scholarly journals Experiences of Environmental Public Health Professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic response in Canada

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 70-76
Author(s):  
Fatih Sekercioglu ◽  
Ian Young ◽  
Richard Meldrum ◽  
Jennifer Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Environmental Public Health ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Pandemic Response

Environmental Public Health Professionals (EPHPs) have been playing a significant role in the COVID-19 pandemic response. This study examines the lived experiences of EPHPs during the COVID-19 pandemic and explores short- and long long-term strategies to address the challenges of EPHPs. A mixed-method, cross-sectional online survey was conducted in May 2020. The participants were the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors certified EPHPs who currently work in Canada during the pandemic. The study results reveal that EPHPs have been heavily involved in the COVID-19 pandemic response by assuming different roles and tasks in many cases. The study highlights the vast array of EPHPs functions such as education and enforcement. Lack of employer support for training and access to safety equipment are among the significant outcomes. Mechanisms should be developed to ensure that mental health support is accessible for EPHPs to overcome the pandemic work’s challenges. As this is the first study to examine the lived experiences of EPHPs during the COVID-19 pandemic, further in-depth qualitative research should be conducted to examine the experiences of EPHPs at the local level.

scholarly journals Prioritizing professional competencies in environmental public health: A best–worst scaling experiment

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-63
Author(s):  
Lauren E. Wallar ◽  
Scott A. McEwen ◽  
Jan M. Sargeant ◽  
Nicola J. Mercer ◽  
Andrew Papadopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Discrete Choice ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Job Effectiveness ◽  
Hierarchical Bayesian Analysis ◽  
Environmental Public Health ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Best Worst Scaling ◽  
Training Opportunities

The professional development of environmental public health professionals in Canada is guided by a set of 133 discipline-specific competencies. Given the diversity of practice in environmental public health, certain competencies may be more important to job effectiveness depending on a practitioner’s context. However, the most important competencies to job effectiveness by context are unknown. Thus, the objectives of this study were to prioritize the discipline-specific competencies according to their importance to job effectiveness, and determine if importance varied by demographic variables. A quantitative discrete-choice method termed best–worst scaling was used to determine the relative importance of competencies. Discrete choice information was electronically collected and analyzed using Hierarchical Bayesian analysis. Our analysis indicates that communication was most important to job effectiveness relative to the other categories. Competency statements within each category differed in their importance to job effectiveness. Further, management and front-line practitioners differed in the importance placed on five of the eight categories. This information can be used to guide new training opportunities, thereby investing in the capacity of environmental health professionals to better protect population health.

Fighting Big Soda at the Local Level

2019 ◽  
pp. 389-406
Author(s):  
Nikki Highsmith Vernick ◽  
Glenn E. Schneider
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Western World ◽  
National Strategy ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Sugary Drinks ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
Food And Nutrition

This chapter provides an example of focused work at the local level to achieve policy goals related to food and nutrition and discusses the role of philanthropy in leading a multi-sector partnership. Public health professionals, researchers, and advocates are calling for a comprehensive national strategy to fight the ongoing epidemics in the Western world related to the over consumption of sugar. The chapter uses the case of taking on what it calls Big Soda (sugary drinks) as an example of a success story so far.

scholarly journals Genomics knowledge and attitudes among European public health professionals: Results of a cross-sectional survey

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. e0230749
Author(s):  
Annalisa Rosso ◽  
Erica Pitini ◽  
Elvira D’Andrea ◽  
Marco Di Marco ◽  
Brigid Unim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
European Public

scholarly journals Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. e100259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianyu Que ◽  
Le Shi ◽  
Jiahui Deng ◽  
Jiajia Liu ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Psychological Problems ◽  
Medical Residents ◽  
Front Line ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Line Work

BackgroundHealthcare workers fighting against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are under tremendous pressure, which puts them at an increased risk of developing psychological problems.AimsThis study aimed to investigate the prevalence of psychological problems in different healthcare workers (ie, physicians, medical residents, nurses, technicians and public health professionals) during the COVID-19 pandemic in China and explore factors that are associated with the onset of psychological problems in this population during this public health crisis.MethodsA cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted in February 2020 among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological problems were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire and Insomnia Severity Index. Logistic regression analyses were used to explore the factors that were associated with psychological problems.ResultsThe prevalence of symptoms of anxiety, depression, insomnia and the overall psychological problems in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in China was 46.04%, 44.37%, 28.75% and 56.59%, respectively. The prevalence of the overall psychological problems in physicians, medical residents, nurses, technicians and public health professionals was 60.35%, 50.82%, 62.02%, 57.54% and 62.40%, respectively. Compared with healthcare workers who did not participate in front-line work, front-line healthcare workers had a higher risk of anxiety, insomnia and overall psychological problems. In addition, attention to negative or neutral information about the pandemic, receiving negative feedback from families and friends who joined front-line work, and unwillingness to join front-line work if given a free choice were three major factors for these psychological problems.ConclusionsPsychological problems are pervasive among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Receiving negative information and participating in front-line work appear to be important risk factors for psychological problems. The psychological health of different healthcare workers should be protected during the COVID-19 pandemic with timely interventions and proper information feedback.

