L Kohn, M Dauvrin, J Detollenaere, C Primus-de Jong, C Maertens de Noordhout, D Castanares-Zapatero, I Cleemput, K Van den Heede
{"title":"Long COVID and return to work: a qualitative study.","authors":"L Kohn, M Dauvrin, J Detollenaere, C Primus-de Jong, C Maertens de Noordhout, D Castanares-Zapatero, I Cleemput, K Van den Heede","doi":"10.1093/occmed/kqac119","DOIUrl":"10.1093/occmed/kqac119","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to an increasing number of patients with 'long COVID'. Long COVID is the persistence of symptoms for weeks or months after an infection by SARS-CoV-2. It often impacts on the professional life of affected people.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>The aim of this study is to understand the experiences and needs of people with long COVID in relation to their return to work.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative study, combining individual interviews and online forum discussions, was performed early 2021, as part of a larger mixed method study on the needs of long COVID patients in Belgium.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>One hundred and thirty-four people participated in the study. Participants described various clinical symptoms precluding their return to work. They also face sceptical reactions from employers and colleagues and a lack of support from the social welfare system to facilitate their return to work. These barriers have various impacts, including psychological ones, likely to compromise the professional future of long COVID patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>While the analysis of patients' experiences shows variation in long COVID patients' experiences with return to work, it may help occupational physicians and healthcare practitioners to better take up their crucial role in the return to work of long COVID patients, including raising employers' and colleagues' awareness of the specific difficulties related to long COVID.</p>","PeriodicalId":54696,"journal":{"name":"Occupational Medicine-Oxford","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2024-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10369265","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}
J Lunt, S Hemming, K Burton, J Elander, A Baraniak
{"title":"What workers can tell us about post-COVID workability.","authors":"J Lunt, S Hemming, K Burton, J Elander, A Baraniak","doi":"10.1093/occmed/kqac086","DOIUrl":"10.1093/occmed/kqac086","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The apparent functional impact of post-COVID-19 syndrome has workability implications for large segments of the working-age population.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To understand obstacles and enablers around self-reported workability of workers following COVID-19, to better guide sustainable workplace accommodations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An exploratory online survey comprising quantitative and qualitative questions was disseminated via social media and industry networks between December 2020 and February 2021, yielding usable responses from 145 workers. Qualitative data were subjected to content analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Over half of the sample (64%) were from the health, social care, and education sectors. Just under 15% had returned to work, and 53% and 50% reported their physical and psychological workability respectively as moderate at best. Leading workability obstacles were multi-level, comprising fatigue, the interaction between symptoms and job, lack of control over job pressures, inappropriate sickness absence management policies, and lack of COVID-aware organizational cultures. Self-management support, modified work, flexible co-developed graded return-to-work planning, and improved line management competency were advocated as key enablers.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Assuming appropriate medical management of any pathophysiological complications of COVID-19, maintaining or regaining post-COVID workability might reasonably follow a typical biopsychosocial framework enhanced to cater to the fluctuating nature of the symptoms. This should entail flexible, regularly reviewed and longer-term return-to-work planning addressing multi-level workability obstacles, co-developed between workers and line managers, with support from human resources, occupational health professionals (OHP's), and a COVID-aware organizational culture.</p>","PeriodicalId":54696,"journal":{"name":"Occupational Medicine-Oxford","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2024-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9384751/pdf/kqac086.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10582956","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}
M Tareen, L Omar, L Gassas, D Ahmed, S Naleem, V Parsons
{"title":"Homeworking among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.","authors":"M Tareen, L Omar, L Gassas, D Ahmed, S Naleem, V Parsons","doi":"10.1093/occmed/kqad121","DOIUrl":"10.1093/occmed/kqad121","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54696,"journal":{"name":"Occupational Medicine-Oxford","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2024-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139900861","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}
C Maniero, S M Ng, G Collett, T Godec, I Siddiqui, S Antoniou, A Kumar, A Janmohamed, S Nair, A Kotecha, R Khan, M Y Khanji, V Kapil, J Gupta, A K Gupta
