ABSTRACT
BackgroundViolence against healthcare workers is highly prevalent globally. The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced new stress to patients and healthcare workers. Research on healthcare violence has identified workplace stress as a solid predictive component, yet little is known about how COVID-related stresses have impacted healthcare violence.MethodsA cross-sectional survey is currently being conducted between January - June 2022 in the largest hospitals in the capital cities of Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Romania, focusing on physicians and nurses in high volume COVID units. The survey assesses socio-demographic information, workplace violence experience before and during COVID-19, and workplace violence measures.ResultsThe survey is based on preliminary studies that indicate very high levels of workplace violence prior to COVID. Medical providers in Georgia reported in 2020 a prevalence of 62% for verbal threats and 8% for physical assault;in Romania, in 2012, 84% experienced verbal abuse while 28% experienced physical abuse. In Armenia, in 2020, out of the 61 interviews of medical providers, 74% considered violence against ambulance workers to be widespread. The results of the current survey will identify predictors and outcomes of workplace violence before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and main strategies in place to prevent workplace violence.ConclusionThe study results will identify and compare the prevalence of different types of violence against healthcare providers and will assess approaches to workplace violence prevention in terms of policy, training, environmental, and security.Learning OutcomesResults will provide a measurement of evidence-based workplace violence predictors and prevention strategies.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered people's daily lives, including driving. However, how state Divisions of Motor Vehicles (DMV) adapted their operation policies in response to COVID-19 remains unknown. This study analyzed adaptations to the content of state DMV operation policies during the COVID-19 pandemic across 50 US states and assessed the relationships between these policy adoptions and their state-level COVID-19 restriction orders. METHODS: We merged data on policy adaptations due to COVID-19 obtained from DMV websites for all 50 states with data on state-level restrictions obtained from the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP). We created a codebook and analyzed the DMV policy adaptations in the following three areas: (1) road testing, (2) licensure extension and renewals, and (3) facility reopening. Two trained coders independently reviewed and coded the adaptations of policy content related to precaution to spread of COVID-19 and ease of obtaining licensure. We calculated summary scores for policy adaptations and ease of licensure and compared these scores across three categories of state-level COVID-19 restrictions using ANOVA. RESULTS: DMVs in all 50 states adapted their policies to slow the spread of COVID-19. The ease of licensure summary scores increased in some states but decreased in others. Extensions for licensure renewals was the most common change. Adoption of COVID-19 precautions during the road test was the most common road test adaptation, while road test waivers were the most controversial. Requiring appointments, social distancing, and/or face coverings/personal protective equipment [PPE] were common adaptations during facility reopening. However, variations in level of policy adaptations and ease of licensure were not associated with the state's COVID-19 restrictions. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide insight into policy adaptations made by state DMVs to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and may inform future policy adaptations in DMVs and other government agencies during public health emergencies.