scholarly journals Effects of The Long-Time Wearing of Gloves by Health Care Workers Managing Covid-19 Assessed by Electrodermal Activity: A Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 177-184
Author(s):  
Haval Y. Yacoob Aldosky ◽  
Dindar S. Bari ◽  
Ørjan Grøttem Martinsen
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Electrodermal Activity ◽  
Skin Potential ◽  
Experimental Procedure ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Crucial Problem ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Zero Time

Continues wearing gloves is a crucial problem among health care workers treating patients with coronavirus (COVID-19) infection that may cause skin complications. In the present study, the skin conductance (SC), skin potential (SP) and skin susceptance (SS) were used to identify the effects of long-term wearing gloves among health care workers managing COVID-19. The experimental procedure was repeated 30 times on three subjects recruited as volunteers to wear gloves for 4 hours. The baseline of parameters SC, SP, and SS were recorded at normal conditions without wearing the glove at zero time (To). The parameters were again recorded in the cases of glove-wearing with and without zinc oxide ointment (ZnO) for the same period. Noticeable differences were found in each of SC, SP and SS for subjects who wore gloves when compared to the baseline for 4 h. Results also showed significant differences in each of SP and SS during the same period with applying ZnO comparing to wearing gloves without applying ZnO. The results show that skin hydration is significantly improved by using ZnO. However, changing gloves at least every four hours of continuous wearing is recommended.

Financial Vulnerability and Worker Well-Being: A Comparison of Long-Term Services and Supports Workers With Other Health Workers

2020 ◽  
pp. 107755872093013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrike Muench ◽  
Matthew Jura ◽  
Joanne Spetz ◽  
Rachel Mathison ◽  
Charlene Herrington
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Financial Vulnerability ◽  
American Time Use Survey ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Time Use Survey ◽  
Services And Supports

Over 1.5 million new jobs need to be filled by 2026 for medical assistants, nursing aides, and home care aides, many of which will work in the long-term services and supports (LTSS) sector. Using 16 years of data from the American Time Use Survey, we examined the financial vulnerability of high-skill and low-skill LTSS workers in comparison with other health care workers, while providing insight into their well-being by measuring time spent on work and nonwork activities. We found that, regardless of skill status, working in LTSS was associated with lower wages and an increased likelihood of experiencing poverty compared with other health care workers. Results from time diary data indicated that the LTSS workforce spent a greater share of their time working and commuting to work. Low-skill LTSS workers were hardest hit, spending more time on paid and unpaid activities, such as household and child care responsibilities.

scholarly journals Influenza Vaccination of Health Care Workers in Long-Term Care Protects Elderly Patients

1998 ◽  
Vol 27 (suppl 2) ◽  
pp. 45-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Stott ◽  
G. D. Murray ◽  
A. Elder ◽  
W. B. Carman ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Workers

scholarly journals Influenza Vaccination of Health Care Workers in Long-Term-Care Hospitals Reduces the Mortality of Elderly Patients

1997 ◽  
Vol 175 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Potter ◽  
D. J. Stott ◽  
M. A. Roberts ◽  
A. G. Elder ◽  
B. O'Donnell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Workers

scholarly journals COVID-19: first long-term care facility outbreak in the Netherlands following cross-border introduction from Germany, March 2020

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitch van Hensbergen ◽  
Casper D.J. den Heijer ◽  
Petra Wolffs ◽  
Volker Hackert ◽  
Henriette L.G. ter Waarbeek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Regional Hospital ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Long Term Care Facility ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Care Workers

Abstract Background: The Dutch province of Limburg borders the German district of Heinsberg, which had a large cluster of COVID-19 cases linked to local carnival activities in February, before any cases were reported in the Netherlands. However, Heinsberg was not included as an area reporting local or community transmission per the national case definition at the time. In early March, two residents from a long-term care facility (LTCF) in Sittard, a Dutch town located in close vicinity to the district of Heinsberg, started experiencing respiratory symptoms and were admitted to the regional hospital at which they were tested for COVID-19. Introduction of the virus could have occurred following the carnival activities in the surrounding area by LTCF visitors or health care workers.Methods: Surveys and semi-structured oral interviews were conducted with all present residents by health care workers during regular points of care for information on new or unusual signs and symptoms of disease. Both throat and nasopharyngeal swabs were taken from residents suspect of COVID-19 for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 by Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction and whole genome sequencing was performed using a SARS-CoV-2 specific amplicon-based Nanopore sequencing approach. Additionally, twelve random residents were sampled for possible asymptomatic infections.Results: Since the start of the outbreak, nineteen (19%) residents tested positive for COVID-19. Eleven samples were sequenced, along with three random samples from COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the regional hospital at the time of the LTCF outbreak. Conclusions: All samples were linked to COVID-19 cases from the cross-border region of Heinsberg, Germany. Symptoms were reported only in about two third of the cases, and tended to be generally mild. We therefore recommend low-level screening of HCWs and residents following a confirmed COVID-19 case, even in the absence of symptoms. Since the LTCF residents who tested positive did not meet the criteria for suspect cases of COVID-19 at the time, this highlights the importance of cooperation among cross-border partners in order to establish a coordinated implementation of infection control measures in the region on top of national guidelines to limit the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

scholarly journals The Impact of Rhode Island's Mandatory Health Care Worker Influenza Vaccination Regulation on Influenza Incidence in Long-Term Care Facility Residents

