ABSTRACT
Purpose: the study examined the effect of prolonged lockdown on the development and increased severity of digital eye strain (DES) symptoms among the general population. Methods: : An online survey was conducted in March 2020 on social media platforms in Jordan. The questionnaire consisted of questions related to demographic characteristics, past medical and ocular history, frequency of using digital devices before and during lockdown, and the emergence and severity of DES symptoms. Results: : Data from 1,460 responders were analyzed. About half of the respondents were between 30- 49 years, 28.4 % were retired, 21% had chronic systemic illness, and 23% reported chronic eye problems. A rise in the use of digital devices during lockdown was reported by 957 participants, with 33% of them used digital devices more than 4 hours a day. The most common symptoms before and during lockdown were neck and shoulder pain, which revealed the most significant association (X 2 201.61, p 0.000). Female gender, existence of chronic eye problems and systemic diseases, and duration of using digital devices were found to be statistically significant factors associated with increasing severity of eye symptoms during lockdown. Regarding developing new eye complaints during the lockdown, only taking regular breaks was not significant ( p 0.336) . People with chronic eye problems and increased time using devices during lockdown developed new eye complaints three times more than before the lockdown and males were two times more likely than females to have more severe eye symptoms. Conclusion: The majority of the population developed new DES symptoms due to the lockdown. Public awareness of healthy practices and ergonomic use of digital devices is recommended.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Sprains and Strains , Chronic Disease , Mastocytosis, SystemicABSTRACT
Background: Healthcare professionals including physicians were subjected to an increased workload during the COVID-19 crisis, leaving them exposed to significant physical and psychological distress. Therefore, our present study aimed to (i) assess the prevalence of burnout and level of job satisfaction among physicians in Jordan, and (ii) explore physicians’ opinions, experiences, and perceptions during the pandemic crisis. Methods: This was a mixed-method study that utilized a structured web-based questionnaire and semi-structured individual interviews. The 10-Item Burnout Measure, Short version (BMS), and the 5-Item Short Index of Job Satisfaction (SIJS) were adopted to assess occupational burnout and job satisfaction, respectively. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, based on a conceptual framework that was developed from Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory of Motivation and Job Demands-Resources Model. Descriptive statistics and regression models as well as inductive thematic analysis were used to analyze quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Results: A total of 973 survey responses and 11 interviews were included in our analysis. The prevalence of burnout among physicians was (57.7%). Several significant factors were positively associated with burnout, including female gender, working at highly loaded hospitals, working for long hours, doing night shifts, lack of sufficient access to personal protective equipment, and being positively tested for SARS-CoV-2. Regarding job satisfaction, regression analysis revealed that age was positively associated with higher levels of job satisfaction. On contrary, being a general practitioner or specialist, working at highly loaded hospitals, low salaries, and suffering from burnout have predicted lower levels of job satisfaction.Besides, four themes have emerged from the thematic analysis: (i)Work-induced psychological distress during the pandemic, (ii)Decision-driven satisfactory and dissatisfactory experiences, (iii)Impact of the pandemic on doctor-patient communication and professional skills, and (iv)Economic impacts of the pandemic crisis and lockdown. Conclusion: A significant physical and psychological burden was associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Reliable efforts should be implemented aiming at protecting physicians’ physical and mental wellbeing, enhancing their working conditions, and raising awareness about burnout. Evidence-based decisions and proper utilization of financial and human resources at institutional and national levels are believed to be crucial for the sustainability of the health workforce, especially in crises.