationsThe Delphi study was administrated to supply chain managers from a single major FMCG company, which is a supplier of grocery retailers. By including supply chain managers from the retailers' side, more perspectives on the impact of cross-docking on the OOS drivers can be investigated.Originality/valueThe study develops an original instrument to investigate the impact of cross-docking on OOS drivers. This is the first scholarly work to investigate the relationship between a distribution strategy and the OOS drivers.


Author(s):  
Erica Briones-Vozmediano ◽  
Natalia Rivas-Quarneti ◽  
Montserrat Gea-Sánchez ◽  
Andreu Bover-Bover ◽  
Maria Antonia Carbonero ◽  
...  

In Spain, most jobs available for Latin American immigrant women are in intimate labour (caregiving and domestic work). This work is usually performed under informal employment conditions. The objective of this study was to explain how the colonial logic mediates the experiences of Latin American women working in intimate labour in Spain, and the effects of such occupation on their health and wellbeing, using a decolonial theoretical framework. A multi-site secondary data analysis of qualitative data from four previous studies was performed utilizing 101 interviews with Latin American immigrant women working as caregivers in Spain. Three interwoven categories show how the dominant colonial logic in Spain creates low social status and precarious jobs, and naturalizes intimate labour as their métier while producing detrimental physical and psychosocial health consequences for these immigrant caregivers. The caregivers displayed several strategies to resist and navigate intimate labour and manage its negative impact on health. Respect and integration into the family for whom they work had a buffering effect, mediating the effects of working conditions on health and wellbeing. Based on our analysis, we suggest that employment, social, and health protection laws and strategies are needed to promote a positive working environment, and to reduce the impact of caregiving work for Latin American caregivers.


Sociologias ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (55) ◽  
pp. 290-327
Author(s):  
Stephan Treuke

Abstract Grounded on semi-structured interviews, we seek to examine the impact of neighborhood effects on the individuals’ living conditions in four shanty-towns of Salvador, Brazil, addressing the question of under what conditions the proximity to affluent gated communities fosters their socio-economic integration. The research demonstrates that the relationship between spatial proximity and socio-economic integration is conditioned by the capacity of public space to promote (non)employment cross-class interactions, the impact of crime, and the gated communities' degree of securitization. Whereas in Calabar, large opportunities of socio-economic participation in its surroundings mitigate the negative impact of neighborhood effects, (non-)employment relationships sharply decline in the less centrally located Vale das Pedrinhas and Bate Facho, where the informal proletariat has been excluded from using the public space for commercial activities. The construction of the highly isolated gated community Alphaville II has neither fostered cross-class interactions nor benefitted the economic integration of the Vila Verde inhabitants. In all neighborhoods physical boundaries have been internalized by a similar discourse that emphasizes class-hierarchized opportunities for upward socio-economic mobility, particularly regarding the access to schools and public security. The study urges to reflect on a more holistic approach to social inequalities, comprising socially more integrative labor and housing policies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-76
Author(s):  
Tomasz Raburski

The article explores the link between the language of rights and democracy. The author asks whether the dominance of the language of rights in the United States is responsible for the overall condition of American democracy, and the lack of such dominance may have a negative impact on the Polish public sphere. The beginning of the article describes the problems with translating the word „right” from English into Polish. In the next part, the different forms and types of rights are described. Then, a meaning of the „language of rights” is presented. Other languages of public discourse are mentioned for comparison. The consequences and functions of the language of law for the public sphere and democracy are widely discussed. The critical voices about the impact of rights are examined. Finally, the article answers the question about the role of rights in the Polish public sphere and democracy.


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