scholarly journals Fear of Medical Staff: The Importance of Stigmatization during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Letter to the Editor

Author(s):  
Farzin Bagheri Sheykhangafshe ◽  
Elnaz Sadeghi Chookami

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, although hospital staff cared for patients, they were recognized in the community as an asymptomatic carrier and people were afraid and anxious about them. To the extent thateven the families of hospital staff experienced this social stigma, and many people cut off contact with them. In addition to the stigma that medical staff received from people during the COVID-19 pandemic, many people were stigmatized and feared that as an asymptomatic carrier they would endanger the health of their families and those around them. For this reason, they tried to limit social communication and be more present at home and at work. Hospital staff were among the first to deal with the deadly virus and relinquish their physical health. Many nurses and physicians stay awake for long hours to save the lives of patients with COVID-19. Unfortunately, we have seen people fear and avoid the hospital staff, which has led to increased burnout and depression in the medical staff. For this purpose, it is necessary to take measures to socially motivate the medical staff of hospitals by the Ministry of Education and Health.

Author(s):  
Anna Pękala-Wojciechowska ◽  
Andrzej Kacprzak ◽  
Krzysztof Pękala ◽  
Marta Chomczyńska ◽  
Piotr Chomczyński ◽  
...  

The article focuses on a less-discussed issue of social marginalization of people leaving penitentiaries, which is the prevalence of multifaceted health problems experienced by people in this category. It includes poor health status, resulting from, among others, poor housing conditions, harmful or risky lifestyle, and lack of access to medical services. Data from the District Inspectorate of the Prison Service in Lodz, Poland on the health conditions of inmates was accessed. These data were supplemented by qualitative research conducted in 21 juvenile detention centers and 8 prisons across the country, conducting direct observations and In-Depth Interviews (IDI). A total of 198 IDIs were conducted with incarcerated (72) and released (30) juvenile offenders, and incarcerated (68) and released (28) adult offenders. These were complemented by IDIs with experts (50) and Focus Group Interviews (FGIs; 8) with male and female inmates in 4 Polish prisons. The study revealed that mental and physical health is a serious obstacle to social reintegration of ex-prisoners. It is rarely addressed by state institutions. There are strong associations between neglect of health issues in the prison population and increasing social exclusion after leaving prison. As Poland has a restrictive penal policy, former prisoners remain a group with social stigma and little support.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nader Salari ◽  
Habibolah Khazaie ◽  
Amin Hosseinian-Far ◽  
Hooman Ghasemi ◽  
Masoud Mohammadi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In all epidemics, healthcare staff are at the centre of risks and damages caused by pathogens. Today, nurses and physicians are faced with unprecedented work pressures in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in several psychological disorders such as stress, anxiety and sleep disturbances. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of sleep disturbances in hospital nurses and physicians facing the COVID-19 patients. Method A systematic review and metanalysis was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA criteria. The PubMed, Scopus, Science direct, Web of science, CINHAL, Medline, and Google Scholar databases were searched with no lower time-limt and until 24 June 2020. The heterogeneity of the studies was measured using I2 test and the publication bias was assessed by the Egger’s test at the significance level of 0.05. Results The I2 test was used to evaluate the heterogeneity of the selected studies, based on the results of I2 test, the prevalence of sleep disturbances in nurses and physicians is I2: 97.4% and I2: 97.3% respectively. After following the systematic review processes, 7 cross-sectional studies were selected for meta-analysis. Six studies with the sample size of 3745 nurses were examined in and the prevalence of sleep disturbances was approximated to be 34.8% (95% CI: 24.8-46.4%). The prevalence of sleep disturbances in physicians was also measured in 5 studies with the sample size of 2123 physicians. According to the results, the prevalence of sleep disturbances in physicians caring for the COVID-19 patients was reported to be 41.6% (95% CI: 27.7-57%). Conclusion Healthcare workers, as the front line of the fight against COVID-19, are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of this disease than other groups in society. Increasing workplace stress increases sleep disturbances in the medical staff, especially nurses and physicians. In other words, increased stress due to the exposure to COVID-19 increases the prevalence of sleep disturbances in nurses and physicians. Therefore, it is important for health policymakers to provide solutions and interventions to reduce the workplace stress and pressures on medical staff.


