scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on training of pharmacy residents and fellows: Results from a national survey of postgraduate pharmacy trainees

Author(s):  
W Justin Moore ◽  
Andrew Webb ◽  
Taylor Morrisette ◽  
Louisa K Sullivan ◽  
Sara Alosaimy ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted the activities of healthcare workers, including postgraduate pharmacy trainees. Quality training experiences must be maintained to produce competent pharmacy practitioners and maintain program standards. Methods A cross-sectional survey of postgraduate pharmacy trainees in the United States was conducted to evaluate training experience changes and assess perceived impacts on residents and fellows following the COVID-19 pandemic’s onset. Results From June 4 through June 22, 2020, 511 pharmacy trainees in 46 states completed the survey. Participants’ median age was 26 (interquartile range [IQR], 25-28) years, with included responses from postgraduate year 1 residents (54% of sample), postgraduate year 2 residents (40%), and postgraduate fellows (6%). Compared to experiences prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer trainees conducted direct patient care (38.5% vs 91.4%, P < 0.001), more worked from home (31.7% vs 1.6%, P < 0.001), and less time was spent with preceptors per day (2 [IQR, 2-6] hours vs 4 [IQR, 1-4] hours, P < 0.001). Sixty-five percent of respondents reported experiencing changes in their training program, 39% reported being asked to work in areas outside of their routine training experience, and 89% stated their training shifted to focus on COVID-19 to some degree. Most respondents perceived either major (9.6%) or minor (52.0%) worsening in quality of experience, with major and minor improvement in quality of experience reported by 5.5% and 8.4% of respondents, respectively. Conclusion Pharmacy resident/fellow experiences were perceived to have been extensively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in varying ways. Our findings describe shifts in postgraduate training and may aid in the development of best practices for optimizing trainee experiences in future crises.

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tulipoka N. Soko ◽  
Diana L. Jere ◽  
Lynda L. Wilson

Background: Lack of collaborative capacity results in provision of fragmented health services that do not meet the needs of patients. Collaborative capacity refers to the extent to which providers have influence over other healthcare workers’ decision-making, and can be assessed by measuring perceptions of task interdependence, quality of interaction and collaborative influence. However, each healthcare worker may present differing perceptions that can influence their ability to collaborate effectively during provision of care. No studies that specifically assessed healthcare workers’ perception of collaborative capacity in Malawi were identified.Aim: To assess the perceptions of healthcare workers regarding collaborative capacity in Malawi.Setting: The study was conducted at a tertiary public hospital in Blantyre city, Malawi.Methods: The study employed a quantitative cross-sectional correlational design. The instrument used was a Care Coordination survey that had been used previously in similar studies in the United States of America. Descriptive statistics as well as univariate and multivariate analysis were computed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) program version 21.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA).Results: A total of 384 healthcare workers participated in the study, with a response rate of 100%. There were differences in perceptions of collaborative capacity based on the cadre of the respondent (p 0.005). Medical staff reported higher mean scores on quality of interaction (2.94) and collaborative influence (2.65), whereas technical support staff reported the lowest mean scores across all three measures of collaborative capacity (≤ 2.4).Conclusion: Differences in perceptions about collaborative capacity suggest the need for interventions to enhance interprofessional collaboration.Contribution: The study will inform strategies to promote interprofessional collaboration.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingling Pan ◽  
Qiancheng Xu ◽  
Xia Kuang ◽  
Xiancui Zhang ◽  
Fengxia Fang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant threats to both the physical and psychological health of healthcare workers working in the front-line combating COVID-19. However, studies regarding the medium to long term impact of COVID-19 on mental health among healthcare workers are limited. Therefore, we conducted this cross-sectional survey to investigate the prevalence, factors and impact of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19 8 months after the end of the outbreak in Wuhan, China. Methods A web-based questionnaire was delivered as a link via the communication application WeChat to those healthcare workers who worked at several COVID-19 units during the outbreak (from December 2019 to April 2020) in Wuhan, China. The questionnaire included questions on social-demographic data, the post-traumatic stress disorder checklist-5 (PCL-5), the family care index questionnaire (Adaptation, Partnership, Growth, Affection and Resolve, APGAR), and the quality-of-life scale (QOL). The prevalence, risk and protective factors, and impact of PTSD on healthcare workers were subsequently analyzed. Results Among the 659 participants, 90 healthcare workers were still suffering from PTSD 8 months after the end of the outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, in which avoidance and negative impact were the most affected dimensions. Suffering from chronic disease, experiencing social isolation, and job dissatisfaction came up as independent risk factors for PTSD, while obtaining COVID-19 related information at an appropriate frequency, good family function, and working in well-prepared mobile cabin hospitals served as protective factors. The impact of PTSD on COVID-19 exposed healthcare workers was apparent by shortened sleeping time, feeling of loneliness, poorer quality of life and intention to resign. Conclusions Eight months after the end of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, the level of PTSD in healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19 was still high. Apart from the commonly recognized risk factors, comorbid chronic disease was identified as a new independent risk factor for developing PTSD. For countries where the pandemic is still ongoing or in case of future outbreaks of new communicable diseases, this study may contribute to preventing cases of PTSD in healthcare workers exposed to infectious diseases under such circumstances.


