scholarly journals COMPARISON OF DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS SCORE AMONG CLINICAL AND NON-CLINICAL HEALTHCARE WORKERS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 1865-69
Author(s):  
Mishal Iqbal ◽  
Mehak Iqbal ◽  
Nadia Iftikhar ◽  
Syed Hashim Ali Inam ◽  
Hamza Jamil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Prevalence Of Depression ◽  
Public And Private Sector

Objective: To assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology/National Institute of Health Diseases in June 2020. Methodology: A total of 317 healthcare professionals, of different designations, affiliated with different public and private sector hospitals in Pakistan participated in this project. They were asked to complete Depression, anxiety and stress scales-42 (DASS-42). Results: Out of 317 healthcare workers, 107 (33.75%), 111 (35.02%), 103(32.49%) were depressed, anxious and stressed respectively. Female gender was associated with a higher prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress. Conclusion: More than one third of healthcare workers were depressed, anxious or stressed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two out of five female healthcare workers were suffering from depression, anxiety or stress.Keywords:,  , .

Bacterial contamination and stethoscope disinfection practices: a cross-sectional survey of healthcare workers in Karachi, Pakistan

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 226-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danish Ahmed Rao ◽  
Aiysha Aman ◽  
Syed Muhammad Mubeen ◽  
Ahmed Shah
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Bacterial Contamination ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Private Institutions ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Public And Private Sector ◽  
Micro Organisms

Stethoscopes routinely used for clinical examination of patients may potentially transfer micro-organisms and cause iatrogenic infections. This study was undertaken to detect the presence of microorganisms on stethoscopes used clinically in hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan and to ascertain the infection control practices of healthcare workers (HCWs). In a cross-sectional study, 118 samples were collected from public and private institutions. Samples were tested for the presence and sensitivity of pathogenic microorganisms. Microorganisms were found on diaphragms of 33/64 (51.6%) and 19/57 (33.3%) stethoscopes in public and private sector hospitals, respectively. Methycillin resistance was identified in all staphylococcally contaminated samples. Only 33 (18%) respondents reported cleaning their stethoscopes regularly. We highlight the need for more and better on-the-job routines for decontaminating stethoscopes among HCWs in Karachi.

scholarly journals Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic and Related Variables: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Sample of Workers in a Spanish Tertiary Hospital

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3608
Author(s):  
Mónica Leira-Sanmartín ◽  
Agustín Madoz-Gúrpide ◽  
Enriqueta Ochoa-Mangado ◽  
Ángela Ibáñez
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Frontline Workers ◽  
Assessment And Treatment

Introduction: We intend to objectify the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the workers of a tertiary hospital. Methods: All the workers were invited to an online survey. In total, 657 workers were recruited, including 536 healthcare workers (HCWs) and 121 non-healthcare workers (nHCWs). General Health Questionnaire-12 items (GHQ-12) was used as a screening tool. Sociodemographic data, working environmental conditions, and health behaviors were also analyzed. Results: inadequate sleep, poor nutritional and social interaction habits, misuse of psychotropics, female gender, COVID-19 clinical diagnosis, and losing a relative by COVID-19 were variables associated with higher probability of GHQ-12 positive screening. Significant differences between “frontline workers” and the rest were not found, nor was higher the probability of psychological distress in healthcare workers compared to non-healthcare workers. After 3 months from the peak of the pandemic, 63.6% of participants screening positive in GHQ-12 reported remaining “the same or worse.” Limitations: Causal inferences cannot be established. Retrieval and selection biases must be considered as the survey was not conducted during the peak of the outbreak. Conclusions: psychological impact of COVID-19 has been broad, heavy, and persistent in our institution. Proper assessment and treatment must be offered to all hospital workers.

scholarly journals Contamination and current practice in decontamination pof nebulisers in ventilated patients

2013 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ellis ◽  
H. Van Aswegen ◽  
R. Ross ◽  
P. Becker
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Growth ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Ventilator Circuit ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Sterile Drape ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Public And Private Sector

To examine the incidence of contamination and current practice of decontamination of nebulisers after use within a ventilator circuit, in public- and private sector intensive care units (ICUs) in Johannesburg; to assess the presence of and adherence to a decontamination protocol in these ICUs and to identify which practices were associated with lower or no bacterial growth. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used which included a semi-structured interview with the ICU manager and an audit of current nebuliser practice. Nebulisers that were identified in the interview were swabbed and streaked on blood agar plates (BAPs). BAPs were incubated and assessed for bacterial colonisation, number of colony forming units (CFUs) and number of different species of CFUs present. Results: Two hundred and sixty-nine ICU beds were surveyed over a two-month period resulting in 45 nebulisers used within a ventilator circuit that could be tested. The majority (93%) were single-use jet nebulisers, all were being re-used and 52% presented with contamination. None of the ICUs had a nebuliser decontamination protocol in place. Contaminated nebulisers that were stored in a sterile drape had significantly higher concentrations of bacterial growth (p=0.03). Conclusion: The rate of colonisation of re-used jet nebulisers is high. Nebuliser decontamination protocols are urgently needed.

