{"title":"<i>Stress No More!</i> Prioritizing the Healthcare Workers' Pleas for Their Health and Safety.","authors":"Dalmacito A Cordero","doi":"10.1177/21650799241235664","DOIUrl":"10.1177/21650799241235664","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48968,"journal":{"name":"Workplace Health & Safety","volume":" ","pages":"168-169"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140140958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Healthcare Workers' Adherence and Attitudes Toward the Adherence to COVID-19 Precautionary Guidelines Post-Vaccination: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study.","authors":"Dania M Abu-Alhaija, Gordon Lee Gillespie","doi":"10.1177/21650799231212898","DOIUrl":"10.1177/21650799231212898","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Healthcare workers (HCWs) have shown increased adherence to infection control practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is a need to assess their adherence to and attitude toward COVID-19 guidelines after being vaccinated. The purpose of this pilot study is to assess the adherence to and attitudes toward the adherence to COVID-19 guidelines among HCWs who have been vaccinated.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective cross-sectional design was employed. One hundred and eight participants were recruited via email from a medical center in the Midwest United States. The participants completed online surveys measuring the level of adherence to and attitudes toward the adherence to COVID-19 guidelines. The response rate was 5.4%.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Most participants were female (73.1%) and white (82.4%). The participants adhered to COVID-19 guidelines 79.7% of the time. The most frequently followed guidelines were performing hand hygiene, wearing a respirator or well-fitting mask in areas where patients may be present, and wearing eye protection when entering the room for a patient with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection. The least performed precautions were performing COVID-19 testing after exposure to a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case and maintaining social distancing. There was a significant decrease in the perceived importance of adherence to COVID-19 precautions post-vaccination (<i>p</i> <.001, 95% CI [-0.78, -0.35]).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The increased perception of safety after receiving COVID-19 vaccination may negatively influence HCWs' adherence to COVID-19 precautionary guidelines. Continuous education and monitoring of HCWs' safety practices are important to influence HCWs' attitudes to adhere to COVID-19 precautions, particularly after vaccination.</p>","PeriodicalId":48968,"journal":{"name":"Workplace Health & Safety","volume":" ","pages":"170-177"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11088981/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139075595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Implementation of a COVID-19 Closed/Open POD Partnership: A Creative Professional Practice Exemplar for Occupational and Environmental Health Nurses","authors":"Valerie Gooder, London Lowe","doi":"10.1177/21650799241247081","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/21650799241247081","url":null,"abstract":"Background:For more than 15 years, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that all community agencies and workplace environments create structured communication and collaborative plans for emergency or disaster events (2008). This recommendation is aligned with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (2022) National Infrastructure Protection Plan. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic ultimately demonstrated the importance of having organized plans and processes in place for the effective and rapid dispensing of medical countermeasures (MCMs) to the general populace. Occupational and environmental health nurses (OHNs) can utilize examples of successful MCM dispensing programs and adjust details to fit individual organizational needs.Methods:This report examines a closed point of dispensing (Closed POD) mass vaccination program as a guide for designing successful workplace partnerships.Findings:Closed PODs are public or private sites that have set up a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with local health authorities to dispense MCMs to their populations during a public health emergency. The desired outcome of a closed POD agreement is the facilitation of employee health and safety, as well as enabling workplace continuity of operations.Conclusions/Applications to Practice:OHNs will play a pivotal role in any future disaster or emergency event. Because OHNs understand the critical need for anticipatory planning, they are in a prime position to drive the creation and implementation of a closed POD partnership between their workplace and their local health department.","PeriodicalId":48968,"journal":{"name":"Workplace Health & Safety","volume":"44 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140812529","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Emily G. Headrick, Maggie McCarten-Gibbs, Rachel Coley, Graciela Avila, Jerome Mina, Rea Celine Villa, L. Harini Fernando
{"title":"Care for Staff: A Novel Technical Assistance Approach to Promote Occupational Mental Health Among Healthcare Workers in Lower and Middle Income Country Settings","authors":"Emily G. Headrick, Maggie McCarten-Gibbs, Rachel Coley, Graciela Avila, Jerome Mina, Rea Celine Villa, L. Harini Fernando","doi":"10.1177/21650799241247154","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/21650799241247154","url":null,"abstract":"Background:Healthcare workers (HCWs) in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face unique, intersectional threats to their mental health at work. Despite the existence of recommendations for multi-tiered interventions to promote and protect occupational mental health for HCWs, there remain significant challenges to implementation worldwide.Methods:FHI 360, a global development organization, developed a novel technical assistance framework to accompany partners, including government and healthcare leaders to design, implement, improve, or evaluate any mental health and psychosocial support intervention. The EpiC Project, implemented by FHI 360, has utilized this framework in four countries (Vietnam, Philippines, Paraguay and Sri