2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Lodi-Smith ◽  
Joshua Jackson ◽  
Tim Bogg ◽  
Kate Walton ◽  
Dustin Wood ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 288-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anatoly Kreinin ◽  
Tatiana Shakera ◽  
Ayala Sheinkman ◽  
Tamar Levi ◽  
Vered Tal ◽  
...  

AbstractTirat Carmel Mental Health Center was successfully evacuated in December 2010 during a ravaging forest fire in the nearby Carmel Mountains. A total of 228 patients were successfully evacuated from the center within 45 minutes. No fatalities or injuries associated with the evacuation occurred. We believe that the efficient functioning of the administrative and medical staff provides a replicable model that can contribute to the level of awareness and readiness of hospital staff members for natural and manmade disasters. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;0:1-5)


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (03) ◽  
pp. 274-281
Author(s):  
Jyoti Khatri KC ◽  
Gerard Fitzgerald ◽  
Meen B. Poudyal Chhetri

AbstractIntroduction:While the impact of disasters is strongly felt by those directly affected, they also have significant impact on the mental and physical health of rescue/relief workers and volunteers during the response phase of disaster management.Method:Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 experts in the field of disaster management from Nepal, inquiring specifically about the impact of the 2015 mega-earthquake on the mental and physical health of rescue/relief workers and volunteers. A thematic approach was used to analyze the results. These were used to assess the applicability of a previously developed conceptual framework which illustrates the hazards and risk factors affecting disaster response workers and the related hazard mitigation approaches.Results:The findings suggested a relationship between the type of injuries to responders and the type of disaster, type of responder, and vulnerability of location. The conceptual framework derived from literature was verified for its applicability with a slight revision on analysis of experts’ opinion based on particular context and disaster setting. Technical skills of responders, social stigma, governance, and the socio-economic status of the affected nation were identified as critical influencing factors to heath injuries and could be minimized utilizing some specific or collective measures targeted at the aforementioned variables. Some geographic and weather-specific risks may be challenging to overcome.Conclusion:To prevent or minimize the hazards for disaster relief workers, it is vital to understand the variables that contribute to injuries. Risk minimization strategies should address these critical factors.


2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simona Caprilli ◽  
Andrea Messeri

The authors systematically studied the introduction of animal-assisted activity into a children's hospital in Italy. This pilot study examined the reactions of children, their parents and the hospital staff and the hospital-wide infection rate before and after the introduction of animals. The SAM (self-assessment manikin), three behavioral scales, analysis of children's graphic productions, a parent questionnaire and a staff questionnaire were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. The children's participation was calculated. The analysis of the hospital infection rate was completed independently by the Hospital Infections Committee. The authors found that the presence of infections in the wards did not increase and the number of children at the meetings with pets in the wards was high (138 children). The study also found that the presence of animals produced some beneficial effects on children: a better perception of the environment and a good interaction with dogs. All parents were in favor of pets in the hospital, and 94% thought that this activity could benefit the child, as did the medical staff, although the staff needed more information about safety. The introduction of pets into the pediatric wards in an Italian children's hospital was a positive event because of the participation of hospitalized patients, the satisfaction expressed by both parents and medical staff, and the fact that the hospital infection rate did not change and no new infections developed after the introduction of dogs.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keren Dopelt ◽  
Osnat Bashkin ◽  
Nadav Davidovitch ◽  
Noam Asna

