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Objective: Health care workers are at increased risk of infection with SARSCoV-2 at work. We therefore investigated the development of vaccination rates among health care workers in Germany and the proportion of cases with severe COVID-19 progression in an ecological study. Methods: PubMed, Google Scholar, Google and the websites of the Robert Koch Institute and the German Medical Journal were searched for relevant publications on vaccination willingness and rates in Germany from January 2021 to September 2022. Furthermore, we evaluated reports on suspected cases of occupational diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2 in a database of the Berufsgenossenschaft für Gesundheitsdienst und Wohlfahrtspflege (BGW) as of August 2022. To estimate the severity of COVID-19, we analysed the proportion of hospitalised cases and cases resulting in compensation payments for injury and death. Results: Although vaccination willingness was low at the beginning of the vaccination campaign, the vaccination rate increased steadily during 2021. Recent surveys show vaccination coverage rates of well over 90%. By August 2022, a total of 280, 926 suspected cases due to COVID-19 had been reported to BGW. The proportion of cases resulting in hospitalisation decreased from 4.3% in 2020 to 0.026% in 2022, and the proportion of deaths also decreased from February 2020 to July 2022. However, the vaccination status of persons insured by BGW is not recorded in these statistics. Conclusions: Although the vaccination status is unknown, BGW data suggest that the severity of COVID-19 cases steadily decreased with increasing vaccination coverage. © 2022 Alfons W. Gentner Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. All rights reserved.
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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the most prevalent infectious human disease spreading in several parts of the world caused by SARS Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 transmission is mainly spreading via the respiratory tract, personal contact, digestive tract and hospital-acquired infections. Health care workers particularly working in clinics practicing traditional medicine need to be in close contact with patients, so they have a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this paper, therefore, the personal-protective measures need to be followed by healthcare workers in traditional medicine clinics during COVID-19 pandemic are emphasized, to enlighten them about self-protection and to improve the safety of such a special group of traditional healers.Copyright © 2021 Bentham Science Publishers.
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Background: Health care workers (HCWs) exposed to COVID-19 are at increased risk of developing mental health problems. This study aims to access the prevalence of psychological stress among HCWs during COVID-19 pandemic. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of psychological stress among HCWs during COVID-19 pandemic. Material(s) and Method(s): A cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs working in a tertiary care teaching hospital. A total of about 100 HCWs who participated in the study were randomly distributed pre-structured questionnaire pertaining to sociodemographic parameters and variables related to psychological stress and their responses were graded accordingly. Result(s): It was found that HCWs showed significant rise in psychological distress with moderate-to-severe elevated levels of anxiety (69%), depression (21%), and insomnia (41%). Nurses were significantly more likely to experience anxiety than other HCWs in our present study and the most of the participants were engaged in some form of stress reduction activities. Conclusion(s): The high levels of psychological distress were reported in HCWs in hospital dealing with COVID-19 patients. Increase efforts are needed for promotion of mental health well-being of HCWs exposed to COVID-19.Copyright © 2023 Shamiya Sadiq, et al.
