scholarly journals Restoring dignity and respect to health care workers

2006 ◽  
Vol 59 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 515-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olesja Nedic
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
World Health ◽  
Workplace Stressors ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Life Threatening

Introduction. This year, the World Health Organization focuses on restoring dignity and respect to health care workers. The aim of this study was to investigate the workplace stressors in physicians. Material and Methods. The present study was performed in the period 2002-2004, among physicians treated in the Health Center Novi Sad. The examinees were asked to fill out a questionnaire - a workplace survey - to identify workplace stressors by using a self-evaluation method. The physicians were divided into three groups: those practicing surgery (S), internal medicine (IM) and preventive-diagnostics (PD). Statistical analysis was done using SPSS and STATISTICA software. The sample included 208 physicians with an average age of 40 years (SD=7,1); average work experience of 22 years (SD=8,1). Results. 65 physicians from group S and 108 physicians from group IM, identified the following workplace stressors: treating patients in life-threatening situations (47.7%, 30.6%, respectfully); on-call duty (13.8%, 12%); low salary (10.8%, 10.2%); limited diagnostic and therapeutic resources in the IM group. 35 physicians from the DP group identified the following stressors: low salary (25%), treating patients in life-threatening situations and a great number of patients (16%). The analysis of all examined physicians revealed the following workplace stressors: treating patients in life-threatening situations (34.6%), low salary (13%), on-call duty and overtime, and too many patients per physician (11.5%). Conclusion. Restoring the reputation of health workers can be done by providing new equipment to resolve life-threatening situations, by increasing salaries, reducing on-call time, as well as the number of patients. Generally speaking, this should help to improve the quality of work in the health care system, in accordance with the recommendations of the WHO. .

scholarly journals Poor knowledge of COVID-19 and unfavourable perception of the response to the pandemic by healthcare workers at the Bafoussam Regional Hospital (West Region - Cameroon)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOVANNY TSUALA FOUOGUE ◽  
MICHEL NOUBOM ◽  
BRUNO KENFACK ◽  
NORBERT TANKE DONGMO ◽  
MAXIME TABEU ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Vaccine Trial ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Regional Hospital ◽  
World Health ◽  
Herbal Remedies ◽  
Care Workers

Background The World Health Organization has warned against a dramatic impact of COVID'19 in subSaharan Africa unless adequate response strategies are implemented. Whatever the strategy, the role of health care workers is pivotal. We undertook this study to assess knowledge of COVID'19 and perception of the response to the pandemic among the staff of a regional hospital in charge of COVID'19 patients in West Cameroon. Methods We used a convenience non probabilistic sampling method to carry out a survey with a self administered questionnaire from April 14, 2020 to April 29, 2020 at the Bafoussam Regional Hospital (BRH). All the staff was invited to participate. Statistical analyses were done using Microsoft Excel 2010 and Epi Info version 7.1.5.2 software. Results Response rate was 76.1% (464/610). Mean age (SD) and average work experience (SD) were 35.0 (8.9) and 8.4 (7.4) years respectively. Sex ratio (M/F) was 101/356. Nursing and midwifery staff (56.8%) and in patients units (49.94%) were predominant. Knowledge on origin and transmission of SARS'CoV'2 was poor but knowledge of clinical signs and the role of laboratory tests were good. 53.2% of respondents said all therapeutic regimens are only supportive and only a third of them trusted drugs recommended by health authorities. For 36.9% of respondents, herbal remedies can prevent/cure COVID'19. 70% of staffs felt they were not knowledgeable enough to handle COVID'19 cases. 85.6% of respondents thought the BRH had insufficient resources to adequately respond to COVID'19 and 55.6% were dissatisfied with its response to the pandemic (weaknesses: medicines/technologies (74.5%), service delivery (28.1%), human resource (10.9%)). 68% of staff felt insufficiently protected on duty and 76.5% reported that the pandemic significantly reduced non-COVID-19 services. 85.5% said they complied with preventive measures while in the community. For 44% of respondents Cameroonian regulations on COVID'19 corpses should be made more culture sensitive. 51.2% of respondents were against vaccine trial in their community. Conclusion Knowledge of COVID'19 was poor and perception of the response to the pandemic was unfavorable. Key words Health care workers ; Bafoussam ; Knowledge ; Perception ; COVID'19

scholarly journals Factors affecting uptake of ≥ 3 doses of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine for malaria prevention in pregnancy in selected health facilities, Arusha region, Tanzania

