scholarly journals Issue of Compliance with Use of Personal Protective Equipment among Wastewater Workers across the Southeast Region of the United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamara Wright ◽  
Atin Adhikari ◽  
Jingjing Yin ◽  
Robert Vogel ◽  
Stacy Smallwood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Occupational Exposures ◽  
The United States ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Perceived Susceptibility ◽  
Occupational Illness ◽  
Southeast Region ◽  
The Impact

Wastewater workers are exposed to different occupational hazards such as chemicals, gases, viruses, and bacteria. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is a significant factor that can reduce or decrease the probability of an accident from hazardous exposures to chemicals and microbial contaminants. The purpose of this study was to examine wastewater worker’s beliefs and practices on wearing PPE through the integration of the Health Belief Model (HBM), identify the impact that management has on wastewater workers wearing PPE, and determine the predictors of PPE compliance among workers in the wastewater industry. Data was collected from 272 wastewater workers located at 33 wastewater facilities across the southeast region of the United States. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted to present frequency distributions of participants’ knowledge and compliance with wearing PPE. Univariate and multiple linear regression models were applied to determine the association of predictors of interest with PPE compliance. Wastewater workers were knowledgeable of occupational exposures and PPE requirements at their facility. Positive predictors of PPE compliance were perceived susceptibility and perceived severity of contracting an occupational illness (p < 0.05). A negative association was identified between managers setting the example of wearing PPE sometimes and PPE compliance (p < 0.05). Utilizing perceived susceptibility and severity for safety programs and interventions may improve PPE compliance among wastewater workers.

scholarly journals Sleep Quality Among Informal Caregivers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 233372142110573
Author(s):  
Mary L. Greaney ◽  
Zachary J. Kunicki ◽  
Meghan M. Drohan ◽  
Caitlin C. Nash ◽  
Steven A. Cohen
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Caregiver Burden ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Behavioral Science ◽  
Informal Caregivers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

Sleep is an integral component of health. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep quality among informal caregivers, individuals who provide unpaid care or assistance to family members or friends, assisting older adults is not well understood. Therefore, informal caregivers in the United States providing care for individuals aged 50+ were recruited via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, an online platform for enrolling study participants into social and behavioral science research, to complete an online survey. The sample of informal caregivers ( n = 835) was 69% male and 55% non-Hispanic. Multivariable linear regression models were constructed to assess the associations between sleep disturbance scores (SDS) and sleep-related impairment scores (SIS) and caregiving-related measures (hours caregiving/week, length of time spent caregiving, and caregiver burden), demographics, and region of the United States. The analysis determined that Black (β = 2.6, 95% CI [−4.3, −0.9]) and Asian informal caregivers (β = −1.8, 95% CI [−3.4, −0.3]) had lower mean SIS than White caregivers, the referent group. In addition, increasing caregiver burden was associated with increased SDS (β = 0.8, 95% CI [0.6, 1.0]) and SIS (β = 1.3, 95% CI [0.7, 1.6]). In conclusion, higher caregiver burden was associated with higher SIS and SDS, suggesting that informal caregivers' sleep should be assessed, and when needed interventions should be offered.

Postpartum Psychiatric Admissions in the United States

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Wen ◽  
Arielle W. Fein ◽  
Jason D. Wright ◽  
William J. Mack ◽  
Frank J. Attenello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Psychiatric Comorbidity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Psychiatric Diagnoses ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Psychiatric Admission ◽  
Psychiatric Admissions ◽  
Log Linear ◽  
Adjusted Model ◽  
The Impact

Objective To assess risk for postpartum psychiatric admissions in the United States. Study Design This study used the 2010 to 2014 Nationwide Readmissions Database to identify psychiatric admissions during the first 60 days after delivery hospitalization. Timing of admission after delivery discharge was determined. We fit multivariable log-linear regression models to assess the impact of psychiatric comorbidity on admission risk, adjusting for patient, obstetrical, and hospital factors. Results Of 15.7 million deliveries from 2010 to 2014, 11,497 women (0.07%) were readmitted for a primary psychiatric diagnosis within 60 days postpartum. Psychiatric admissions occurred relatively consistently across 10-day periods after delivery hospitalization discharge. Psychiatric diagnoses were present among 5% of women at delivery but 40% of women who were readmitted postpartum for a psychiatric indication. In the adjusted model, women with psychiatric diagnoses at delivery hospitalization were 9.7 times more likely to be readmitted compared with those without psychiatric comorbidity. Women at highest risk for psychiatric admission were those with Medicare and Medicaid, in lower income quartiles, and of younger age. Conclusion While a large proportion of psychiatric admissions occurred among a relatively small proportion of at-risk women, admissions occurred over a broad temporal period relative to other indications for postpartum admission.

