A systematic review of occupational radiation individual dose monitoring among healthcare workers exposed in Africa

Abstract Background Since the COVID-19 pandemic has occurred, nations showed their unpreparedness to deal with a mass casualty incident of this proportion and severity, which resulted in a tremendous number of deaths even among healthcare workers. The World Society of Emergency Surgery conceived this position paper with the purpose of providing evidence-based recommendations for the management of emergency surgical patients under COVID-19 pandemic for the safety of the patient and healthcare workers. Method A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) through the MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase and SCOPUS databases. Synthesis of evidence, statements and recommendations were developed in accordance with the GRADE methodology. Results Given the limitation of the evidence, the current document represents an effort to join selected high-quality articles and experts’ opinion. Conclusions The aim of this position paper is to provide an exhaustive guidelines to perform emergency surgery in a safe and protected environment for surgical patients and for healthcare workers under COVID-19 and to offer the best management of COVID-19 patients needing for an emergency surgical treatment. We recommend screening for COVID-19 infection at the emergency department all acute surgical patients who are waiting for hospital admission and urgent surgery. The screening work-up provides a RT-PCR nasopharyngeal swab test and a baseline (non-contrast) chest CT or a chest X-ray or a lungs US, depending on skills and availability. If the COVID-19 screening is not completed we recommend keeping the patient in isolation until RT-PCR swab test result is not available, and to manage him/she such as an overt COVID patient. The management of COVID-19 surgical patients is multidisciplinary. If an immediate surgical procedure is mandatory, whether laparoscopic or via open approach, we recommend doing every effort to protect the operating room staff for the safety of the patient.

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Tai Chi and workplace wellness for health care workers: a systematic review

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.1375 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

B Dorelli ◽

R A Cocchiara ◽

G Gholamalishahi ◽

W Longo ◽

E Musumeci ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Case Report ◽

Observational Study ◽

Methodological Quality ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Tai Chi ◽

Work Related Stress ◽

Work Related ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Related Stress

Abstract Background Several studies show positive effects of new non-medical therapies known as complementary and alternative medicines, such as the discipline of tai chi. As healthcare professions are among the most vulnerable for work-related stress, this systematic review aims to investigate the relationship between tai chi practice and wellness of healthcare workers. Methods Cinahl, Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed were searched in September 2019. Full-text articles, written in English and published after 1995, were recruited if they focused on positive effects of tai chi on the psychophysical wellbeing of healthcare workers, in comparison with alternative techniques (such as yoga or traditional care). Outcomes were reduced work-related stress, better physical and psychological function, improvement in attention and/or productivity; no restrictions about study design were applied. Quality assessment was performed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale on cohort/cross-sectional studies, the Jadad scale for randomized clinical trial, AMSTAR for systematic reviews and CASE REPORT scale for case study. Results 6/111 papers were included: 3 clinical trials, 1 observational study, 1 systematic review and 1 case report. The methodological quality was of medium level. 2/3 trials found a significant increase in individuals' wellbeing and improvements in stress levels and nursing staff’s motivation in their work. In the observational study tai chi was a prevalent mind-body practice to reduce stress. The systematic review suggested that tai chi could be a useful tool to reduce stress-related chronic pain. In case report the effectiveness was observed in medical students. Conclusions This study highlights the full potential and possible beneﬁts derived from tai chi but its application to improve health professionals' wellbeing is still limited, and the absence of a standardized intervention impacts on the methodological quality and reduces the robustness of the retrieved evidence. Key messages Tai chi can improve many pathological conditions and reduce work-related stress. Further research is needed to gain robust evidence of its efficacy for wellbeing of healthcare workers.

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Healthcare Workers’ (HCWs) attitudes towards mandatory influenza vaccination: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Vaccine ◽

10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.12.061 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 39 (6) ◽

pp. 901-914

Author(s):

Maria Rosaria Gualano ◽

Alessio Corradi ◽

Gianluca Voglino ◽

Dario Catozzi ◽

Elena Olivero ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Meta Analysis

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Factors influencing the initiation and adherence of LTBI treatment in healthcare workers: a systematic review

Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health ◽

10.1080/19338244.2021.1943642 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Hyunju Yang ◽

Hyunyoung Park

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Ltbi Treatment ◽

Factors Influencing

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Prevalence of Depression among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10153406 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (15) ◽

pp. 3406

Author(s):

Beatriz Olaya ◽

María Pérez-Moreno ◽

Juan Bueno-Notivol ◽

Patricia Gracia-García ◽

Isabel Lasheras ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Medical Doctors ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Random Effects Models ◽

Pooled Prevalence ◽

Prevalence Of Depression ◽

Common Mental Health Problems

Background: There is evidence of a high psychological toll from the COVID-19 pandemic in healthcare workers. This paper was aimed at conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting levels of depression among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 and estimating the pooled prevalence of depression. Methods: We searched for cross-sectional studies listed on PubMed from 1 December 2019 to 15 September 2020 that reported prevalence of depression in healthcare workers, nurses, medical doctors, and COVID-19 frontline professionals. The pooled proportions of depression were calculated with random effects models. Results: We identified 57 studies from seventeen countries. The pooled prevalence of depression in healthcare workers was 24% (95% CI: 20%−28%), 25% for nurses (95% CI: 18%−33%), 24% for medical doctors (95% CI: 16%−31%), and 43% for frontline professionals (95% CI: 28%−59%). Conclusions: The proportion of depression in nurses and medical doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic was similar to that found in the general population as previously reported in other meta-analyses conducted with smaller numbers of studies. Importantly, almost half of the frontline healthcare workers showed increased levels of depression. There is need for a comprehensive, international response to prevent and treat common mental health problems in healthcare workers.

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