scholarly journals Experiences of case and contact management teams during the COVID-19 pandemic response in Ontario

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 53-59
Author(s):  
Robyn Haas ◽  
Ian Young ◽  
Richard Meldrum ◽  
Fatih Sekercioglu
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Mental Health Support ◽  
Pandemic Response ◽  
Health Support ◽  
Survey Responses

Case and contact management (CCM) teams play a vital role in the COVID-19 pandemic response. This study aims to understand the experiences of CCM team members during the COVID-19 pandemic to identify areas of improvement for future crises. A mixed-methods, cross-sectional online survey was conducted from November 2020 to March 2021. There were a total of 49 relevant survey responses. Participants were CCM team members responding to the pandemic in Ontario. Frequency tabulations were used to analyze closed-ended survey responses, and both a conventional content analysis and thematic analysis were conducted on the open-ended responses. Study results revealed that inadequate planning and preparedness, poor communication, high workloads, and stress levels of CCM team members were notable areas of concern. These matters ultimately affected the well-being of CCM team members and acted as barriers to completing CCM work. It is imperative that adequate staffing and accessibility to mental health support from employers are improved in future times of crisis to ensure that CCM teams are able to meet the demands of their work. Further studies should be conducted to examine the experiences of CCM team members as well as barriers and facilitators to completing CCM work.

scholarly journals Diagnosing Hypertension Among Adults; A Study Based on Prevention-Management of Primary and Secondary Hypertension

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
Mohamed Ombada ◽  
Mulham Ombada
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Secondary Hypertension ◽  
P Value ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Arterial Blood

Hypertension is a great challenge for the public health professionals across the world, as it is a major risk factor leading to congestive heart failure, coronary heart disease, retinopathy, and renal disease. Therefore, the study aims to diagnose hypertension among the adults in Al-Riyadh district, Khartoum state of Sudan. The study investigated the prevention and management of primary and secondary hypertension. A cross sectional population-based study was conducted among 138 adult individuals aged between 16 and 75 years. The participants were selected using random sampling technique and each participant completed self-administered questionnaire to assess the prevention-management of primary and secondary hypertension. The mercury sphygmomanometer with standard cuff was used to take measurement of arterial blood pressure. The diagnosis of hypertension among the adults showed that its prevalence in the area of Riyadh was 28%. The highest proportion of hypertension (13.7%) was recorded among the patients aged from 45 and 60 years. There was significant association of age (p-value = 0.001), social status (p-value = 0.001), stress (p-value = 0.010), and diabetes (p-value = 0.050) with hypertension. The present study has highlighted the significant factors associated with hypertension that encourages the public health professionals to carry out awareness and prevention programs.

scholarly journals (P1-57) Develop New Mechanism of Capacity Building of Disaster Preparedness in China

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. s117-s117
Author(s):  
W. Zhang ◽  
B. Huang ◽  
S. Miao ◽  
J. Yao ◽  
B. Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Local Level ◽  
National Level ◽  
Disaster Medicine ◽  
Intensive Training ◽  
Public Health Professionals

BackgroundChina is one of the countries most affected by natural disasters, it is an important restricting factor for economic and social development. However, Disaster Medicine training is not included in medical education curriculum in China, continual training is separated among public health professionals and clinical personals.MethodsWHO provides technical and financial support for public health emergency preparedness through intensive training and workshop. We intended to develop a new working mechanism under the support of WHO and MOH, China for capacity building of disaster preparedness in China with the combination of public health professionals and clinical personals though TOT training.ResultsThrough the new mechanism, public health professionals from CDC system and clinical personals from hospitals could benefice mutually fro each side and strengthen the effectiveness for the disaster preparedness.ConclusionThe new mechanism increases the effectiveness of capacity building for disaster preparedness, TOT training should transit from national level to local level.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document