Abstract Background: Medical staff, who care for patients at their own risk, are on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19. The aim of this study is to describe the feelings and experiences of medical staff working in hospitals during the coronavirus crisis.Methods: Data were collected as part of a mixed-methods study that included an online survey completed by 263 hospital staff members, as well as 10 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with doctors, nurses and medical technicians working on coronavirus wards.Results: The survey findings revealed that respondents expressed extremely high rates of concern for family members and at a national level, but that they were less apprehensive about their own health and safety. At the same time, burnout was lower than the rates of concern. Nurses displayed more apprehension and burnout compared to medical staff in other professional roles. The in-depth interviews reinforced and supplemented the survey findings and deepened our understanding of the feelings of medical staff directly involved in coronavirus patient care.Conclusions: The study’s findings revealed the main concerns of hospital staff during the coronavirus crisis and deepened our understanding of the issues that require systemic attention in order to strengthen the mental resilience of hospital staff, in particular those working on coronavirus wards. The steps required to continue coping with and fighting the virus include the development of a mental and emotional support network for medical staff, to safeguard them and their health as they care for patients, and to provide ongoing psychosocial support.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Womba Mayondi

<p>Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a widely accepted non-core but essential part of profit making corporations. Practices vary in different companies and different countries. The motivation for each is different but nonetheless there is an agreed unwritten code about being good corporate citizens. CSR has become common place for companies in Zambia. Mining, telecommunications companies, banks and hotels practice CSR initiatives in different forms. Mining has been the biggest revenue earner for Zambia since the colonial era. Since the 1990s, CSR has been taken on by the mining companies in order to contribute to the community where they are situated. This research explores how CSR is perceived by local people, traditional leaders and district government officials from Ministry of Education in Solwezi. Solwezi is home to two of Zambia‟s largest mines namely Lumwana and Kansanshi mines owned by Barrick Gold and First Quantum Minerals respectively. These two mines have been established in the recent past in Solwezi and have become the hub of Zambia‟s economic activity and have been dubbed the „New Copperbelt‟. This thesis will look at Barrick Gold and the education projects that the mining company implements as a case study in CSR. The literature reveals that mining has been both helpful for economic growth yet detrimental socially and environmentally. There has been a disillusionment among people of the original Copperbelt who experienced cycles of boom when the copper prices and production are high and bust when the copper prices and production were low. In the New Copperbelt, Barrick Gold implements projects such as women‟s savings, education, health and agriculture. Many of the education and health projects involve infrastructure development. Even though this is the case, this thesis‟ findings indicate that the community who are the intended beneficiaries of the education projects perceive that more can be done in terms of education programmes over and above what Barrick Gold is currently doing. Accountability and transparency are also issues of concern for the officers at the Ministry of Education. This thesis explores how these interwoven connections work for and against access to education in the community level.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Womba Mayondi

<p>Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a widely accepted non-core but essential part of profit making corporations. Practices vary in different companies and different countries. The motivation for each is different but nonetheless there is an agreed unwritten code about being good corporate citizens. CSR has become common place for companies in Zambia. Mining, telecommunications companies, banks and hotels practice CSR initiatives in different forms. Mining has been the biggest revenue earner for Zambia since the colonial era. Since the 1990s, CSR has been taken on by the mining companies in order to contribute to the community where they are situated. This research explores how CSR is perceived by local people, traditional leaders and district government officials from Ministry of Education in Solwezi. Solwezi is home to two of Zambia‟s largest mines namely Lumwana and Kansanshi mines owned by Barrick Gold and First Quantum Minerals respectively. These two mines have been established in the recent past in Solwezi and have become the hub of Zambia‟s economic activity and have been dubbed the „New Copperbelt‟. This thesis will look at Barrick Gold and the education projects that the mining company implements as a case study in CSR. The literature reveals that mining has been both helpful for economic growth yet detrimental socially and environmentally. There has been a disillusionment among people of the original Copperbelt who experienced cycles of boom when the copper prices and production are high and bust when the copper prices and production were low. In the New Copperbelt, Barrick Gold implements projects such as women‟s savings, education, health and agriculture. Many of the education and health projects involve infrastructure development. Even though this is the case, this thesis‟ findings indicate that the community who are the intended beneficiaries of the education projects perceive that more can be done in terms of education programmes over and above what Barrick Gold is currently doing. Accountability and transparency are also issues of concern for the officers at the Ministry of Education. This thesis explores how these interwoven connections work for and against access to education in the community level.</p>


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