scholarly journals Impact of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on health professionals

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (COVID19-S4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bilal Ahmed Sethi ◽  
Ahsan Sethi ◽  
Sadaf Ali ◽  
Hira Shireen Aamir

Objective: Recognizing the huge potential ramifications of COVID-19 pandemic, this study explores its impact on health professionals personally and professionally along with the associated challenges. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional qualitative survey was conducted from March-April 2020. Participants included health professionals from various disciplines in both public and private-sector institutions of Pakistan. The sample size was not predetermined, and an iterative approach of simultaneous data collection and analysis was taken until data and time saturation were reached. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data was carried out by two analysts. Results: Two hundred and Ninety health professionals responded. They reported an impact on their mental, physical and social well-being. The clinicians mentioned facing an unprecedented workload in overstretched health facilities, while those in academia become engaged with planning/providing emergency remote teaching for the students affecting work-life balance. Some challenges associated with work-from-home and in the hospitals were identified. Conclusion: During COVID-19, the health professionals are anxious, overworked and financially unstable while planning, creating and caring for others and their families. We need to support them to do their jobs, be safe and stay alive. Future research should explore the fears and coping strategies of health professionals during pandemics. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.COVID19-S4.2779 How to cite this:Sethi BA, Sethi A, Ali S, Aamir HS. Impact of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on health professionals. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(COVID19-S4):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.COVID19-S4.2779 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 674-684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin S. Raj

ABSTRACT Background  Rates of physician burnout have increased in recent years, and high burnout levels are reported by physicians in training. Objective  This review of the research on resident well-being seeks to identify factors associated with well-being, summarize well-being promotion interventions, and provide a framework for future research efforts. Methods  Keywords were used to search PubMed, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE. Studies included were conducted between 1989 and 2014. The search yielded 82 articles, 26 which met inclusion criteria, and were assessed using the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument. Results  Articles measured resident well-being and associated factors, predictors, effects, barriers, as well as interventions to improve well-being. Factors identified in psychological well-being research—autonomy, building of competence, and strong social relatedness—are associated with resident well-being. Sleep and time away from work are associated with greater resident well-being. Perseverance is predictive of well-being, and greater well-being is associated with increased empathy. Interventions focused on health and coping skills appear to improve well-being, although the 3 studies that examined interventions were limited by small samples and single site administration. Conclusions  An important step in evolving research in this area entails the development of a clear definition of resident well-being and a scale for measuring the construct. The majority (n = 17, 65%) of existing studies are cross-sectional analyses of factors associated with well-being. The literature summarized in this review suggests future research should focus on factors identified in cross-sectional studies, including sleep, coping mechanisms, resident autonomy, building competence, and enhanced social relatedness.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0253398
Author(s):  
Mariá Romanio Bitencourt ◽  
Ana Carolina Jacinto Alarcão ◽  
Lincoln Luís Silva ◽  
Amanda de Carvalho Dutra ◽  
Nayara Malheiros Caruzzo ◽  
...  

Background The increase in violence against health professionals in the COVID-19 pandemic makes it necessary to identify the predictors of violence, in order to prevent these events from happening. Objective Evaluating the prevalence and analyzing the variables involved in the occurrence of violence against health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Method This is a cross-sectional study conducted online involving Brazilian health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data were collected through a structured questionnaire (Google Online Form) sent to health professionals on social networks and analyzed through logistic regression by using sociodemographic variables. The set of grouped variables was assigned to the final model when p <0.05. A network was built using the Mixed Graph Models (MGM) approach. A centrality measurement chart was constructed to determine which nodes have the greatest influence, strength and connectivity between the nodes around them. Results The predictors of violence in the adjusted regression model were the following: being a nursing technician / assistant; having been working for less than 20 years; working for over 37 hours a week; having suffered violence before the pandemic; having been contaminated with COVID-19; working in direct contact with patients infected by the virus; and having family members who have suffered violence. The network created with professionals who suffered violence demonstrated that the aggressions occurred mainly in the workplace, with an indication of psycho-verbal violence. In cases in which the aggressors were close people, aggressions were non-verbal and happened both in public and private places. The assaults practiced by strangers occurred in public places. Conclusions Violence against health professionals occurs implicitly and explicitly, with consequences that can affect both their psychosocial well-being and the assistance given to their patients and families.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 15-34
Author(s):  
Emordi M.A. ◽  
Aina J. O.