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Background: Many women and pregnant women are front-line health care workers in the COVID-19 era and are worried about the possible impacts of COVID-19 on their fetuses. Due to the pressure and high working load on the healthcare workers during the COVID-19 crisis, the healthcare workers were potentially at risk of different types of mental health disorders. Objective(s): We aimed to evaluate the correlation between mental health status and the level of COVID19-related anxiety in pregnant healthcare workers in the COVID-19 era in Iran from August 2020 to December 2020. Method(s): This cross-sectional study included 64 pregnant clinical residents, general physicians, nurses and other medical staff who worked in hospitals in Iran, from August 2020 to December 2020 using an anonymous online survey available on the Google Form platform. The online survey consisted of socio-demographic questions, pregnancy-related questions, and questions about medical/drug history. The participants filled the Persian versions of General Health Questionnaire - 28 (GHQ-28) and Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS). Result(s): The participants' mean age and gestational age were 31.3+/-3.9 years, and 24.5+/-10.1 weeks respectively. Psychological problems were moderate (total score GHQ-28> 40) in 9.4% (n: 6) of pregnant healthcare workers. The frequency of moderate/severe problems in the four subclasses, including somatic symptoms, anxiety/insomnia, social dysfunction, and depression were 9(14.1%), 25(39.0%), 7(10.9%), and 10(15.6%), respectively. According to CDAS, 26.5% of participants had moderate to severe COVID-19-related anxiety. COVID-19-related anxiety and its subclasses, physical and psychological, were significantly correlated with the GHQ-28 total score and its subclasses, including somatic symptoms, anxiety/insomnia, social dysfunction, and depression among pregnant healthcare workers (p<0.01). Conclusion(s): According to the results of the current study, over 25% of pregnant health care workers have moderate to severe COVID-19-related anxiety;so, it is crucial for policymakers to focus on the mental health of pregnant health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.Copyright © 2023 Bentham Science Publishers.
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A limited number of studies are available on COVID-19 patients by disease cluster. We aimed to evaluate the healthcare cluster and stigmatization during the COVID-19 outbreak in Batam, Indonesia. A qualitative study using an empirical phenomenological approach and in-depth interviews with content and thematic analysis was conducted. The informants admitted that they were infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SAR-CoV-2) virus due to non-compliance to COVID-19 protocols, such as removing masks and talking face to face during breaks in meetings held in poor-ventilated rooms. A social stigma was experienced by these healthcare workers because people tended to keep their distance and ostracized them because they were afraid of COVID-19. Healthcare workers tend to be stigmatized and ostracized by the community. A clinical guideline and public health policy should be established by involving community leaders to minimize the psychological pressure experienced by healthcare workers. The results of this study can help policy makers to improve risk management standards in controlling the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in health center to create publich health trust in eliminating COVID-19. © 2023, Intelektual Pustaka Media Utama. All rights reserved.
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COVID-19 is currently threatening the globe. SARS-CoV-2 is the cause of COVID-19, which spreads via droplets/airborne and direct contact. Health care workers (HCWs) are the front-line workers, which are directly involved in taking care of patients affected by COVID-19. HCWs are at a higher risk of infection during the caring of COVID-19 patients. This focused review high-lighted the higher risk for COVID-19 infection among health care professionals during close contact with patients and their preventive management in COVID-19 pandemic.Copyright © 2021 Bentham Science Publishers.
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Background: COVID-19 vaccine was launched in India on 16 January 2021, prioritizing health care workers. There is lot of apprehensions and anxiety regarding uptake of the vaccine among them. So, determining the acceptability of a COVID-19 vaccine by healthcare professionals will also guide future vaccination studies. Objective: To know the willingness for COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare workers in a tertiary care hospital and to explore the factors responsible for unwillingness of COVID-19 vaccination. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among health care workers of a tertiary care hospital of Odisha. Those who refused to participate in the study, pregnant & lactating mothers and those who participated in COVID 19 vaccine clinical trial were excluded from the study. Data was collected from 746 HCWs for a period of three months i.e., from January 2021 to April 2021. Results: 78.8% HCWs were willing to get vaccinated with COVID 19 vaccine. Also 78.6% HCWs were willing to get their family members vaccinated with COVID 19 vaccine. But 53.6% study participants were not willing for COVID 19 vaccination if they do not get the option of free vaccine. Major reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy were concerns about the safety (60.8%) and efficacy of the vaccine (58.8%). Vaccine acceptance was more in older age group, Hindus, rural residents and those who have already suffered from COVID 19. Conclusion: Effort should be made to eliminate the doubts and concerns regarding the COVID 19 vaccine. © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.