2015 ◽  
Vol 105 (12) ◽  
pp. 1064 ◽  
Author(s):  
Remy Bitwayiki ◽  
Judy T Orikiiriza ◽  
Fredrick Kateera ◽  
Pascal Bihizimana ◽  
Ben Karenzi ◽  
...  

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 835
Author(s):  
Mohammed Noushad ◽  
Mohammad Zakaria Nassani ◽  
Anas B. Alsalhani ◽  
Pradeep Koppolu ◽  
Fayez Hussain Niazi ◽  
...  

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused largescale morbidity and mortality and a tremendous burden on the healthcare system. Healthcare workers (HCWs) require adequate protection to avoid onward transmission and minimize burden on the healthcare system. Moreover, HCWs can also influence the general public into accepting the COVID-19 vaccine. Therefore, determining COVID-19 vaccine intention among HCWs is of paramount importance to plan tailor-made public health strategies to maximize vaccine coverage. A structured questionnaire was administered in February and March 2021 among HCWs in Saudi Arabia using convenience sampling, proceeding the launch of the vaccination campaign. HCWs from all administrative regions of Saudi Arabia were included in the study. In total, 674 out of 1124 HCWs responded and completed the survey (response rate 59.9%). About 65 percent of the HCWs intended to get vaccinated. The intention to vaccinate was significantly higher among HCWs 50 years of age or older, Saudi nationals and those who followed the updates about COVID-19 vaccines (p < 0.05). The high percentage (26 percent) of those who were undecided in getting vaccinated is a positive sign. As the vaccination campaign gathers pace, the attitude is expected to change over time. Emphasis should be on planning healthcare strategies to convince the undecided HCWs into accepting the vaccine in order to achieve the coverage required to achieve herd immunity.


Nursing Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ni’matuzahroh ◽  
Valendriyani Ningrum ◽  
Widayat ◽  
Myrtati Dyah Artaria ◽  
Mein‐Woei Suen

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Haroon ◽  
S. S. Owais ◽  
A. S. Khan ◽  
J. Amin

Summary COVID-19 has challenged the mental health of healthcare workers confronting it world-wide. Our study identifies the prevalence and risk of anxiety among emergency healthcare workers confronting COVID-19 in Pakistan. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in an Emergency Department using the Generalized Anxiety Scale (GAD-7), and questions about sources of anxiety. Of 107 participants, 61.7% were frontline workers. The prevalence of anxiety was 50.5%. Nonparametric tests determined that nurses, younger and inexperienced staff, developed significant anxiety. Multivariate ordinal regression determined independent risk factors for developing anxiety were younger age (OR 2.11, 95% CI 0.89–4.99) and frontline placement (OR 1.34, 95% CI 0.33–1.66). Significant sources of stress were fear of infecting family (P = 0.003), lack of social support when the health care providers were themselves unwell (P = 0.02) and feelings of inadequate work performance (P = 0.05). Our study finds that HCWs’ anxiety is considerable. Appropriate measures for its alleviation and prevention are required.


Pain Medicine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary E Morales ◽  
R Jason Yong

Abstract Objective To summarize the current literature on disparities in the treatment of chronic pain. Methods We focused on studies conducted in the United States and published from 2000 and onward. Studies of cross-sectional, longitudinal, and interventional designs were included. Results A review of the current literature revealed that an adverse association between non-White race and treatment of chronic pain is well supported. Studies have also shown that racial differences exist in the long-term monitoring for opioid misuse among patients suffering from chronic pain. In addition, a patient’s sociodemographic profile appears to influence the relationship between chronic pain and quality of life. Results from interventional studies were mixed. Conclusions Disparities exist within the treatment of chronic pain. Currently, it is unclear how to best combat these disparities. Further work is needed to understand why disparities exist and to identify points in patients’ treatment when they are most vulnerable to unequal care. Such work will help guide the development and implementation of effective interventions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Huang ◽  
Jian-Gao Fan ◽  
Jun-Ping Shi ◽  
Yi-Min Mao ◽  
Bing-Yuan Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) is a multi-dimensional construct that can comprehensively evaluate the patient’s health status, including physical, emotional, mental and social well-being. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on HRQL in a Chinese population. Methods In this national multicenter cross-sectional survey, patients with NAFLD were enrolled. Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ)-NAFLD was used to qualify HRQL. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to identify independent risk factors of HRQL. Results A total of 5181 patients with NAFLD from 90 centers were enrolled in this study (mean age, 43.8 ± 13.3 years; male, 65.8%). The overall CLDQ score was 5.66 ± 0.89. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that body mass index (BMI: HR, 1.642; 95% CI, 1.330–2.026), alanine transaminase (ALT: HR, 1.006; 95% CI, 1.001–1.011), triglyceride (HR, 1.184; 95% CI, 1.074–1.305), disease severity (HR, 3.203; 95% CI, 1.418–7.232) and cardiovascular disease (HR, 4.305; 95% CI, 2.074–8.939) were independent risk factors for overall CLDQ score. In the logistic analyses of individual domain, BMI and triglyceride were independent risk factors of all domains. ALT, disease severity, diabetes, depression and cardiovascular disease were influencing factors for the CLDQ score of several domains. Conclusions This national multicenter cross-sectional survey in China indicated that the HRQL in patients with NAFLD was impaired. HRQL was found to be significantly associated with sociodemographic and clinical factors. Attention should be paid to the optimally managing care of patients with NAFLD to improve their HRQL.


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