Lanka) specifically to guide the development of locally adapted occupational mental health interventions for HCWs.Findings:Each country applied this framework in various project cycle phases and in their unique local contexts; all countries reported positive developments in the advancement of their chosen interventions.Conclusions/Application to Practice:With the application of an adaptable, evidence-based technical assistance framework to guide collaborative consultation for project design, implementation, improvement, and/or evaluation, locally led teams pivoted from a solely “mental health” approach to more comprehensive, evidence-based interventions that framed mental health for HCWs as an occupational health priority. This allowed for teams advising interventions in LMICs to consider unique workplace, structural and policy-level factors rather than focusing solely on individual mental health strategies.","PeriodicalId":48968,"journal":{"name":"Workplace Health & Safety","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140614141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Erik Hansson, Kristina Jakobsson, Jason R. Glaser, Catharina Wesseling, Denis Chavarría, Rebekah A. I. Lucas, David H. Wegman
{"title":"Association Between Acute Kidney Injury Hospital Visits and Environmental Heat Stress at a Nicaraguan Sugarcane Plantation","authors":"Erik Hansson, Kristina Jakobsson, Jason R. Glaser, Catharina Wesseling, Denis Chavarría, Rebekah A. I. Lucas, David H. Wegman","doi":"10.1177/21650799241235410","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/21650799241235410","url":null,"abstract":"Background:Mesoamerican sugarcane cutters are at a high risk of chronic kidney disease of non-traditional origin, a disease likely linked to heat-related acute kidney injury (AKI). Studies in general populations have described a positive association between high environmental temperatures and clinically assessed kidney outcomes, but there are no studies in occupational settings.Method:We accessed routine records of clinically diagnosed AKI (AKI-CD) and wet bulb globe temperatures (WBGT) at a large Nicaraguan sugarcane plantation and modeled the relationship between these using negative binomial regression. A rest-shade-hydration intervention was gradually enhanced during the study period, and efforts were made to increase the referral of workers with suspected AKI to healthcare.Results:Each 1°C WBGT was associated with an 18% (95% confidence interval [CI]: [4, 33%]) higher AKI-CD rate on the same day and a 14% (95% CI [−5, 37%]) higher rate over a week. AKI-CD rates and severity, and time between symptoms onset and diagnosis decreased during the study period, that is, with increasing rest-shade-hydration intervention. Symptoms and biochemical signs of systemic inflammation were common among AKI-CD cases.Discussion:Occupational heat stress, resulting from heavy work in environmental heat, was associated with a higher rate of clinically diagnosed AKI in a population at risk of CKDnt. Promoting rest-shade-hydration may have contributed to reducing AKI rates during the study period. Occupational health and safety personnel have key roles to play in enforcing rest, shade, and hydration practices, referring workers with suspected AKI to healthcare as well as collecting and analyzing the data needed to support workplace heat stress interventions.","PeriodicalId":48968,"journal":{"name":"Workplace Health & Safety","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140561517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lisa Pompeii, Janelle Rios, Colleen S. Kraft, Marie Kasbaum, Elisa Benavides, Scott J. Patlovich, Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, Adam Hornbeck, Caitlin McClain, Rohan D. Fernando, Margaret Sietsema, Morgan Lane
{"title":"Health Care Workers’ Comfort Ratings for Elastomeric Half Mask Respirators Versus N95® Filtering Facepiece Respirators During the COVID-19 Pandemic","authors":"Lisa Pompeii, Janelle Rios, Colleen S. Kraft, Marie Kasbaum, Elisa Benavides, Scott J. Patlovich, Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, Adam Hornbeck, Caitlin McClain, Rohan D. Fernando, Margaret Sietsema, Morgan Lane","doi":"10.1177/21650799241238755","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/21650799241238755","url":null,"abstract":"Background:Reusable elastomeric half-mask respirators (EHMR) are an alternative to address shortages of disposable respirators. While respirator discomfort has been noted as a barrier to adherence to wearing an N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR) among health care personnel (HCP), few have examined EHMR comfort while providing patient care, which was the purpose of this study.Method:Among a cohort of 183 HCP, we prospectively examined how HCP rated EHMR tolerability using the Respirator Comfort, Wearing Experience, and Function Instrument (R-COMFI) questionnaire at Study Week 2 and Week 10. At the completion of the study (Week-12), HCP compared EHMR comfort with their prior N95 FFR use. Overall R-COMFI scores and three subscales (comfort, wear experience, and function) were examined as well as individual item scores.Findings:The HCP reported an improved overall R-COMFI score (lower score more favorable, 30.0 vs. 28.7/47, respectively) from Week 2 to Week 10. Many individual item scores improved or remained low over this period, except difficulty communicating with patients and coworkers. The overall R-COMFI scores for the EHMR were more favorable than for the N95 FFR (33.7 vs. 37.4, respectively), with a large proportion of workers indicating their perception that EHMR fit better, provided better protection, and they preferred to wear it in pandemic conditions compared with the N95 FFR.Conclusion/Application to Practice:Findings suggest that the EHMR is a feasible respiratory protection device with respect to tolerance. EHMRs can be considered as a possible alternative to the N95 FFR in the health care setting. Future work is needed in the EHMR design to improve communication.","PeriodicalId":48968,"journal":{"name":"Workplace Health & Safety","volume":"239 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140561589","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Importance of an Occupational History: Chronic Kidney Disease vs Chronic Kidney Disease of Non-Traditional Etiology.","authors":"Daniel J Smith","doi":"10.1177/21650799241235412","DOIUrl":"10.1177/21650799241235412","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48968,"journal":{"name":"Workplace Health & Safety","volume":" ","pages":"161"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140140959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Olivia Begasse de Dhaem, Sally Foster-Chang, Bhargav Chandrashekar, Gleb Chigirinsky, Terrance D'souza, Nehal Mohammed Helmy, Xivananda Priolcar, Fabricio Salgado, Pavel Talmaci, Julie Thurlow, Yumiko Yanase, Steven Serra