scholarly journals Sense of Coherence and Psychological Distress Among Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 6855 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Gómez-Salgado ◽  
Sara Domínguez-Salas ◽  
Macarena Romero-Martín ◽  
Mónica Ortega-Moreno ◽  
Juan Jesús García-Iglesias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Front Line ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Test Analysis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Bonferroni Test

The health crisis triggered by COVID-19 and the preventive measures taken to control it have caused a strong psychological impact on the population, especially on healthcare professionals. Risk exposure, uncertainty about how to approach the disease, care and emotional overburden, lack of resources, or unclear ever-changing protocols are, among others, psychological distress risk factors for the healthcare professionals who have faced this dramatic scenario on the front line. On the other hand, the Sense of Coherence (SOC) is a competence that could help these professionals perceive the situation as understandable, manageable, and meaningful, facilitating the activation of their resilience. This work aims to describe the levels of psychological distress and SOC of healthcare professionals during the crisis caused by COVID-19, the relationship between both variables, and their health status. A cross-sectional descriptive study with a sample of 1459 currently active healthcare workers was developed. GHQ-12 and SOC-13 were used for data collection. Bivariate analyses were performed, including Chi-Squared Test, Student’s T-Test, Analysis of Variance—ANOVA (with Bonferroni test for multiple comparisons), and correlations. Cohen’s d or Cramer’s V effect size measurements were also provided. The results showed that 80.6% of healthcare professionals had psychological distress, and the mean score on the SOC-13 scale was 62.8 points (SD = 12.02). Both psychological distress and SOC were related to the presence of COVID-19 symptoms, as well as with contact history. Professionals with psychological distress showed a lower SOC. Taking care of the mental health of healthcare professionals is essential to effectively cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the psychological impact of working in the current menacing scenario, people on the front line against the disease should be protected, minimizing risks, providing them with resources and support, and fostering their coping skills.

scholarly journals Impact of enhanced personal protective equipment on the physical and mental well-being of healthcare workers during COVID-19

2020 ◽  
pp. postgradmedj-2020-139150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramanathan Swaminathan ◽  
Bimantha Perera Mukundadura ◽  
Shashi Prasad
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental Well Being

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the use of enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE) in healthcare workers in patient-facing roles. We describe the impact on the physical and mental well-being of healthcare professionals who use enhanced PPE consistently.MethodsWe conducted a single-centre, cross-sectional study among healthcare professionals who use enhanced PPE. A web-based questionnaire was disseminated to evaluate the effects on individuals’ physical and mental well-being. Physical and mental impact was assessed through a visual analogue scale.ResultsProspective analysis of the views of 72 respondents is reported. 63.9% were women and 36.1% were men. Physical impact included exhaustion, headache, skin changes, breathlessness and a negative impact on vision. Communication difficulties, somnolence, negative impact on overall performance and difficulties in using surgical instrumentation were reported.ConclusionOur study demonstrates the undeniable negative impact on the front-line healthcare workers using enhanced PPE and lays the ground for larger multicentric assessments given for it to potentially be the norm for the foreseeable future.

Allodynia is associated with a higher prevalence of depression in migraine patients

Cephalalgia ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (14) ◽  
pp. 1187-1192 ◽  
Author(s):  
MA Louter ◽  
KJ Wardenaar ◽  
G Veen ◽  
WPJ van Oosterhout ◽  
FG Zitman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Migraine Attack ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Specific Factor ◽  
Attack Frequency ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Prevalence Of Depression ◽  
Specific Factors

Introduction There is a strong association between migraine and depression. The aim of this study is to identify migraine-specific factors involved in this association. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in a large, well-defined cohort of migraine patients ( n = 2533). We assessed lifetime depression using validated questionnaires, and diagnosed migraine based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders III-beta criteria. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted. Results Of the 2533 migraineurs that were eligible, 1137 (45%) suffered from lifetime depression. The following independent factors were associated with an increased depression prevalence: i) migraine-specific risk factors: high migraine attack frequency and the presence of allodynia, ii) general factors: being a bad sleeper, female gender, high BMI, being single, smoking, and a low alcohol consumption. Conclusion This study identified allodynia, in addition to high migraine attack frequency, as a new migraine-specific factor associated with depression.

scholarly journals Tuberculosis practices among private medical practitioners in Kaski district, Nepal

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-75
Author(s):  
AK Nepal ◽  
A Shrestha ◽  
SC Baral ◽  
R Bhattarai ◽  
Y Aryal
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
Sputum Microscopy ◽  
Public And Private Sector

