scholarly journals NURSES’ PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS DURING THE FIRST COVID-19 LOCKDOWN IN ITALY

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. e2022010
Author(s):  
Stefano Botti ◽  
Chiara Cannici ◽  
Sarah Liptrott ◽  
Valentina De Cecco ◽  
Elena Rostagno ◽  
...  

Background and objective: Northern Italy was one of the first European territories to deal with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Drastic emergency restrictions were introduced across the country to contain the spread and limit pressure on healthcare facilities. Nurses were at high risk of developing physical, mental and working issues due to professional exposure. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate these issues among nurses working in Italian hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) programmes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Data were collected online immediately after the first "lockdown" period in order to investigate the prevalence of physical issues, sleep disorders and burnout symptoms and explore correlations with COVID-19 territorial incidence in Northern Italian regions versus Central and Southern Italian regions. Results: Three hundred and eight nurses working in 61 Italian HSCT Units responded to the survey. Depression, cough and fever were more frequently reported by nurses working in geographical areas less affected by the pandemic (p=0.0013, p<0.0001 and p=0.0005 respectively) as well as worst sleep quality (p=0.008). Moderate levels of emotional exhaustion (mean±SD - 17.4±13.0), depersonalization (5.3±6.1) and personal accomplishment (33.2±10.7) were reported without significant differences between territories. Conclusions: different COVID-19 incidence among territories did not influenced nurses’ burden of symptoms in HSCT setting. However, burnout and insomnia levels should be considered by health care facilities in order to improve preventive strategies.

Author(s):  
Behrad Pourmohammadi ◽  
Ahad Heydari ◽  
Farin Fatemi ◽  
Ali Modarresi

Abstract Objectives: Iran is exposed to a wide range of natural and man-made hazards. Health-care facilities can play a significant role in providing life-saving measures in the minutes and hours immediately following the impact or exposure. The aim of this study was to determine the preparedness of health-care facilities in disasters and emergencies. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Damghan, Semnan Province, in 2019. The samples consisted of all the 11 health-care facilities located in Damghan County. A developed checklist was used to collect the data, including 272 questions in 4 sections: understanding threatening hazards, functional, structural, and nonstructural vulnerability of health-care facilities. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21. Results: The results revealed that the health-care facilities were exposed to 22 different natural and man-made hazards throughout the county. The total level of preparedness of the health-care centers under assessment was 45.8%. The average functional, structural, and nonstructural vulnerability was assessed at 49.3%, 31.6%, and 56.4%, respectively. Conclusions: Conducting mitigation measures is necessary for promoting the functional and structural preparedness. Disaster educational programs and exercises are recommended among the health staff in health-care facilities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arezoo Yari ◽  
Yadolah Zarezadeh ◽  
Farin Fatemi ◽  
Ali Ardalan ◽  
Siamak Vahedi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Kurdistan province of Iran is among disaster prone areas of the country. The Primary Health Care facilities in Iran deliver health services at all levels nationwide. Resiliency and flexibility of such facilities is important when a disaster occurs. Thus, evaluating functional, structural, and non-structural aspects of safety of such facilities is essential. Methods In this cross-sectional study, the instrument used to evaluate four sections of functional, structural, non-structural, and total safety of 805 healthcare facilities in Kurdistan Province was the safety evaluation checklist of primary healthcare centers, provided by the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Each section scored from 0 to 100 points, and each section of the safety was classified to three safety classes according to their total score: low (≤34.0), average (34.01–66.0) and high (> 66.0). Results The levels of functional, structural, non-structural and total safety were equal to 23.8, 20.2, 42.3 and 28.7, out of 100, respectively. Regarding the functional safety, rapid response team scored the highest, while financial affairs scored the lowest. Nevertheless, in structural and non-structural sections, the scores of different items were almost similar. Conclusions The results of the study revealed that safety score of primary healthcare facilities in general was unsatisfactory. Thus, promoting preparedness, resilience and continuity of service delivery of these facilities are essential to response to disasters and emergencies. The finding of this study could be beneficial for national and provincial decision-makers and policymakers in this regard.


2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laima Alam ◽  
Syed Kumail Hasan Kazmi ◽  
Mafaza Alam ◽  
Varqa Faraid

