scholarly journals A pre/post analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychosocial work environment and recovery among healthcare workers in a large university hospital in Sweden

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingibjörg H. Jonsdottir ◽  
Alessio Degl’Innocenti ◽  
Linda Åhlström ◽  
Caterina Finizia ◽  
Helle Wijk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Employee Survey ◽  
Hospital Employees ◽  
The Impact

Background. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on workload, mental health, and well-being of healthcare workers, and particularly those on the front-line, has received considerable attention.Design and methods. We surveyed hospital employees about their working environment during the pandemic and identified departments which were negatively affected in comparison to the pre-pandemic situation, as well as factors contributing to this.Setting and participants We surveyed all hospital employees at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden in September 2020 and compared results across departments and to the results of a large employee survey from October 2019.Results. The overall impact of the pandemic on perceived working conditions and possibility for recovery differed among departments. During the pandemic, healthcare workers working with COVID-19 patients reported poorer working environments than other employees. Factors significantly related to perception of work environment and recovery during the pandemic included worries of being infected, departmental transfer, and having insufficient access to personal protective equipment. Men reported better working conditions than women in all, but one item and higher age was related to better perceived working environment.Conclusions. Our results indicate that the pandemic differentially affects hospital departments and underscores the multifactorial nature of this topic. Contributing factors to poor perceived working environment could be addressed at times of high workload, such as during the pandemic, including providing appropriate support to managers, ensuring possibility for recovery during working hours, and acknowledging worries about infection. Young healthcare workers and staff who are relocated due to the pandemic warrant special attention.

scholarly journals Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Versha Prasad
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Mental Condition ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Personal Protection Equipment ◽  
The Impact

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has heavily burdened, and in many cases overwhelmed, healthcare systems including healthcare workers. The novel COVID-19 started from Wuhan in mainland China. Since then it has affected most of the nations and continents because of its rapid spread. Most commonly affected are the healthcare professionals who are working on the frontline. The COVID-19 epidemic has mushroomed globally, disrupting the existence of millions It is a generalized mental condition occurring without any trigger or stimulus. Various symptoms of depression are: anxious, sad and empty feelings, hopelessness, guilt and may be sense of helplessness, restless attitude, irritation, and lack of interest in various hobbies and activities and were once considered relax able and which are used to provide pleasure. Furthermore, healthcare workers reported mental health problems putatively associated with healthcare workers’ occupational activities during and up until years after epidemics, including symptoms of post-traumatic stress, burnout, depression and anxiety. As for lack of material, a high percentage of professionals are getting infected for not having adequate personal protection equipment (PPE) and not using it properly, having to re-use in many occasions equipment which is only recommended for one-time utilization. During work performed by healthcare workers, several pressure elements from different sources may impact on keeping optimal conditions for a healthy working environment, and because of the saturation of the sanitary facilities due to the high level of virus infection, the health of these professionals has been obviously affected. While the main focus is concentrated on laboratory testing, finding the disease cure and prevention of transmission, all individuals are undergoing a plethora of psychological problems while adjusting to current lifestyles and disease fear. In current study, an attempt has been made to find out the impact of this pandemic situation on psychological well-being of healthcare and non-healthcare workers. Our study has reported identical findings to those reported by numerous investigators working across the globe. The present paper has outlined the stressors which the frontline health care professionals have faced including fear of spreading disease to co-workers and members of the family, irregular sleep patterns, abrupt work cycles, and lack of adequate training skills in dealing with such a novel situation.

CREATING A POSITIVE WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR TEACHERS

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 137-147
Author(s):  
Andrejs Geske ◽  
Liene Zizlāne
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Work Satisfaction ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Research Paper ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Educational Work ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Teacher Work ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of the research paper is to study a positive working environment importance for teachers work satisfaction and the role of principal in improving working conditions. Whereas teacher profession is subject to different changes and reforms it makes the whole profession and teacher well-being an important subject to discuss.The research paper includes analysis of the theoretical material about physical environment as well as psychological (also called microclimate). Empirical part is based on teacher’s survey – 97 teachers from different schools in Riga were involved. The statements of survey have partially adopted from Teaching and Learning International Study TALIS 2013. The main research task is to study how work environment and the impact of principal correlate with teacher work satisfaction.During research scales of teacher work satisfaction, work environment and impact of principal were created. The results of linear regression show that both the work environment and direct impact of principal is important factor which influences as well educational work as work satisfaction. The situation is various in different schools in Riga, so it verifies, that the problematics of positive working environment exists.