{"title":"Worker's Compensation Injury and Illness Care: A Global Round Table.","authors":"Olivia Begasse de Dhaem, Sally Foster-Chang, Bhargav Chandrashekar, Gleb Chigirinsky, Terrance D'souza, Nehal Mohammed Helmy, Xivananda Priolcar, Fabricio Salgado, Pavel Talmaci, Julie Thurlow, Yumiko Yanase, Steven Serra","doi":"10.1177/21650799231224033","DOIUrl":"10.1177/21650799231224033","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Work-related injuries and diseases have a significant impact on workers and their families, society, and the economy. There is a gap in the literature regarding the structures, content, quality, and outcomes of international occupational health systems serving injured and ill workers. This global round table was an attempt to elucidate, evaluate, and identify areas needing improvement.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>International occupational health professionals were identified via chain/snowball sampling and asked to answer five questions designed to evaluate the structures, processes, and outcomes of the workers' compensation systems in each country.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Areas for improvement identified during this round table included timely access, reducing the impact of liability and eligibility determinations on access to medical care, equitable access to care, and the accuracy of reporting. Canada had successfully utilized a virtual approach to care for the geographically remote worker.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>International workers' compensation structures are designed to ensure timely access to quality care and services. Financial incentives optimize the safety of the working environment. There remain areas for improvement. Resources are limited, especially within the public health systems, which may delay care and affect quality. Informal and remote workers often do not have the same access to care. Occupational Health Services (OHS) and national reporting databases exist throughout the world but may not accurately capture data on informal, self-employed, small business, migrant, and remote workers.</p>","PeriodicalId":48968,"journal":{"name":"Workplace Health & Safety","volume":" ","pages":"124-130"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139984274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Personal, Social, and Workplace Environmental Factors Related to Psychological Well-Being of Staff in University Settings.","authors":"Dawn Mopkins, Mikyoung Lee, Ann Malecha","doi":"10.1177/21650799231214249","DOIUrl":"10.1177/21650799231214249","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Understanding the psychological well-being (PWB) of university staff and factors that influence it is critical for developing intervention programs that promote PWB and enhance productivity and worker engagement.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aimed to assess the level of PWB in university staff and identify personal, social, and workplace environmental factors related to their PWB.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional, correlational study design was used. A convenience sample of university staff was recruited from two universities in Texas. Participants completed an online questionnaire, which included Ryff's PWB scale to measure PWB, along with questions related to personal, social, and workplace factors. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to analyze the influence of these factors on the PWB of university staff.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The PWB of university staff (<i>n</i> = 202) was significantly influenced by personal factors (i.e., race and perceived mental health status), social factors (i.e., social support of friends), and workplace environmental factors (i.e., physical demands).</p><p><strong>Conclusion/application to practice: </strong>To effectively promote PWB among university staff, occupational health nurses should proactively track and monitor their PWB. Policies and interventions should consider the various personal, social, and workplace environment factors identified in this study, such as mental health, social support resources, and physical demands.</p>","PeriodicalId":48968,"journal":{"name":"Workplace Health & Safety","volume":" ","pages":"108-118"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139479613","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Relaxation Methods to Reduce Occupational Stress.","authors":"TaShana Williams-Southers","doi":"10.1177/21650799231184375","DOIUrl":"10.1177/21650799231184375","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Healthcare providers putting their patient's health before their own has negative consequences. Utilizing evidence-based research, nurse leaders can implement practices to positively affect employee health. This project assessed the utilization of a workplace relaxation room to reduce occupational stress.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Multiple methods were used to recruit participants. Participants completed pre/post surveys (demographic, PSS-10, GallupQ12, and open-ended questions) via email. The relaxation room contained stress reducing items for staff to utilize while at work. Data was collected using Qualtrics Survey software.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Data from the PSS-10 and GallupQ12 did not reveal statistically significant results. The participants responses to the open-ended questions did indicate a positive impact.</p><p><strong>Conclusions/application to practice: </strong>While the aims of the project were not met during the intervention, the open-ended responses indicated that for the employees who participated in the project, the intervention was a positive addition to the workplace.</p>","PeriodicalId":48968,"journal":{"name":"Workplace Health & Safety","volume":" ","pages":"97-100"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9802009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}