scholarly journals Application of an objective structured clinical examination to evaluate and monitor interns’ proficiency in hand hygiene and personal protective equipment use in the United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Nagoshi ◽  
Lou Ann Cooper ◽  
Lynne Meyer ◽  
Kartik Cherabuddi ◽  
Julia Close ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Clinical Examination ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
The United States ◽  
Objective Structured Clinical Examination ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Contact Precaution ◽  
Percent Correct ◽  
The Mean

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine whether an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) could be used to evaluate and monitor hand hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE) proficiency among medical interns in the United States.Methods: Interns in July 2015 (N=123, cohort 1) with no experience of OSCE-based contact precaution evaluation and teaching were evaluated in early 2016 using an OSCE for hand hygiene and PPE proficiency. They performed poorly. Therefore, the new interns entering in July 2016 (N=151, cohort 2) were immediately tested at the same OSCE stations as cohort 1, and were provided with feedback and teaching. Cohort 2 was then retested at the OSCE station in early 2017. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare the performance of cohort 1 and cohort 2 on checklist items. In cohort 2, performance differences between the beginning and end of the intern year were compared using the McNemar chi-square test for paired nominal data.Results: Checklist items were scored, summed, and reported as percent correct. In cohort 2, the mean percent correct was higher on the posttest than on the pretest (92% vs. 77%, P<0.0001), and the passing rate (100% correct) was also significantly higher on the posttest (55% vs. 16%). At the end of intern year, the mean percent correct was higher in cohort 2 than in cohort 1 (95% vs. 90%, P<0.0001), and 55% of cohort 2 passed (a perfect score) compared to 24% in cohort 1 (P<0.0001).Conclusion: An OSCE can be utilized to evaluate and monitor hand hygiene and PPE proficiency among interns in the United States.

Shifting Landscapes of Belonging: Birth Doulas and COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 5-10
Author(s):  
Angela N. Castañeda ◽  
Julie Johnson Searcy
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
The United States ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Informational Support ◽  
Labor Support ◽  
Support Person ◽  
Hospital Policies

Abstract The rise of COVID-19 cases at hospitals translates to shifting policies about who can be present at births. Our research looks at data from nearly 400 qualitative surveys on how doulas—women who provide continuous emotional, physical, and informational support to pregnant and laboring people—navigate new restrictions redefining who belongs and is considered an “essential” birth worker in hospitals in the United States. The spectrum of new hospital guidelines spans from allowing only certified doulas, oftentimes with their own personal protective equipment (PPE) and on pre-approved hospital lists, to forcing pregnant people to choose only one support person, and in extreme cases, to banning any labor support—doula or partner. We examine what doulas reported about the changing hospital policies and shifting landscapes of belonging, thinking through what these contestations mean for birth.

scholarly journals Personal Protective Equipment for Common Urologic Procedures Before and During the United States COVID-19 Pandemic: A Single Institution Study

Urology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 141 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Sobel ◽  
Martus Gn ◽  
Timothy K. O'Rourke ◽  
Chris Tucci ◽  
Gyan Pareek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
The United States ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Single Institution

scholarly journals Adherence to Personal Protective Equipment Guidelines During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Healthcare Personnel in the United States

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Oliver A. Darwish ◽  
Ayushi Aggarwal ◽  
Mehran Karvar ◽  
Chenhao Ma ◽  
Valentin Haug ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Cdc Guidelines ◽  
Frontline Healthcare Workers

Abstract Objectives: Protecting frontline healthcare workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical during the COVID pandemic. Through an online survey, we demonstrated variable adherence to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) PPE guidelines among health care personnel (HCP). Methods: CDC guidelines for optimal and acceptable PPE usage in common situations faced by frontline healthcare workers were referenced to create a short online survey. The survey was distributed to national, statewide, and local professional organizations across the United States and to HCP using a snowball sampling technique. Responses were collected between June 15 and July 17, 2020. Results: 2245 responses were received from doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, and medical technicians in 44 states. Eight states with n>20 (Arizona, California, Colorado, Louisiana, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington) and a total of 436 responses are included in the quantitative analysis. Adherence to CDC guidelines was observed to be highest in the scenario of patient contact when COVID was not suspected (86.47%) and lowest when carrying out aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) (42.47%). Conclusions: Further research is urgently needed to identify the reasons underlying variability between professions and regions to pinpoint strategies for maximizing adherence and improving the safety of HCPs.

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