Systemic barriers to effective implementation of child protection reform in Israel

2019 ◽  
pp. 155-168
Author(s):  
Ravit Alfandari
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Organisational Culture ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Vulnerable Children ◽  
Effective Implementation ◽  
Effective Delivery ◽  
The Impact

This chapter presents a qualitative study that was conducted to investigate the implementation and outcomes of recent child protection reform in Israel. Using the ‘systems approach’ as conceptual framework allowed to understand the impact of the working conditions on every-day child protection practices. The key finding of the research – that the reform’s aims of strengthening practice and improving the safety and well-being of vulnerable children have not been entirely achieved – is explained by the organisational working environment and culture acting as barriers to the expected change. Findings touch on in particular: heavy workloads and an organisational culture that seeks opportunities to shortcut procedures and processes; inadequate professional supervision and support; insufficient training and qualifications; and lack of strong organisational leadership. It is concluded that organisations’ underlying problems need to be resolved if effective delivery of services for children and families is to be achieved.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Pandemic in University Hospital: Is There an Effect on The Medical Interns?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
WeiHonn Lim ◽  
Li Ying Teoh ◽  
Kanesh Kumaran A/L Seevalingam ◽  
Shanggar Kuppusamy
Keyword(s):  
Support Group ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Peer Support Group ◽  
Ordinal Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Heavy Workload ◽  
Medical Interns ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIntroductionCoronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted the current healthcare system and carries a major impact to the healthcare workers (HCW). University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) has been selected as one of the centres in managing COVID-19 cases in Malaysia. Many HCW including the medical interns, are directly or indirectly involved in the management.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional, pilot study to determine the impact of the pandemic on UMMC medical interns. A survey which comprises 37-items was used. Data are analysed by Ordinal Logistic Regression Analysis.ResultsOur study shows that medical interns are tired (p = 0.014), starving (p = 0.004), have inadequate exercises (p = 0.004) and burdened with heavy workload (p=0.023) during pandemic period. Many are depressed (p = 0.043), scared to work (p = 0.03), and worried of getting infected (p < 0.05). Some quarrel with their colleagues (p < 0.05), losing contact with friends (p = 0.022) and feel that it will be beneficial to have a peer support group (p = 0.027).ConclusionIn summary, the impact of COVID-19 amongst medical interns is significant and their overall well-being should be protected without jeopardising their training.

scholarly journals Management employees working conditions for sustainable development in era of globalization

2021 ◽  
Vol 129 ◽  
pp. 07006
Author(s):  
Viera Sukalova
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Legal Aspects ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
System Solution ◽  
The Impact

Research background: Human resources today are well the most important and valuable resource of a company, and therefore it is very important that the company constantly deals with the field of working conditions. Working conditions represent a convex set of conditions, factors and other elements affecting the worker who performs the assigned work tasks for the employer and significantly affect his productivity, well-being, health and loyalty to the employer. Currently, the field of working conditions has been hit hard by the Covid 19 pandemic. The company's goal in the field of working conditions should be to create the best possible working conditions that will provide employees with a suitable and quality working environment, damage to health at work and benefits to increase their comfort. Purpose of the article: The aim of our article is to analyse the legal aspects of labour protection and working conditions in EU and Slovakia and to document on the Case study current problems of work management and also the impact of Covid 19 on employees’ working conditions. Methods: Analysis, Synthesis, Case study, Questionnaire We analyzed the current legislation of the EU and Slovakia in the field of occupational safety and working conditions, and on the example of a case study and the use of a questionnaire survey, we identified problems in this area. Findings & Value added: Identification of current problem areas in the management of working conditions and design of a system solution for sustainable development.

scholarly journals HYGIENIC APPROACHES TO THE PREVENTION OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS