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Witness Mkalukwatage Mchwampaka ◽  
Donath Tarimo ◽  
Frank Chacky ◽  
Ahmed Mohamed ◽  
Rogath Kishimba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Intermittent Preventive Treatment ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
World Health ◽  
Adequate Knowledge ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Arusha Region

Abstract Background Tanzania adopted the revised World Health Organization policy in 2013 recommending a minimum of ≥3 doses of Intermittent Preventive Treatment during pregnancy with Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) to protect against malaria. A study in Tanzania in 2014 reported low (9%) uptake. We investigated health workers knowledge about IPTp-SP and factors that influenced uptake of > 3 doses of IPTp-SP among pregnant women. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in 2017 among post-delivery women and health care workers from nine randomly-selected public health facilities in three Districts of Arusha Region. Probability proportional to size methodology was used to determine number of participants per facility. We used a structured questionnaire to collect socio-demographic and obstetric data, information on doses of SP received, and knowledge of SP for IPTp. Health care workers were interviewed about their knowledge for IPTp- SP and challenges encountered in its uptake and use. Results We interviewed 556 persons (median age 26 years, range 16–42 years) with the response rate of 99.3%. Of these, 484 (87.1%) had > 3 Antenatal Care (ANC) visits. A total of 402 (72.3%) were multigravida with 362 (65.1%) having given birth at least once. Of the 556 participants, 219 (39.4%) made their first ANC booking at < 17 weeks of pregnancy and 269 (48.4%) had received > 3 doses of SP-IPTp. Factors associated with uptake of > 3 doses of IPTp-SP included having secondary or higher education [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) =1.6, 95%CI 1.1–2.4], attending ≥4 ANC visits [AOR = 3.1, 95%CI 2.1–4.6], having first antenatal booking at < 17 weeks [AOR = 1.8, 95%CI 1.4–2.3], and adequate knowledge on IPTp-SP [AOR = 2.7, 95%CI 1.9–3.9]. Among 36 health care workers interviewed, 29(80.6%) had adequate knowledge about IPTp-SP. SP was available in seven (87.5%) of the visited health facilities and was administered under Direct Observed Therapy (DOT) in six (75%) facilities. Health care workers reported that stock outs of SP was a challenge. Conclusions Fewer than half of the women interviewed reported uptake of > 3 doses of IPTp-SP. That is below the Tanzania national target of 80%. Making > 4 ANC visits, having secondary or higher education, making an early first ANC visit and having adequate knowledge on IPTp-SP promoted uptake of > 3 doses. Further qualitative studies are needed to explore factors that might contribute to low uptake of SP.

scholarly journals Knowledge, attitude and practice of health care workers on antibiotic resistance and usage in the Gambia

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 007-015
Author(s):  
Bakary Sanneh ◽  
Haruna S. Jallow ◽  
Yankuba Singhateh ◽  
Babanding Sabally ◽  
Alhagie Papa Sey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
The Gambia ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Care Workers

Introduction: Irrational prescription and use of antibiotics are found to be risk factors to the spread of antibiotic resistance. Studies have shown that more than half of the admitted patients at the Paediatric Department of the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in The Gambia have been treated with antibiotics in the year 2015 alone. It was also evident that 74.5% of clinical isolates were resistant to ampicillin which was the most prescribed antibiotic among these patients. Therefore, the need to assess health care workers’ knowledge, attitude and practices on the phenomenon of anti-microbial resistance (AMR) and antibiotic usage in the Gambia. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using self-administered questionnaires which were adopted from related studies. The questionnaires were administered at 60 randomly selected health facilities (both public and private) from around the country with a sample size of 225 respondents in 2016. Descriptive analyses were performed for each study variable and rates were reported as percentages. The results are presented in the form of contingency tables with their respective related Chi-squared (χ2) statistics values. The interpretations of the P-values are based on the less than or equal to 0.05 (5%) significance level. Result: The study revealed that 63.27% of the respondents were nurses, 41.7% of them had a work experience between 0-4 years of service and most of the respondents work in the urban areas. Most of health care workers have knowledge on the right usage of antibiotics and understood that frequent usage of antibiotic could compromise the effectiveness of antibiotics. The study found 94.14% of the health care workers agreed there exists antibiotic abuse in both hospital and community settings. However, 23.08% of the respondents are not aware those antibiotics are not effective against viral infections such as common cold. Conclusion: Therefore, majority of the health care workers had knowledge about antibiotic resistance and are aware of the frequent and abuse of antibiotic use could contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance in the country. However, they were less informed of the cost involved in the treatment and management of multidrug resistance patients using fewer and expensive antibiotics. Moreover, some of the health care workers had misconception on the treatment of viral infections with antibiotics (such as antibacterial) and there also exists disproportionate distribution of trained health workers in the country. Therefore, refresher training on prudent usage of antibiotics for health care workers especially doctors and nurses must be strengthened.