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Introduction: Working in COVID - 19 Health Care Units - Psychological impacts (PTSD, Depression, Anxiety Disorders) Working in the frontline during COVID-19 has put under extreme psychological and physical pressure the health care workers. The severe psychological symptomps can emerge on short, mid and long term as well. Our research is focusing on the psychological impacts of front line health care workers. Objective(s): In our lecture, we summarize our reserach made in the National Traumatology Center, Budapest, Hungary among health care workers who worked in the front and in the second line during the most severe period of the pandemic in Hungary, and discuss probable risk factors for PTSD and chronic psychological distress related to COVID-19. Furthermore we make an overview on the most frequently used coping skills for dealing with the psychological stress caused by the pandemic among the health care workers. The sample taking was processed in July 2021, after 3 month the 3rd COVID - 19 wave officially ended in Hungary. Method(s): 123 health care workers completed the online survey anonimously, included Beck Depression Inventory, Spielberger Anxiety State Inventory, PTSD Checklist, Lazarus Coping Scale. Result(s): 23% of HCW reported symptomps of depression, nearly 25% dealing with sleeping disorders and 38% with chronic fatigue, 42,50 % HCW suffering from anxiety disorders, 22% HCW experiencing symptomps of PTSD. Conclusion(s): With our results we would like to raise awareness of the challenges and severe psychological consequences that these colleagues, our national heroes we can say, are facing after working in COVID-19 Health Care Units.
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BACKGROUND: Health care workers (HCWs) working on frontlines in COVID-19 pandemic are highly vulnerable to deteriorating physical and mental health. The quality of life of health care workers plays an important role in their skilful delivery of work. Our study assesses their quality of life (QOL) during COVID-19 pandemic so that appropriate measures can be taken to improve their well-being. METHODS: This was an online crosssectional survey among healthcare workers of COVID-19 designated government hospitals in districts Abbottabad, Manshera and Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan from 23rdJune till 25thJuly, 2020. QOL was assessed using validated WHO QOL BREF. Univariate and multivariate linear regression were used to assess the factors associated with QOL among HCWs. RESULTS: A total of 362 HCWs participated in the study. The mean scores of physical, psychological, social relationships, environmental domains were 60.7 (±17.40), 59.70 (±17.30), 67.90 (±17.90), and 58.20 (±18.40) respectively. Hospital where the respondents were working was the consistent predictor of QOL scores in all four domains with generally lower scores associated with other hospitals compared to Ayub Medical Hospital. Years of experience were positively associated with psychological, social relationship and environmental domains. Designation was associated with social relationship domain only. The scores were lower for trainee medical officers (adjusted ß - 11.5) and higher for house officer (adjusted ß 10.0) and nurses and technicians (adjusted ß 7.0) compared to heads of departments and specialists. CONCLUSION: Quality of life of health care workers has been affected negatively in hospitals of Abbottabad, Pakistan during COVID-19. This calls for hospital administrations, policymakers and the government to take necessary actions to protect the wellbeing of the backbone of the healthcare system.
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COVID-19 , Quality of Life , Health Personnel , Humans , Pakistan/epidemiology , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The world has been threatened with the emergence of the Novel Corona Virus straining the health care system and creating a global pandemic. This is not the first pandemic, and it certainly will not be the last to affect humanity. As the medical community is exposed to these highly contagious new diseases with arrays of symptoms like fever, cough, shortness of breath, anosmia, insomnia, and myalgia. Back pain can also be considered as one of the symptoms of COVID-19 infection. Therefore, this study aimed to find out the prevalence of back pain among the Health care workers who were tested positive for COVID-19 by the end of their isolation period. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was done from April 2021 to June 2021 in KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Imadol, Lalitpur, Nepal, after receiving ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Registration number: 2077/078/57). Convenience sampling was done. Data collection and entry were done in Microsoft excel, point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data. RESULTS: Out of 156 COVID-19 positive patients, the prevalence of back pain was seen among 64 (41%) patients (95% Confidence Interval= 42.23-57.75). Among them 21 (32.8%) were males and 43 (67.2%) were females. Likewise, the minimum age was 20 years and the maximum was 68 years with a mean of 33.5±10.28. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that a high proportion of healthcare workers were suffering from back pain and the findings are similar to the data from other international studies.