2019 ◽  
Vol 98 (9) ◽  
pp. 936-942
Author(s):  
E. T. Valeyeva ◽  
L. M. Karamova ◽  
Elmira R. Shaikhlislamova ◽  
V. O. Krasovskiy ◽  
N. V. Vlasova
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Burnout Syndrome ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Economic Damage ◽  
Work Process ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Emotional Burnout ◽  
The Impact

Introduction. Healthcare workers are at a high risk of emotional burnout due to their professional activities associated with constant mental and intellectual stress. The importance of timely diagnosed psychoemotional burnout syndrome (PEBS) determines the need to develop measures for its prevention. Material and methods. We have studied the working conditions, health status of healthcare workers; the indices of relative risk and etiological component of the contribution of work environment and the work process factors to the development of the identified pathology were calculated; the probability of the development of PEBS based on diagnostics of the emotional burnout level according to the method suggested by V.V. Boiko. Results. During occupational activities healthcare workers are exposed to chemical, biological, physical work environment factors, the severity and intensity of the work process. Indices of the work process intensity are assigned to the leading hazardous occupational factor according to which the class of working conditions is determined as hazardous Class 1-3. PEBS, diseases of the musculoskeletal, circulatory, digestive and respiration systems are classified as work-related ones. An assessment of the possibility of the development of PEBS has shown 35% of the healthcare workers to consider working conditions to be related to PEBS. The dependence of the development of somatic diseases on the presence or absence of PEBS is revealed. Conclusion. The working conditions of healthcare workers are characterized by the impact of a complex of occupational factors, the leading of which is the work process intensity. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system, circulatory and respiration systems, psycho-emotional burnout syndrome are classified as work-related diseases with a high degree of conditionality. The criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of preventive measures are the reduction of general, work-related and occupational morbidity, the preservation of psychosomatic well-being, and the prevention of economic damage from temporary and permanent disability.

scholarly journals A Survey of Psychiatric Healthcare Workers' Perception of Working Environment and Possibility to Recover Before and After the First Wave of COVID-19 in Sweden

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eirini Alexiou ◽  
Steinn Steingrimsson ◽  
Magnus Akerstrom ◽  
Ingibjörg H. Jonsdottir ◽  
Linda Ahlstrom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
The Impact

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on perceived working environment, including the possibility to recover, among psychiatric healthcare workers (PHCWs) in comparison with pre-pandemic measures.Method: A link to an anonymous, web-based COVID-19 related survey was sent via email to all PHCWs at a university hospital in Sweden (n = 1,618) in September 2020. The response rate was 38% (566 of 1,507 eligible participants). Working environment survey responses collected in 2019 were used as pre-pandemic comparators. Statistical analyses were performed to assess overall impact over time on work demands, support, motivation, and recovery, stratified by professional role, and considering variables such as access to personal protective equipment.Results: The percentage of individuals responding negatively to statements about working environment increased significantly for most items after the first wave. Similarly, the increase of five of the investigated factors indicated a more negative perception of recovery during the pandemic. Registered nurses reported a greater negative impact of the pandemic on perceived working conditions and ability to recover than other professional groups. PHCWs working with patients with COVID-19 (35%) who reported being worried about becoming infected (12%) or infecting others (17%), or lacking adequate personal protective equipment (22%) were more negatively impacted regarding work environment-related items than those who did not.Conclusions: PHCWs' working environment and possibility for recovery were impacted by the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses being most affected. Although psychiatric services do not directly care for patients with severe COVID-19 infection, the results from this study suggests that mental health services should also prepare for future pandemics.

