scholarly journals Are Nurses at Swedish Departments of Infectious Diseases Prepared to Care for Patients With African Viral Haemorrhagic Fever? - A Survey Study

Author(s):  
Sofia Jakobsson Blixt ◽  
Susann Gamalielsson ◽  
Katri Manninen

Abstract Background: The African viral haemorrhagic fevers have in recent years been causing large outbreaks with high mortality rates and elevated risks of global spread. These outbreaks puts the Departments of Infectious diseases, both national and international, on high demand when caring for this patient group, in a patient- and staff-safe manner. The aim of the study was to describe nurses perceived ability and knowledge about caring for patients with suspected or verified African viral haemorrhagic fever at Departments of Infectious diseases in Sweden. Method: A web survey was conducted to collect data. The results are presented through a descriptive design. Participants were registered nurses working in infectious diseases clinics; 216 survey results were registered. Results: Registered Nurses in Swedish Departments of Infectious diseases clinics witnessed about having limited knowledge about the African haemorrhagic fevers. They were also experiencing limited or very limited knowledge about some practical procedures, like drawing blood samples to confirm the infection. The majority of the participants had not been given theoretical education, nor had been given the opportunity to sufficiently practice using personal protective equipment at their place of work. The nurses witnessed about fear for their own safety while caring for this group of patients. Conclusion: The participants perceived about fear, both limited theoretical and practical knowledge and training about caring for patients with African haemorrhagic fever, even though they had worked with infectious diseases for several years. There is a need for implementation of measures to ensure the healthcare professionals' safety and to prevent them from being infected with potentially lethal infections. It also poses a risk for the patient in the absence of specific nursing care, which can lead to an increased critical disease state.

Author(s):  
Sangchoong Roh ◽  
Hongsik Jung ◽  
Youngwon Suh

As the world economy is becoming globalized, more domestic businesses are branching to overseas. Thereupon the number of expatriate workers who are getting assigned to overseas are increasing, and needs for systematic selection and training system for overseas expatriate workers are in dire needs. Nevertheless researches in this area are not enough and still inadequate level domestically. Therefore we developed the Global Competency Scale (GCS) with the purpose of the local businesses to use it to predict the possibility of successful overseas job performance and to select and train the right overseas expatriate workers. To develop the scale we conducted researches on documentations and interviews with former overseas expatriate workers and expatriate program managers in human resource department(HRD). Based on these results we developed 14 initial factors with 138 items. Using theses items we conducted both on & offline survey to people who work at global and multinational companies in Korea. With the 381 people's survey results, we implemented the cross validity. After cross validating we generated final 6 factors with 24 items. The GCS score we developed in this research shows that the degree of their goal achievement during past overseas experience and level of their satisfaction was significantly high in those criterion variables proving the criterion-related validity. Especially the GCS we developed in this research shows that after controlling the effect of English skills, still appear to have significant effect on criterion variables. Finally based on research results we discussed academical and operational implication and limitations for the further researches.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Raab ◽  
Lisa M. Pfadenhauer ◽  
Vinh-Kim Nguyen ◽  
Dansira Doumbouya ◽  
Michael Hoelscher ◽  
...  