INTRODUCTION: Although the evidences suggest that more than one third tuberculosis (TB) cases are being managed in private sector, the quality of care in private sector is major concern. However, the information regarding the private practices were lacking. Therefore the study was conducted to gain insights on current practices of TB management at private sectors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross sectional study, applying quantitative method, was conducted at two cities of Kaski among all private practitioners, private pharmacies and private laboratories through self administered questionnaire and structured interview schedule. RESULTS: Nearly one fourth of the TB suspects in the district were found to have consulted private providers with about 20.0% of the total smear positive cases diagnosed in private laboratories. Beside sputum microscopy, Private Medical Practitioners (PMPs) were also found to prefer other tests like X-ray, culture for TB diagnosis. Similarly, PMPs’ varying prescription of anti TB drugs beyond National TB Programme (NTP) recommendation along with their weak recording and case holding were noteworthy, and the cost of TB treatment seemed higher in private sector. Only one third of private institution had their staff trained in TB. Except some informal linkage, no collaboration between public and private sector was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Private sector was managing many TB cases in the district. However, their practice of TB management was not much satisfactory. Therefore NTP should take effective measures for Public Private Mix and to make them aware of the standards through training and orientation in order to improve the quality of care. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijim.v1i2.7085 Int J Infect Microbiol 2012;1(1):68-75

scholarly journals Investigation on the Loss of Taste and Smell and Consequent Psychological Effects: A Cross-Sectional Study on Healthcare Workers Who Contracted the COVID-19 Infection

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luisa Dudine ◽  
Claudia Canaletti ◽  
Fabiola Giudici ◽  
Alberta Lunardelli ◽  
Giulia Abram ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Olfactory Loss ◽  
Taste And Smell

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between psychological distress and taste and sense of smell dysfunctions on healthcare workers (HCW) who contracted the COVID-19 infection in the midst of the disease outbreak. Reports of sudden loss of taste and smell which persist even after recovery from COVID-19 infection are increasingly recognized as critical symptoms for COVID-19 infections. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study on COVID-19 HCW (N = 104) who adhered to respond to a phone semistructured interview addressing the virus symptoms and associated psychological distress. Data were collected from June to September 2020. Findings confirm the association between experienced taste/olfactory loss and emotional distress and suggest that dysfunctions of taste and smell correlate positively with anxiety and depression. Furthermore, their psychological impact tends to persist even after the recovery from the disease, suggesting the need for appropriate psychological interventions to prevent people from developing more serious or long-lasting psychological disorders and, as far as HCW, to reduce the risk of work-related distress.

scholarly journals The Training Experience and Professional Expectations of Allied Health Workers Students in Angola

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo Ferrinho ◽  
Nkanga Guimarães ◽  
Helga Freitas
Keyword(s):  
Allied Health ◽  
Support Systems ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Training Experience ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Training Institutions ◽  
Public And Private Sector

Abstract BackgroundWe describe the profile of Angolan final year allied health workers (AHW) students: where they come from, their experience of training and expectations regarding professional future. MethodsIt was a questionnaire based observational cross-sectional study applied to final year AHW students in 24 public and private sector , higher and mid-level training institutions in 14 of the 18 provinces of Angola during 2014.ResultsMost AHW students were women, satisfied with their choice of training. Satisfaction with teachers was high but low regarding support systems such as access to library, laboratories and clinical cases.After training AHW students wanted to settle in Angola, preferable in hospital practice, preferably in the public sector and in a national or provincial capital, rather than in the municipal hospitals. ConclusionsThis study highlights some of the issues that will have to be addressed by training institutions in order to contribute to a balanced health workforce in Angola, with AHW in quantity with the quality and distribution necessary to address health system and population needs. It highlights the importance of private education institutions in meeting this need. As training is a significant investment by students or their relatives, training institutions must strive to improve support systems in terms of access to libraries, laboratories, clinical cases, informatic support, canteens, accommodation and leisure activities.

scholarly journals Disciplined Nation? Attitude towards Self Practiced Non-Pharmaceutical Intervention in Prevention of Covid-19 Infection among Adults before Complete Lockdown was Imposed in India

2020 ◽  
Vol 06 (01) ◽  
pp. 25-29
Author(s):  
Shweta Goswami ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Positive Attitude ◽  
English Language ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Work Place ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Urban Adults ◽  
Public And Private Sector

Background: Preparedness for passive intervention in form of social distancing in cultural setting of India needs to be studied. Objective: To determine the attitude of urban adults of India regarding feasibility of social distancing as a mode of prevention of Covid-19 transmission before complete lockdown in country was imposed. Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among adults who were literate in English language and were residing in urban areas of various regions India. Data was collected between 16th to 20thMarch, 2020 before lockdown in various districts were started and Janatacurfew (lockdown) was announced. Questionnaire included hypothetical scenarios to assess attitude of study population on social distancing. Result:There were 264 completed responses. 87.9% among all believed that social distancing will prevent them and others too. Positive attitude towards work place related social distancing was reported by 84.8%. Feasibility towards avoiding market and going to family functions (coping strategies) were showing positive attitude among 52.3% and 72.9% respectively. Giving leave to maid (active prevention) was difficult for 47.4% female respondents, 73.3% employees in public and private sector and 83.3% of age more than 60 years. Conclusion: The urban India with so much of diversities showed a promising favorable attitude towards social distancing.

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