{"title":"Differential impact of COVID-19 on mental health and burnout.","authors":"C Maniero, S M Ng, G Collett, T Godec, I Siddiqui, S Antoniou, A Kumar, A Janmohamed, S Nair, A Kotecha, R Khan, M Y Khanji, V Kapil, J Gupta, A K Gupta","doi":"10.1093/occmed/kqad011","DOIUrl":"10.1093/occmed/kqad011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>There may be differential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and burnout rates of healthcare professionals (HCPs) performing different roles.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To examine mental health and burnout rates, and possible drivers for any disparities between professional roles.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this cohort study, online surveys were distributed to HCPs in July-September 2020 (baseline) and re-sent 4 months later (follow-up; December 2020) assessing for probable major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), insomnia, mental well-being and burnout (emotional exhaustion and depersonalization). Separate logistic regression models (at both phases) compared the risk of outcomes between roles: healthcare assistants (HCAs), nurses and midwives (nurses), allied health professionals (AHPs) and doctors (reference group). Separate linear regression models were also developed relating the change in scores to professional role.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At baseline (n = 1537), nurses had a 1.9-fold and 2.5-fold increased risk of MDD and insomnia, respectively. AHPs had a 1.7-fold and 1.4-fold increased risk of MDD and emotional exhaustion, respectively. At follow-up (n = 736), the disproportionate risk between doctors and others worsened: nurses and HCAs were at 3.7-fold and 3.6-fold increased risk of insomnia, respectively. Nurses also had a significantly increased risk of MDD, GAD, poor mental well-being and burnout. Nurses also had significantly worsened anxiety, mental well-being and burnout scores over time, relative to doctors.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Nurses and AHPs had excess risk of adverse mental health and burnout during the pandemic, and this difference worsened over time (in nurses especially). Our findings support adoption of targeted strategies accounting for different HCP roles.</p>","PeriodicalId":54696,"journal":{"name":"Occupational Medicine-Oxford","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2024-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10875923/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9284066","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}
O O'Sullivan, A Houston, P Ladlow, R M Barker-Davies, R Chamley, A N Bennett, E D Nicol, D A Holdsworth
{"title":"Factors influencing medium- and long-term occupational impact following COVID-19.","authors":"O O'Sullivan, A Houston, P Ladlow, R M Barker-Davies, R Chamley, A N Bennett, E D Nicol, D A Holdsworth","doi":"10.1093/occmed/kqad041","DOIUrl":"10.1093/occmed/kqad041","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Significant numbers of individuals struggle to return to work following acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The UK Military developed an integrated medical and occupational pathway (Defence COVID-19 Recovery Service, DCRS) to ensure safe return to work for those with initially severe disease or persistent COVID-19 sequalae. Medical deployment status (MDS) is used to determine ability to perform job role without restriction ('fully deployable', FD) or with limitations ('medically downgraded', MDG).</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To identify which variables differ between those who are FD and MDG 6 months after acute COVID-19. Within the downgraded cohort, a secondary aim is to understand which early factors are associated with persistent downgrading at 12 and 18 months.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Individuals undergoing DCRS had comprehensive clinical assessment. Following this, their electronic medical records were reviewed and MDS extracted at 6, 12 and 18 months. Fifty-seven predictors taken from DCRS were analysed. Associations were sought between initial and prolonged MDG.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three hundred and twenty-five participants were screened, with 222 included in the initial analysis. Those who were initially downgraded were more likely to have post-acute shortness of breath (SoB), fatigue and exercise intolerance (objective and subjective), cognitive impairment and report mental health symptoms. The presence of fatigue and SoB, cognitive impairment and mental health symptoms was associated with MDG at 12 months, and the latter two, at 18 months. There were also modest associations between cardiopulmonary function and sustained downgrading.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Understanding the factors that are associated with initial and sustained inability to return to work allows individualized, targeted interventions to be utilized.</p>","PeriodicalId":54696,"journal":{"name":"Occupational Medicine-Oxford","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2024-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9351859","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}
V Parsons, E Wainwright, M Karanika-Murray, G Muiry, E Demou