Objectives: 1) To explore the possible impact of the pandemic on the health seeking behavior of the patients, 2) To explore the relation of socio-demographics on the utility of health-care facilities. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted by enrolling all patients ≥15 years of age presenting to the Out-Patient-Department of three main public-hospitals after obtaining ethical committee approval. A questionnaire with validated Urdu translation was filled by each participant that included socio-demographic data, pre-Covid and Covid-19 era health seeking behaviors and the impact of the pandemic on the utilization of healthcare facilities. Data was analyzed using SPSS V.19. Results: A total of 393 patients were enrolled with a male preponderance (72%) and a median age range of 31-45 years. Fifty-eight percent of the study population was unemployed and 47.3% were seeking follow up care. The frequency of ER and multiple (>4 times) OPD visits were significantly decreased in the Covid-19 times whereas, the laboratory and radiology services were largely unaffected. A significant number of patients were not satisfied with the current healthcare facilities that was seen irrespective of the socio-demographic status. Emergency Room and radiology services were largely unaffected whereas, elective procedures and laboratory facilities were reported to be severely affected or delayed in relation to socio-demographic variables. Conclusions: Healthcare inequalities have widened and depression has shown a sharp rise during this pandemic. The over-burdened healthcare facilities at the verge of collapse may miss out on the chronic non-Covid patients which would ultimately lead to increased morbidity and mortality. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.2.3536 How to cite this:Alam L, Kazmi SKH, Alam M, Faraid V. Amid COVID-19 pandemic, are non-COVID patients left in the lurch? Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(2):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.2.3536 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arezoo Yari ◽  
Yadolah Zarezadeh ◽  
Farin Fatemi ◽  
Ali Ardalan ◽  
Siamak Vahedi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Kurdistan province of Iran is among disaster prone areas of the country. The Primary Health Care facilities in Iran deliver health services at all levels nationwide. Resiliency and flexibility of such facilities is important when a disaster occurs. Thus, evaluating functional, structural, and non-structural aspects of safety of such facilities is essential.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the instrument used to evaluate four sections of functional, structural, non-structural, and total safety of 805 healthcare facilities in Kurdistan Province was the safety evaluation checklist of primary healthcare centers, provided by the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Each section scored from 0 to 100 points, and each section of the safety was classified to three safety classes according to their total score: low (≤34.0), average (34.01-66.0) and high (>66.0). Results: The levels of functional, structural, non-structural and total safety were equal to 23.8, 20.2, 42.3 and 28.7, out of 100, respectively. Regarding the functional safety, rapid response team scored the highest, while financial affairs scored the lowest. Nevertheless, in structural and non-structural sections, the scores of different items were almost similar. Conclusions: The results of the study revealed that safety score of primary healthcare facilities in general was unsatisfactory. Thus, promoting preparedness, resilience and continuity of service delivery of these facilities are essential to response to disasters and emergencies. The finding of this study could be beneficial for national and provincial decision-makers and policymakers in this regard.


2017 ◽  
pp. 69-74
Author(s):  
Van Hung Nguyen ◽  
Van Thang Vo

Background: Accident injuries caused has been serious heatlth problem in developing coutries. Children is vulnerable group with accident injury beucase of lacking knowlegde and exposing with risk factors in eviromental household. The treatment outcome for accident injury of children usually has more serious than other groups. The aims of this study to describle some characteristics of first aid and the outcome of treatment for children accident in Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak provice in 2014. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted total 2,273 household which was 4,505 children aged under 16 in 8 communes, Buon Ma Thuot city, Daklak province. Interview technique with structural questionnaire and household observation methods were used for data collection. Results: The propotion of first aid was 75.9%; not received any first aid (23.8%); mortality at accident place (0.3%). At the time accident: The highest personal involving first aid was pedestrians 54.1%; 25% of health staff, self- first aid was 14.5%. Two main of first aid methods were hemostasis and bandeged with 45.5%; 28% respectiviely. After first aid, there was 80% delivering to health care facilities. The transport methods were motocycle (91.8%), car (5.6%) and ambulance (0.4%). The rate of approach health care facilities around early 6 hours were 86.7%. The characteristics of damages: sub-damages (scratches, dislocations, sprains...) were 36.9 %, deep damages (fractures, open wounds) accounted for 44.6%. Inpatient treatment was 23.9%; 91.5% medical therapy, surgery of 8.2%. The outcome of treatment were good (97.2%), sequelae/disability 2.6%. Conclusion: First aid activities for children at time and properly right were demonstrated effectively for prevented seriously outcome. There should be an intervention program for children with the appropriate models to reduce accident injuries in children; improvement first aid to communities and health care worker. Key words: accident injury, first aid, capacity first care, children under 16 years old


2021 ◽  
pp. 175717742110127
Author(s):  
Salma Abbas ◽  
Faisal Sultan

Background: Patient and staff safety at healthcare facilities during outbreaks hinges on a prompt infection prevention and control response. Physicians leading these programmes have encountered numerous obstacles during the pandemic. Aim/objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate infection prevention and control practices and explore the challenges in Pakistan during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study and administered a survey to physicians leading infection prevention and control programmes at 18 hospitals in Pakistan. Results: All participants implemented universal masking, limited the intake of patients and designated separate triage areas, wards and intensive care units for coronavirus disease 2019 patients at their hospitals. Eleven (61%) physicians reported personal protective equipment shortages. Staff at three (17%) hospitals worked without the appropriate personal protective equipment due to limited supplies. All participants felt overworked and 17 (94%) reported stress. Physicians identified the lack of negative pressure rooms, fear and anxiety among hospital staff, rapidly evolving guidelines, personal protective equipment shortages and opposition from hospital staff regarding the choice of recommended personal protective equipment as major challenges during the pandemic. Discussion: The results of this study highlight the challenges faced by physicians leading infection prevention and control programmes in Pakistan. It is essential to support infection prevention and control personnel and bridge the identified gaps to ensure patient and staff safety at healthcare facilities.


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