Amputation affects the patient physically, psychologically, socially, economically, and spiritually. The highest number of prevalent traumatic amputations was in East Asia and South Asia followed by Western Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, high-income North America and Eastern Europe. Similarly in Nigeria, amputation has devastating effects on individuals, and on the economy. A number of researchers have invested time and energy in reducing the challenges but it appear that the number of depression and other effects are increasing daily. Therefore, the research aimed at assessing the psychological well-being, social support and coping strategies of patients with amputation. The study adopted a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional designed to investigate the psychological well-being of amputees. Total enumeration was adopted for the research. A validated questionnaire was used with a Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency ranging from 0.81 to 0.81. Data were collected and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23 to generate summaries of descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Results showed that the age ranged of the participants were from 25-34 years. The characterization of the degree of Psychological well-being of patients shows that majority of the respondents are of high level of disappointment, discouragement, dissatisfaction and despondent about their present conditions and life. Similarly, the first regression result indicate that there is a significant relationship between the psychological well-being and coping strategies which affects the duration of the amputees attending the clinics with [R2 = .721, R2 adj = .558, F(27, 46) = 4.411, p < .001], therefore this hypothesis was accepted. Also, the second hypothesis indicated that there is a significantly relationship among the psychological well-being, social support and coping strategies of amputees attending clinic with [R2 = .909, R2 adj = .805, F(39, 34) = 8.748, p < .001]. Therefore, this hypothesis was accepted. The study concluded that complexity of psychological well-being, social and coping strategies in the lives of human being and their inter relationships were well exposed and their relationships were evaluated. Future research should be conducted on a larger sample, using a mixed-method approach to uncover a large diversity of coping efforts used, by individuals who had a lower limb amputation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerrald Lau ◽  
David Hsien-Yung Tan ◽  
Gretel Jianlin Wong ◽  
Yii-Jen Lew ◽  
Ying-Xian Chua ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Primary care physicians (PCPs) are first points-of-contact between suspected cases and the healthcare system in the current COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines PCPs’ concerns, impact on personal lives and work, and level of pandemic preparedness in the context of COVID-19 in Singapore. We also examine factors and coping strategies that PCPs have used to manage stress during the outbreak. Methods Two hundred and sixteen PCPs actively practicing in either a public or private clinic were cluster sampled via email invitation from three primary care organizations in Singapore from 6th to 29th March 2020. Participants completed a cross-sectional online questionnaire consisting of items on work- and non-work-related concerns, impact on personal and work life, perceived pandemic preparedness, stress-reduction factors, and personal coping strategies related to COVID-19. Results A total of 158 questionnaires were usable for analyses. PCPs perceived themselves to be at high risk of COVID-19 infection (89.9%), and a source of risk (74.7%) and concern (71.5%) to loved ones. PCPs reported acceptance of these risks (91.1%) and the need to care for COVID-19 patients (85.4%). Overall perceived pandemic preparedness was extremely high (75.9 to 89.9%). PCPs prioritized availability of personal protective equipment, strict infection prevention guidelines, accessible information about COVID-19, and well-being of their colleagues and family as the most effective stress management factors. Conclusions PCPs continue to serve willingly on the frontlines of this pandemic despite the high perception of risk to themselves and loved ones. Healthcare organizations should continue to support PCPs by managing both their psychosocial (e.g. stress management) and professional (e.g. pandemic preparedness) needs.


Author(s):  
Anna Lee ◽  
Kathleen Knafl ◽  
Marcia Van Riper

The purpose of this scoping review was to identify the family and child quality of life variables that have been studied in relation to one another in children with Down syndrome, the frequency with which different relationships have been studied, and the extent to which family variables were the focus of the research aims. A literature search was conducted to find studies published between January 2007 and June 2018. The initial search yielded 2314 studies; of these, 43 were selected for a final review. Researchers most often addressed family resources and family problem-solving and coping concerning child personal development and physical well-being. Little attention to child emotional well-being was observed, with none considering family appraisal of child emotional well-being. The relationship between family variables and child QoL rarely was the primary focus of the study. Methodologically, most reviewed studies used cross-sectional designs, were conducted in North America and based on maternal report. From future research considering the issues found in this review, healthcare providers can obtain an in-depth understanding of relationships between children and family variables.


Gerontology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 435-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie A. Robinson ◽  
Margie E. Lachman

This brief review on perceived control and aging is organized according to 3 perspectives of research involving description, explanation, and modification. An extensive body of literature has utilized cross-sectional and correlational methods to describe the sociodemographic variations and outcomes associated with perceived control. This work has focused on differences in perceived control as a function of age, sex, education, socioeconomic status, and culture and has identified positive associations with many aging-related outcomes involving health and well-being. With growing evidence regarding the health benefits of perceived control in the context of a declining sense of control with aging, there has been an increased effort to uncover the mechanisms involved, with the hopes of developing methods to maintain and/or promote adaptive control beliefs throughout adulthood. Through longitudinal and experimental work, researchers are beginning to clarify the directionality and elucidate the mechanisms to explain the associations. Recent evidence from longitudinal studies shows that control beliefs have an impact on subsequent changes in health. Yet, the findings suggest that it is not a unidirectional relationship. A conceptual model suggesting an ongoing reciprocal relationship between perceived control and health and well-being is discussed. Research examining the mechanisms that link perceived control to aging-related outcomes can help to inform and to develop effective interventions that are tailored to the individual's specific barriers and goals. We consider new directions for research, including more attention to intraindividual variability and reactivity to daily challenges, such as stress, with the goal of advancing our understanding of how perceived control contributes to aging-related outcomes. More work is needed to develop strategies to enhance control beliefs in later life. Although it will not always be possible to modify control beliefs, researchers can take these beliefs into account when developing interventions. A personalized approach is recommended as a way to tailor interventions that are compatible with individuals' beliefs about control to facilitate adaptive behavior change. Conclusions focus on selected issues and considerations for future research.