{"title":"The impact of Covid-19 on research into work and health.","authors":"V Parsons, E Wainwright, M Karanika-Murray, G Muiry, E Demou","doi":"10.1093/occmed/kqac080","DOIUrl":"10.1093/occmed/kqac080","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The global coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic created a profound disruption to the delivery of planned scientific research with unknown immediate and potentially longer-term impacts.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>We explored researchers' experiences of the impact of the pandemic on the continued development and delivery of research into work and health, and on research infrastructure in this field.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirty-three questionnaires were completed, representing a response rate of 15%. Sixty-one per cent of respondents were female, the majority (78%) had over 11 years of research experience and 76% worked mainly in academia. Most respondents (88%) were able to progress with research during the pandemic. A small proportion (4%) had studies paused or suspended due to the pandemic, while a larger proportion (19%) had research staff redeployed to assist with other studies or furloughed. Respondents described a range of emerging practical and logistical issues for research into work and health during the pandemic. Some benefited from increased opportunities to collaborate on new multidisciplinary studies, opportunities to engage participants in work and health research, and more flexible and inclusive work practices. Others experienced challenges that had an adverse impact, such as hampering research delivery (e.g. barriers to participant screening and intervention delivery), poor (home) working environments, reduced team cohesion and isolation. A range of future priorities for research was highlighted.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We describe lessons learned and opportunities that can be used to support or further research activities in the field of work and health research in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":54696,"journal":{"name":"Occupational Medicine-Oxford","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2024-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9452128/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"33446905","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}
Leslie E Phillips, Paul Dhillon, Andrew Kotas, Renee Kusler, Jeffrey Shih, Juliane Kause
{"title":"Film production during the Covid-19 pandemic.","authors":"Leslie E Phillips, Paul Dhillon, Andrew Kotas, Renee Kusler, Jeffrey Shih, Juliane Kause","doi":"10.1093/occmed/kqac102","DOIUrl":"10.1093/occmed/kqac102","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for the film industry. Following a shutdown of productions, The Safe Way Forward document was developed to outline disease mitigation protocols. Despite this framework, many unanticipated scenarios arose during reopening of film production with the ongoing pandemic.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To identify and document promising practices for mitigating COVID-19 transmission in the film industry that can inform future pandemics and other industries.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a literature search to review research regarding COVID-19 disease mitigation efforts in the film industry. Through client-facing consultancy and consultant group meetings, we identified those factors most important for disease mitigation in the film industry and applicable to future pandemics and other industries. The Delphi Method enabled experts to review lessons learned as studio consultants during the COVID-19 pandemic; learnings were coded and analyzed for recurring themes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified anxiety, mistrust, and poor communication as key contributors to decreased compliance with COVID-19 protocols. In response, our team demonstrated multi-specialty expertise, provided scientific explanations, and developed trust by listening empathetically and responding with clear, consistent messaging. These measures served to alleviate anxiety, improve compliance, and provide a safe return to production.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study demonstrates the ability and agility of multi-disciplinary experts acting in the absence of clear guidance to support a safe return to film production. Workplace anxiety and non-compliance can be alleviated through effective communication by trusted experts. Lessons learned by our consultancy group can help protect workers across diverse industries in future pandemics.</p>","PeriodicalId":54696,"journal":{"name":"Occupational Medicine-Oxford","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2024-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40511759","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":"Sustaining work ability amongst female professional workers with long COVID.","authors":"J Lunt, S Hemming, J Elander, K Burton, B Hanney","doi":"10.1093/occmed/kqad134","DOIUrl":"10.1093/occmed/kqad134","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Long COVID (LC) compromises work ability (WA). Female worker WA has been more adversely impacted than WA in men. Exploration of lived experiences could elucidate the WA support required.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To explore the working conditions and circumstances experienced as affecting sustained WA amongst female workers with LC, to help mitigate worklessness risks.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Online semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 female workers self-reporting or formally diagnosed with LC who had made some attempt to return to work (RTW). Interviews were analysed using template analysis to map themes informing WA enablers and obstacles onto a biopsychosocial model of rehabilitation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All participants were professionals working in an employed or self-employed capacity. Key themes reflecting circumstances that afforded sustained WA included the autonomy over where, when and how to work indicated as facilitated by a professional role, rapid health care access, predominantly sedentary work, competent colleagues able to cover for transient reduced WA, a strong interface between specialist health and management support, and accessible organizational policies that steer health management according to equity rather than equality. Highly flexible, iterative, co-produced RTW planning, tolerant of fluctuating symptom expression appears vital. In return for providing such flexibility, participants felt that employers' workforce diversity and competence would be protected and that workers would need to reciprocate flexibility.