Work environment risk factors for the duration of all cause and diagnose-specific sickness absence among healthcare workers in Sweden: a prospective study

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (11) ◽  
pp. 782-789
Author(s):  
Constanze Leineweber ◽  
Staffan Marklund ◽  
Klas Gustafsson ◽  
Magnus Helgesson
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Sickness Absence ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Job Control ◽  
Psychiatric Diagnoses ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Job Support ◽  
The Impact

ObjectivesIncreasing sickness absence (SA) has been reported among healthcare workers in Sweden. Our aim was to analyse the impact of work environment factors on short-term and long-term SA based on musculoskeletal and psychiatric diagnoses among healthcare workers.MethodsThe study sample consisted of healthcare workers (n=12 452) drawn from representative samples of workers aged 16 to 64, who participated in the Swedish Work Environment Surveys (SWES) between 1993 and 2013. The outcomes were either short-term (≤28 days) or long-term (>104 days) SA between 1994 and 2016. HRs and 95% CIs were calculated for the impact of physical and psychosocial working conditions on risk of subsequent short-term or long-term SA for 3 years after participation in SWES.ResultsHeavy physical work and strenuous work postures showed elevated HRs for short-term and long-term SA compared with those without these work exposures. Similarly, high job demands and low job control each increased the risk for both short-term and long-term SA compared with employees with low job demands and high job control. Low job support increased the risk for short-term SA compared with those with high job support. Working conditions were strongly related to short-term SA due to musculoskeletal diagnoses but not to short-term SA due to psychiatric diagnoses. None of the work characteristics, except strenuous postures, elevated the risk for long-term SA due to psychiatric diagnosis compared with employees without these characteristics.ConclusionsErgonomic improvements and stress reduction among healthcare workers are likely to reduce the prevalence of SA foremost due to musculoskeletal diagnoses.

Efficacy of Crisis Intervention

Crisis ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 78-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Reisch ◽  
Petra Schlatter ◽  
Wolfgang Tschacher
Keyword(s):  
Crisis Intervention ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Suicide Ideation ◽  
Indirect Evidence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Term Therapy ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Step Therapy ◽  
Long Term Therapy ◽  
The Impact

This study assesses the efficacy of the treatment approach implemented in the Bern Crisis Intervention Program, where particular emphasis is placed on the remediation of suicide ideation and suicidal behavior, and depression, fear, and phobia are generally considered to be contributing factors. Four questionnaires addressing psychopathology, emotional well-being, social anxiety, and personality were administered prior to and after the treatment of 51 patients over a period of 2 to 3 weeks. The reduction of symptoms contributing to suicidal ideation and behavior was interpreted as indirect evidence of an antisuicidal effect of the program. Significant improvements were found in the psychopathology ratings, with depression and anxiety showing the largest reductions. The impact on personality and social phobia, however, was only moderate, and on average patients still exhibited symptoms after attending the program. This residual symptomatology points to the necessity of introducing a two-step therapy approach of intensive intervention targeted at the precipitating causes of the crisis, augmented by long-term therapy to treat underlying problems.

scholarly journals Stress, Burnout, and Resilience among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Emergency: The Role of Defense Mechanisms

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5258
Author(s):  
Mariagrazia Di Giuseppe ◽  
Gianni Nepa ◽  
Tracy A. Prout ◽  
Fabrizio Albertini ◽  
Stefano Marcelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Personal Accomplishment ◽  
Traumatic Experience ◽  
Psychological Resources ◽  
Defensive Functioning ◽  
The Impact

The experience of working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 healthcare crisis has presented a cumulative traumatic experience that affects healthcare professionals’ well-being. Psychological resources such as resilience and adaptive defense mechanisms are essential in protecting individuals from severe stress and burnout. During September 2020, 233 healthcare workers responded to an online survey to test the impact of demographic variables, COVID-19 exposure, and psychological resources in determining stress and burnout during the COVID-19 emergency. Frontline workers reported higher scores for stress, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization (p < 0.001) as compared to colleagues working in units not directly serving patients with COVID-19. Mature defensive functioning was associated with resilience and personal accomplishment (r = 0.320; p < 0.001), while neurotic and immature defenses were related to perceived stress and burnout. Stress and burnout were predicted by lower age, female gender, greater exposure to COVID-19, lower resilience, and immature defensive functioning among healthcare professionals (R2 = 463; p < 0.001). Working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic appears to provoke greater stress and burnout. On the other hand, resilience and adaptive defense mechanisms predicted better adjustment. Future reaction plans should promote effective programs offering support for healthcare workers who provide direct care to patients with COVID-19.

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