Occupational exposure of health care workers to blood and body fluids in West Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2018: A cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tesfaye Solomon ◽  
Dejene Lemessa
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Body Fluids ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Needle Stick Injury ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Care Workers

Abstract Background: Health care workers are susceptible to acquiring blood and body fluids borne infections due to their occupations involving contact with patients and their body fluids, although studies conducted in Ethiopia are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the magnitude of exposure to blood and body fluids among health care workers in governmental health facilities in West Shewa Zone, Ethiopia.Materials and methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 19 to June 25, 2018. A total of 381 health care workers were selected by simple random sampling from 31 sampled governmental health facilities using proportional to size allocation. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires, entered into Epi-info version 7, and analyzed by SPSS version 21. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) calculated for variables retained in the multivariable logistic regression and significance declared at p<0.05.Results: Of 377 health care workers who participated, the study found that 233 (61.2%) were exposed to blood and body fluids in their lifetime. Previous needle stick injury (AOR=0.30; 95%CI: 0.12-0.75), type of health facility (AOR=0.42; 95%CI: 0.26-0.68), handwashing practice (AOR=0.15; 95%CI: 0.07, 0.31), and perceiving at risk (AOR=0.16; 95%CI: 0.03, 0.98) were protective factors whereas long work experience (AOR=1.47; 95%CI: 1.13-1.93) was a risk factor for the exposure.Conclusions: Exposures to blood and body fluids during patient care were common among health care workers in the study area. Therefore, health care workers especially those newly hired and working in hospitals should pay due attention to their occupation's safety and regularly practice hand washing during critical times.

scholarly journals NSI: A major occupational hazards among the health care workers in Nepal

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaita Mondal
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Body Fluid ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Needle Stick Injury ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
B Virus

A percutaneous piercing wound as in needle stick injury is a typically set by a needle point, but possibly also by other sharp instruments or objects. These events are of concern because of the risk to transmit blood-borne diseases through the passage of the hepatitis B virus (HBV), the hepatitis C virus (HCV), and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the virus which causes AIDS. The present study was done to determine the risk status regarding NSI among health care workers of Private Hospitals, Pokhara, Nepal. Samples were selected through purposive sampling. Self administered questionnaire & risk assessment tool were used to collect data. Study revealed that majority of health care workers were females (93%) with mean age of 22.66 years (±3.1). Sixty eight percent had got NSI, among them 41% had NSI more than 2times in life. Maximum NSI cases happened either by recapping of the needle (18%) or during disposal of sharps (16%) or while transferring a body fluid (blood) to a specimen bottle (15%). The study concludes that majority of health workers had NSI more than two times which denotes NSI is a major occupational hazard. Cases happened either by recapping of the needle or during disposal of sharps or while transferring a body fluid to a specimen bottle. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v3i1.9098   International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, Vol 3 No 1 (2013) 22-25

scholarly journals Measuring the Quality of Rural-Based, Government Health Care Workers in Nepal

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Knoble ◽  
Anil Pandit ◽  
Bibek Koirala ◽  
Laxmi Ghimire
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Clinical Training ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Clinical Skills ◽  
Clinical Teacher ◽  
Government Health ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Key Skills ◽  
Significant Difference

A representative, cross-sectional clinical skills assessment of 163 mid-level, rural-based, government health care workers was conducted in four districts of Nepal in June 2007. All Health Assistants and Auxiliary Healthcare Workers within the target districts were scored using checklists of standardized key skills in clinical encounters with model patients or clinical models. Participant scores were reported as a mean percentage in adult medicine 28(%), pediatric medicine 56(%), maternity medicine 35(%), orthopedic medicine 45(%), clinical procedures 59(%), and management 46(%). This was measured against the government’s 60(%) standard on clinical skills. There was little significant difference between categories of health workers by district of posting or years of experience. There was a minor difference in skills by level of facility - workers in higher level facilities scored better across the domains. Reasons for poor performance in clinical skills were attributed to a lack of clinical in-service training programs, training only focusing on prevention and public health, and poor on-sight supervision. Poor pre-service schooling factors included heavy theory concentration in pathophysiology and inadequate clinical exposure opportunities. Recommendations for the improvement of clinical skills and decision-making include the institution of in-service competency-based training with a high emphasis on real patient exposure. Pre-service recommendations include implementation of a national certification program and an expansion of the current government clinical training sites and clinical teacher development programs.

