ABSTRACT
Frontline worker's prevalence of occupational skin disease has increased as a result of staff infection control measures such increased personal protective equipment (PPE) and stricter hand hygiene procedures. During the COVID-19 pandemic, assess the frequency of occupational skin disorders among healthcare workers at the general hospitals in the Najran region of southern Saudi Arabia is our main aim. Our objective comprises a cross-sectional study that will be carried out at the general hospitals in the Najran region of southern Saudi Arabia between March 1 and April 31, 2022, in order to achieve the goal. All medical professionals received a self-administered online survey (physicians, nurses and paramedics). The questionnaire asked about the severity of skin damage and the frequency and length of time that various infection prevention strategies were used. It was found that 68.2% had new onset of obvious skin damage and 31.8 % did not. 21.6% of the new onset of obvious skin damage was on the fingertips, 46.6% was on the hands, 22.4% was in paws, 3.4% was on the face and 6.0% was under the eye. 29.8% of the symptoms of the damaged site was itching, 44.7% dryness, 12.8% burning/pain, and 12.8% tenderness. 16.5 % of the type of skin lesions was peeling, 28.2% fissure, 18.8% erosion/ulcer, 24.7% redness, 4.7% papule (pimples) and 7.1% others. In our study, 68.2% of our participants suffered obvious skin damage during the pandemic: 90.6% of this occurred on the hands and 9.4% on the face. Contact dermatitis in the form of itching, dryness, burning, pain and tenderness were the most common adverse effects noted. Therefore, it is important to organize training on the prevention and management of possible skin lesions due to PPE use according to guidelines.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Radiologic technologists (RTs) are among the healthcare staff negatively impacted by job dissatisfaction, occupational stress, and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess job satisfaction, lifestyle behaviors, occupational burnout symptoms, and associated factors among RTs in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A survey study was conducted from January 2021 to February 2022 using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire gathered socio-demographic information, answers to the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, lifestyle behaviors, and frequency of occupational burnout symptoms. Data were analyzed to obtain descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: A total of 261 RTs completed the survey. Participants were predominantly male and most were working in public hospitals. The overall mean score for job satisfaction was 3.77 (of 5), indicating moderate job satisfaction, with two items showing low satisfaction- compensation (3.33) and advancement (3.28). The overall mean score for lifestyle behaviors was 2.00 (of 3), indicating moderate lifestyle behaviors, with the lowest scores reported in sleep quality (1.92), healthy diet (1.85), and relaxing and unwinding (1.86). For burnout symptoms, the overall mean score was 2.30, indicating moderate burnout level, with the highest score reported in experiencing physical symptoms (2.72). There were significant relationships between job satisfaction, lifestyle behaviors and burnout symptoms. A positive and moderate relationship, r = 0.53 (p < 0.05), was found between job satisfaction and healthy lifestyle behaviors. The burnout relationships with job satisfaction, r = -0.615 (p < 0.05), and healthy lifestyle behaviors, r = -0.524 (p < 0.05), were negative and moderate relationships CONCLUSION: The interrelationships between job satisfaction, lifestyle behaviors, and occupational burnout symptoms suggest that improving lifestyle behaviors and managing burnout symptoms could contribute to higher job satisfaction. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Policymakers should focus their efforts in the workplace health promotion programs to play essential roles in promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors and occupational stress management, as well as, improvements of RTs career advancement and compensation.