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These qualitatively derived findings of workers' lived experiences add to existing guidance on supporting WA for people struggling with LC. Moreover, the same principles seem appropriate for tackling worklessness amongst working-age adults with complex long-term health conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":54696,"journal":{"name":"Occupational Medicine-Oxford","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2024-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139418593","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}
M Moreno Martínez, M Feijoo-Cid, M I Fernández-Cano, C Llorens-Serrano, A Navarro-Giné
{"title":"Psychosocial risk in healthcare workers after one year of COVID-19.","authors":"M Moreno Martínez, M Feijoo-Cid, M I Fernández-Cano, C Llorens-Serrano, A Navarro-Giné","doi":"10.1093/occmed/kqac121","DOIUrl":"10.1093/occmed/kqac121","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic overwhelmed the capacity of the healthcare system, affecting the volume of demands and the care tasks of healthcare workers.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To examine the health indicators and exposure to psychosocial risks of Spanish healthcare workers 1 year into the COVID-19 pandemic and compare them with the results of the first wave.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire (April-May 2020 and 2021). The data stem from the COTS 1 project database, corresponding to the first wave of COVID-19 (n = 1989) and COTS 2 (n = 1716) corresponding to 1 year later. The samples were independent. The prevalence of exposure to psychosocial risks and adverse health indicators was estimated for every occupational group, segregating the data by sex.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Professionals of all types presented worse perception of health. In general, the results were worse for women, while geriatric assistants presented the greatest exposure to psychosocial risk in COTS 2 compared to COTS 1. Sleep problems, high quantitative demands and high concern about becoming infected and spreading COVID-19 were cross-disciplinary in COTS 1, while worse perception of health, high pace of work, high work-life conflict and low development opportunities stood out in COTS 2.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Exposure to psychosocial risks was already high during the first wave and a significant decline in working conditions was observed. The prolongation of the pandemic exacerbated these results and seems to have multiplied the pre-existing inequalities between the axes of segregation in the labour market.</p>","PeriodicalId":54696,"journal":{"name":"Occupational Medicine-Oxford","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2024-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10452172","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":"Occupational effects in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome.","authors":"C E Green, J S Leeds, C M Leeds","doi":"10.1093/occmed/kqad118","DOIUrl":"10.1093/occmed/kqad118","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>It is well recognized that some individuals experience persistent symptoms following an initial SARS-CoV-2 infection. Symptoms affect physical, cognitive and mental well-being and can adversely impact activities of daily living, including the ability to work.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To examine the impact of post-COVID-19 syndrome with respect to effects on quality of life and impact on work in a cohort of people referred to a 'Long COVID' service.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>All triaged patients (over 18 years with symptoms more than 12 weeks since the initial infection) completed a symptom assessment questionnaire. Occupation and working status (at work, at work struggling with symptoms and off work) were also recorded. Impact on function and quality of life was assessed using the EQ5D5L questionnaire.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 214 patients (median age 51.0 years, 135 females) were seen from January to September 2021. Analysis of occupational status showed: 18% were working, 40% were working but struggling and 35% had stopped working due to symptoms. Those unable to work reported significantly more fatigue, a greater perception of the need for support and lower quality-of-life scores.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study shows the extensive impact of post-COVID-19 syndrome on the ability to return to work. Specific return-to-work guidance is needed to support a large proportion of those struggling with the condition. The involvement of the Occupational Health team should form part of the multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to support rehabilitation and improve long-term outcomes for this condition.</p>","PeriodicalId":54696,"journal":{"name":"Occupational Medicine-Oxford","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2024-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138813186","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}