scholarly journals Closing delivery gaps in the treatment of tuberculosis infection: Lessons from implementation research in Peru

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0247411
Author(s):  
Courtney M. Yuen ◽  
Ana Karina Millones ◽  
Daniela Puma ◽  
Judith Jimenez ◽  
Jerome T. Galea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Implementation Research ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Preventive Treatment ◽  
Interferon Gamma Release Assay ◽  
Household Contacts ◽  
Care Cascade ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Treatment Support

Background Targeted testing and treatment of TB infection to prevent disease is a pillar of TB elimination. Despite recent global commitments to greatly expand access to preventive treatment for TB infection, there remains a lack of research on how best to expand preventive treatment programs in settings with high TB burdens. Methods We conducted implementation research in Lima, Peru, around a multifaceted intervention to deliver TB preventive treatment to close contacts of all ages, health care workers, and people in congregate settings. Key interventions included use of the interferon gamma release assay (IGRA), specialist support for generalist physicians at primary-level health facilities, and treatment support by community health workers. We applied a convergent mixed methods approach to evaluate feasibility and acceptability based on a care cascade framework. Findings During April 2019-January 2020, we enrolled 1,002 household contacts, 148 non-household contacts, 107 residents and staff of congregate settings, and 357 health care workers. Cumulative completion of the TB preventive care cascade was 34% for contacts <5 years old, 28% for contacts 5–19 years old, 18% for contacts ≥20 years old, 0% for people in congregate settings, and 4% of health care workers. IGRA testing was acceptable to adults exposed to TB. Preventive treatment was acceptable to contacts, but less acceptable to physicians, who frequently had doubts about prescribing preventive treatment for adults. Community-based treatment support was both acceptable and feasible, and periodic home-visits or calls were identified as facilitators of adherence. Conclusions We attempted to close the gap in TB preventive treatment in Peru by expanding preventive services to adult contacts and other risk groups. While suboptimal, care cascade completion for adult contacts was consistent with what has been observed in high-income settings. The major losses in the care cascade occurred in completing evaluations and having doctors prescribe preventive treatment.

Prevalence and causes of unreported needle stick injuries among health care workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Razieh Behzadmehr ◽  
Abbas Balouchi ◽  
Mehran Hesaraki ◽  
Farshid Alazmani Noodeh ◽  
Hosein Rafiemanesh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Random Effect Model ◽  
Needle Stick ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Needle Stick Injuries

Abstract Objectives Health care workers (HCWs) are exposed to needle needles daily. Despite individual studies, there is no statistics on the prevalence of unreported needle stick injuries (NSIs) have been reported. This study was performed to determine the prevalence and causes of unreported NSIs among HCWs. Content In present systematic review and meta-analysis study, three international databases (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed) were searched from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2018. The random model was used to determine the prevalence of unreported needle stick among HCWs. Summary and outlook Forty-one studies performed on 19,635 health care workers entered the final stage. Based-on random effect model, pooled prevalence of unreported needle stick injuries was 59.9% (95% CI: 52.0, 67.7; I2=98.9%). The most common cause of unreported NSIs was: They were not worried about NSIs (n=12). The high prevalence of unreported needle sticks injuries indicates the urgency and necessity of paying attention to strategies to improve reporting among health workers.

Risking Lives to Save Others During COVID-19: A Focus on Public Health Care Workers in Bangladesh and Egypt

2021 ◽  
pp. 002073142110637
Author(s):  
Shahjahan Bhuiyan
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Public Health Care ◽  
Altruistic Behavior ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Street Level ◽  
Care Workers

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been spreading around the world, causing a major public health crisis that has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Street-level bureaucrats­—health workers, teachers, street cleaners, police officers­, and so forth—are at the forefront in fighting against the pandemic. Of these, public health care workers, due to the nature of their involvement, should know and understand why they are risking their lives to save others during this pandemic. Based on the preliminary data gleaned from interviews with public health care workers in Bangladesh and Egypt, this ongoing research suggests they are risking their lives for reasons such as altruistic behavior, service to profession, adherence to bureaucratic accountability, and a desire to help mankind. The findings contribute to the existing literature about street-level bureaucratic behavior in atypical times such as these of the pandemic. This study is unique in that it comprehends that public health care workers of two culturally and geographically distinct countries are risking their lives for the same public-spirited cause.

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