Protecting Health Care Workers During COVID-19: Needs Assessment of VA Employee Occupational Health

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (1) ◽  
pp. 11571
Author(s):  
Karleen F. Giannitrapani ◽  
Susan Giannitrapani ◽  
Karl Lorenz ◽  
Matthew McCaa ◽  
Elizabeth M. Yano ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manisha Naithani ◽  
Meenakshi Khapre ◽  
Rajesh Kathrotia ◽  
Puneet Kumar Gupta ◽  
Vandana Kumar Dhingra ◽  
...  

Background: Occupational health hazard pertaining to health care providers is one of the neglected areas that need serious attention. Any compromise in their safety would result in reduction in workforce, which may affect patient care, keeping in mind the wide gap between the required number and actual health care workers (HCWs) available in the world over.Aim: This study was undertaken to evaluate the change in knowledge through a sensitization training program on occupational health hazards and vaccination for HCWs.Materials and Methods: Participants of the study included nursing and allied HCWs of a tertiary care health institute in Uttarakhand, India. Multiple training sessions, each of around 180 min, were held periodically in small groups with 20–40 participants over 2 years. Participants were assessed with pretest and posttest questionnaires, and feedback was taken. Questionnaires comprised three categories: general safety and ergonomics, biological hazards, and chemical and radiation hazards. Data of incident reporting for needlestick injury from 2017 to 2019 were retrieved. All data were compiled in Excel sheet and analyzed.Results: A total of 352 participants were included in the study. Mean ± SD for pretest and posttest scores were 5.3 ± 2.13 and 11.22 ± 2.15, respectively. There was considerable improvement in knowledge, which was found to be statistically significant with p-value of 0.001 for all categories. Participants in their feedback suggested for inclusion of psychosocial aspect in further training programs.Conclusion: Low baseline knowledge prior to attending the course highlights a need for an intervention through such structured sensitization program to create awareness and educate HCWs on common occupational health hazards and vaccination. Statistically significant improvement in posttest knowledge highlights effectiveness of the training program. A drastic rise in incident reporting for needlestick injury reflects fairly good impact of training program. Regular and appropriate form of training can reduce injuries resulting from occupational hazards and ensure healthy workforce contributing toward a positive impact on national economy.


2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 316-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Marques da Costa ◽  
Andréa Maria Eleutério de Barros Lima Martins ◽  
Pedro Eleutério dos Santos Neto ◽  
Duran Nunes de Pinho Veloso ◽  
Vilma Soares Magalhães ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: To verify the prevalence and factors associated with vaccination against hepatitis B among Primary Health Care workers in Montes Claros/MG. METHOD: A cross-sectional, analytic study was undertaken. Data were collected through a form, which contained sociodemographic, occupational, general health and behavioral variables. Associations were investigated through bivariate analysis and Poisson's multivariate regression, using SPSS 17.0. RESULTS: 95.5% answered the question about vaccination; 47.5% did not complete the vaccination scheme. The prevalence of vaccinated professionals was lower among older workers, who were hired, did not participate in occupational health updates and consumed alcohol. Prevalence levels were higher among professionals with more years of education and who reported contact with piercing and cutting instruments . CONCLUSIONS: Professional education, knowledge and perception of infection risks are important determinants of the vaccination scheme. Instability at work may lead to negligence and negligent behaviors may repeat themselves. The characterization of professionals who did not get vaccinated will direct educative actions in occupational health.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. e46069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Buregyeya ◽  
Fred Nuwaha ◽  
Rhoda K. Wanyenze ◽  
Ellen M. H. Mitchell ◽  
Bart Criel ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 338-341
Author(s):  
Erwin Martinez Faller ◽  
Nataman bin Miskam ◽  
Adrian Pereira

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tirthankar Ghosh

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v3i1.9096 International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, Vol 3 No 1 (2013) 1 - 4


AAOHN Journal ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-8
Author(s):  
Frances Childre ◽  
Joyce Hood

Occupational health practitioners have a key role in the prevention and early detection of pertussis among health care workers.


2012 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 117-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters ◽  
Clement C. Azodo ◽  
Ozoemene N. Obuekwe

2011 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 26-27
Author(s):  
Friedrich Hofmann ◽  
Ulrich Stößel

SummarySince the second half of the 20th century occupational health in health care workers is a well-established part of occupational medicine. Identification of environmental, biological, chemical, physical, and psychosocial hazards has lead to a number of preventive measures: Technical (e.g. use of safe instruments and double gloving as protection) and immunological (vaccinations) measures against biological hazards), and technical (lifting aides) and personal (back-schools) intervention to prevent musculoskeletal disorders are well-designed examples.


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