10.1068/b3186 ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Kauko

The aim of exploring and monitoring housing-market fundamentals (prices, dwelling features, area density, residents, and so on) on a macrolocational level relates to both public and private sector policymaking. Housing market segmentation (that is, the emergence of housing submarkets), a concept with increasing relevance, is defined as the differentiation of housing in terms of the income and preferences of the residents and in terms of administrative circumstances. In order to capture such segmentation empirically, the author applies a fairly new and emerging technique known as the ‘self-organising’ map (SOM), or ‘Kohonen map’. The SOM is a type of (artificial) neural network—a nonlinear and flexible (that is, nonparametric or semiparametric) regression and ‘machine learning’ technique. By utilising the ability of the SOM to visualise patterns, one can analyse various dimensions within the variation of the dataset. Segmentation may then be detected depending on the resulting patterns across the map layers, each of which represents the data variation for one input variable. Utilising an inductive modelling strategy, the author runs cross-sectional and nationwide data on the owner-occupied housing markets of Finland (documentation presented elsewhere), the Netherlands, and Hungary with the SOM technique. On the basis of the resulting configurations certain regularities (similarities and differences) across the three national contexts are identified. In all three cases the segments are determined by physical and institutional differences between the housing bundles and localities. The exercise demonstrates how the inductive SOM-based approach is well-suited for illustrating the contextual factors that determine housing market structure.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (01) ◽  
pp. 2150003
Author(s):  
Muhammad Umar ◽  
Maqbool Hussain Sial ◽  
Syed Ahmad Ali

This research examines the association of job attitudes (i.e. job involvement, job satisfaction, and commitment) with knowledge sharing behaviour of bank personnel through behavioural antecedents (i.e. motivation, attitude, and intentions to share knowledge). The hypothesised relationships among job attitudes (excluding job involvement), behaviour antecedents, and knowledge sharing behaviour are significant and consistent. Notably, the association of job satisfaction with the motivation to share knowledge is insignificant. The survey results are based on data from a stratified multistage cluster sample of 316 public and private sector bank professionals from Pakistan, analyzed using Partial Least Square (PLS)-Structure Equation Modelling (SEM). The research provides a framework for theoretical and practical implications in knowledge-intensive organisations to foster knowledge sharing that increases individual as well as organisational productivity. The study paves the way for future research by including knowledge-oriented leadership, culture, trust, knowledge governance, and citizenship behaviour in the current framework for analysis in diverse geographical and demographical contexts.


Author(s):  
Dhruva Pathak ◽  
Vijayakumar Bharathi S. ◽  
Padma Mala E.

The study investigated the impact of mandatory work from home due COVID-19 on personal and professional lives of people with different demographics. Statistical analysis of an online survey data (N=237) reveals that the impact on personal life dimensions—healthy lifestyle, family bonding, and physical stress—does not differ across people within different demographics. However, impact on emotional well-being is sensitive to gender and industry groups. Family size is also an important demographic factor impacted upon personal life dimensions. Professional dimensions related to work productivity and adopting new ways of working does not differ across demographics except for occupational role. Dimensions related to new skill development and change in professional attitude does differ across occupational roles. The study concludes by stating future research directions for mandatory work from home situation, and prescription to post-COVID-19 strategies for organizations.


2013 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ellis ◽  
H. Van Aswegen ◽  
R. Ross ◽  
P. Becker

To examine the incidence of contamination and current practice of decontamination of nebulisers after use within a ventilator circuit, in public- and private sector intensive care units (ICUs) in Johannesburg; to assess the presence of and adherence to a decontamination protocol in these ICUs and to identify which practices were associated with lower or no bacterial growth. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used which included a semi-structured interview with the ICU manager and an audit of current nebuliser practice. Nebulisers that were identified in the interview were swabbed and streaked on blood agar plates (BAPs). BAPs were incubated and assessed for bacterial colonisation, number of colony forming units (CFUs) and number of different species of CFUs present. Results: Two hundred and sixty-nine ICU beds were surveyed over a two-month period resulting in 45 nebulisers used within a ventilator circuit that could be tested. The majority (93%) were single-use jet nebulisers, all were being re-used and 52% presented with contamination. None of the ICUs had a nebuliser decontamination protocol in place. Contaminated nebulisers that were stored in a sterile drape had significantly higher concentrations of bacterial growth (p=0.03). Conclusion: The rate of colonisation of re-used jet nebulisers is high. Nebuliser decontamination protocols are urgently needed.


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