Abstract Background A functioning Viral Haemorrhagic Fever (VHF) surveillance system in countries at risk for outbreaks can reduce early transmission in case of an outbreak. Surveillance performance depends on the application of suspect case definitions in daily clinical practice. Recommended suspect case criteria during outbreaks are designed for high sensitivity and include general symptoms, pyrexia, haemorrhage, epidemiological link and unexplained death in patients. Non-outbreak criteria are narrower, relying on the persistence of fever and the presence of haemorrhagic signs. Methods This study ascertains VHF suspect case prevalence based on outbreak and non-outbreak criteria in a Guinean regional hospital for a period of three months. The study further describes clinical trajectories of patients who meet non-outbreak VHF suspect case criteria in order to discuss challenges in their identification. We used cross-sectional data collection at triage and emergency room to record demographic and clinical data of all admitted patients during the study period. For the follow-up study with description of diagnostic trajectories of VHF suspect cases, we used retrospective chart review. Results The most common symptoms of all patients upon admission were fever, tiredness/weakness and abdominal pain. 686 patients met EVD outbreak criteria, ten adult patients and two paediatric patients met study-specific non-outbreak VHF suspect case criteria. None of the suspect cases was treated as VHF suspect case and none tested positive for malaria upon admission. Their most frequent discharge diagnosis was unspecific gastrointestinal infection. The most common diagnostic measures were haemoglobin level and glycaemia for both adults and for children; of the requested examinations for hospitalized suspect cases, 36% were not executed or obtained. Half of those patients self-discharged against medical advice. Conclusions Our study shows that the number of VHF suspect cases may vary greatly depending on which suspect case criteria are applied. Identification of VHF suspect cases seems challenging in clinical practice. We suggest that this may be due to the low use of laboratory diagnostics to support certain diagnoses and the non-application of VHF suspect case definitions in clinical practice. Future VHF suspect case management should aim to tackle such challenges in comparable hospital settings.


2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caoimhe Nic Fhogartaigh ◽  
Emma Aarons

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepak Agrawal ◽  
Rajeev Jain

Background. Endoscopy nurse (RN) has a pivotal role in administration and monitoring of moderate sedation during endoscopic procedures. When sedation for the procedure is administered and monitored by an anesthesia specialist, the role of an RN is less clear. The guidelines on this issue by nursing and gastroenterology societies are contradictory. Methods. Survey study of endoscopy lab managers and directors at outpatient endoscopy units in Texas. The questions related to staffing patterns for outpatient endoscopies and responsibilities of different personnel assisting with endoscopies. Results. Responses were received from 65 endoscopy units (response rate 38%). 63/65 (97%) performed at least a few cases with an anesthesia specialist. Of these, 49/63 (78%) involved only an endoscopy technician, without an additional RN in the room. At 12/49 (25%) units, the RN performed tasks of an endoscopy technician. At 14/63 (22%), an additional RN was present during endoscopic procedures and performed tasks not directly related to patient care. Conclusions. Many ambulatory endoscopy units do not have an RN present at all times when sedation is administered by an anesthesia specialist. An RN, when present, did not perform tasks commensurate with the education and training. This has implications about optimal utilization of nurses and cost of performing endoscopies.


2017 ◽  
Vol 131 (11) ◽  
pp. 1002-1009 ◽  
Author(s):  
M M Verkerk ◽  
R Wagner ◽  
R Fishchuk ◽  
J J Fagan

AbstractObjective:The present humanitarian crisis in Ukraine is putting strains on its healthcare system. This study aimed to assess services and training in otolaryngology, audiology and speech therapy in Ukraine and its geographical neighbours.Method:Survey study of 327 otolaryngologists from 19 countries.Results:Fifty-six otolaryngologists (17 per cent) from 15 countries responded. Numbers of otolaryngologists varied from 3.6 to 12.3 per 100 000 population (Ukraine = 7.8). Numbers of audiologists varied from 0, in Ukraine, to 2.8 per 100 000, in Slovakia, and numbers of speech therapists varied from 0, in Bulgaria, to 4.0 per 100 000, in Slovenia (Ukraine = 0.1). Ukraine lacks newborn and school hearing screening, good availability of otological drills and microscopes, and a cochlear implant programme.Conclusion:There is wide variation in otolaryngology services in Central and Eastern Europe. All countries surveyed had more otolaryngologists per capita than the UK, but availability of audiology and speech and language therapy is poor. Further research on otolaryngology health outcomes in the region will guide service improvement.


Author(s):  
Sean Kevin Buchanan ◽  
Abraham Jacobus Coetzee ◽  
Wayne Bishenden ◽  
Zeyn Mahomed ◽  
Abdullah Ebrahim Laher

2004 ◽  
Vol 12 (03) ◽  
pp. 289-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. HSU ◽  
A. ZEE

We develop simple models for the global spread of infectious diseases, emphasizing human mobility via air travel and the variation of public health infrastructure from region to region. We derive formulas relating the total and peak number of infections in two countries to the rate of travel between them and their respective epidemiological parameters.


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