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Chicoine
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Rhode Island ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
The Impact

Seasonal influenza is a serious public health problem that contributes to significant morbidity and mortality locally, nationally, and globally. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that influenza has caused between 9.2 million and 60.8 million illnesses, between 140,000 and 710,000 hospitalizations, and between 12,000 and 56,000 deaths annually since 2010, and approximately 80- 90 percent of influenza related deaths occurred in people 65 years and older. In 2012, prompted by the mounting\ evidence of the risk of nosocomial influenza infection for patients and low influenza vaccination rates of health care workers, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) amended its Rules and Regulations for Immunization and Testing for Healthcare Workers. This amendment included mandatory influenza vaccinations for all health care workers, students, volunteers, and trainees who have direct patient contact within a health care facility. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the regulation of mandating influenza vaccination for health care workers in Rhode Island on influenza incidence, hospitalizations, and deaths of residents of long-term care facilities (LTCF). Surveillance data for influenza incidence, hospitalizations, and deaths among residents of LTCF pre and post the policy implementation are analyzed and results presented. Policy and practice implications for public health nursing are discussed.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Mental Health Problems During Virus Epidemics in the General Public, Health Care Workers and Survivors: A Rapid Review of the Evidence

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simeon J Zuercher ◽  
Philipp Kerksieck ◽  
Christine Adamus ◽  
Christian Burr ◽  
Anja I Lehmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Public Health Care ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Prevalence Rates ◽  
Care Workers

Background: The swift spread of SARS-CoV-2 provides a challenge worldwide. As a consequence of restrictive public health measures like isolation, quarantine, and community containment, the provision of mental health services is a major challenge. Evidence from past virus epidemics and the current SARS-CoV-2 outbreak indicate high prevalence rates of mental health problems (MHP) as short- and long-term consequences. However, a broader picture of MHP among different populations is still lacking. Methods: We conducted a rapid review on MHP prevalence rates published since 2000, during and after epidemics, including the general public, health care workers, and survivors. Any quantitative articles reporting on MHP rates were included. Out of 2855 articles screened, a total of 74 were included in this review. Results: Most original studies on MHP were conducted in China in the context of SARS-CoV-1, and reported on anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms/disorder, general psychiatric morbidity, and psychological symptoms. The MHP rates across studies, populations, and epidemics vary substantially. While some studies show high and persistent rates of MHP in populations directly affected by isolation, quarantine, threat of infection, infection, or life-threatening symptoms (e.g. health care workers), other studies report minor effects. Furthermore, even less affected populations (e.g. distant to epidemic epicenter, no contact history with suspected or confirmed cases) can show high rates of MHP. Discussion: MHP vary largely across countries and risk-groups in reviewed studies. The results call attention to potentially high MHP during epidemics. Individuals affected directly by an epidemic might be at a higher risk of short or even long-term mental health impairments. This study delivers insights stemming from a wide range of psychiatric instruments and questionnaires. The results call for the use of validated and standardized instruments, reference norms, and pre-post measurements to better understand the magnitude of the MHP during and after the epidemics. Nevertheless, emerging MHP should be considered during epidemics including the provision of access to mental health care to mitigate potential mental impairments.

scholarly journals Exit only: harms from silencing employee voice

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (05) ◽  
pp. A03
Author(s):  
Karen Adkins
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Employee Health ◽  
Employee Voice ◽  
Employee Morale ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Employee Effectiveness

The nationwide shortage of PPE for health care workers has been well documented. Reporting on this issue has been complicated by hospitals' imposition of gag orders on physicians and health care workers. There are harms that result from imposing these gag orders that go beyond the obvious harms to public and employee health and safety. Using Hirschman's ‘Exit, Voice, and Loyalty’ (1970) as a framework demonstrates that these orders represent a dangerous concentration of power in employer hands — health care workers are reduced to functionaries. Hirschman's argument, in part, is that organisations should seek to balance the availability of exit, voice, and loyalty for employees. Restricting employee options in morally untenable situations to exit only leads to direct and indirect harms. These gag orders are a pernicious practice, and bring with them long-term negative implications for employee morale, employee effectiveness, and public service.

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