Assessment of occupational stress among hospital pharmacy staff during the SARS-cov2 pandemic (COVID-19)

Objective: The Covid-19 viral pneumonia epidemic represents a major public health issue for all hospital structures, including hospital pharmacy, which has an essential role in dealing with this crisis. This study aims to explore the level of stress perceived by hospital pharmacy staff during this pandemic. Method: This is a cross-sectional study that evaluated 82 health professionals in hospital pharmacies in Morocco, using a snowball sampling technique. It evaluated their socio-demographic characteristics, working conditions, perceived stress scale (PSS), emotions and concerns during the epidemic. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical package for social science (SPSS). Results: The majority of participants were women (74.4%) and hospital pharmacists (67%). More than half of the participants showed moderate levels of stress (73.2%). Among the variables examined, only protective measures and information about the situation via the superiors showed a significant association with the PSS value (P = 0.036) and the level of stress according to the ANOVA test and the Chi-2 test respectively. Conclusion: In this study, hospital pharmacy staff showed moderate levels of stress at the beginning of the Covid-19 epidemic. It should be noted that socio-demographic traits had no impact on stress. Consideration of social and health conditions and stress management would help reduce professional stress among hospital pharmacy staff during the pandemic.

Status and influencing factors of anxiety and insomnia among nurses in 2020 in Quanzhou city

Objective: To understand the anxiety and insomnia of nurses in 2020 and its influencing factors, so as to provide orientation for formulating relevant policies. Methods: A total of 738 nurses in a designated hospital for treatment of COVID-19 patients in Quanzhou were investigated by convenient sampling. The basic demographic information, cognition of COVID-19, anxiety and insomnia of these subjects were surveyed with self-made questionnaire, self rating anxiety scale (SAS) and insomnia severity index(ISI). The influencing factors of anxiety and insomnia were analyzed by multiple linear regression. Results: The incidence of anxiety and insomnia were 8.5% and 35.8%, respectively. The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that regular physical exercise was the influencing factor to reduce nurses' anxiety(beta =-4.226, P = 0.002) and insomnia (beta = - 1.706, P = 0.003). Nurses who had a personal history of disease (beta = 3.320, P = 0.023), considered resignation due to the COVID -19 (beta = 5.012, P = 0.031), thought that they might infect their family members and/or friends with COVID-19 virus (beta = 4.631, P < 0.001) and were treated differently by others (beta = 3.829, P = 0.003) had more anxiety;nursing staff who had a personal history of disease (beta = 1.277, P = 0.036), considered resignation due to the COVID-19 (beta =1.946, P = 0.045), worried about infecting other people with novel coronavirus (beta = 1.063, P = 0.006), thought that they might infect their family and friends with COVID-19 virus (beta =1.156, P = 0.003) and were treated differently by others (beta =1.507, P = 0.004) also had more serious insomnia. There was a positive correlation between anxiety and insomnia[beta and its 95% CI value was 0.280(0.258, 0.302, P < 0.001)]. Conclusions: In 2020 nurses in Quanzhou had anxiety and insomnia, which were affected by many factors. Employers should pay attention to the mental health of high-risk personnel and carry out psychological intervention when necessary.

Occupation burnout and influencing factors of community medical staff in Shanghai central urban area during epidemic prevention and control

Objective: To understand the occupation burnout of community medical staff during epidemic and explore the influencing factors, so as to improve the mental health level of medical staff. Methods: Totally 843 community medical staff in the central urban area were studied. They were surveyed by a face-to-face with the questionnaire of JCQ, ERI and MBI. Results: Totally 835 valid questionnaires were recovered with an effective response rate of 99.1%. JCQ mode showed that the detection rate of occupational stress was 42.5%. The ERI mode showed the detection rate of occupational stress was 34.0%. The incidence of job burnout was 50.8%, of which the incidence of mild and moderate job burnout was 42.2% and the incidence of severe job burnout was 8.6%. The logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of job burnout of community medical staff was increased (P < 0.05), OR = 1.546 (aged 40 to < 50 years vs. aged < 30 years), OR = 1.506 to 1.707 (working time more than 10 years vs. less than 10 years), OR = 2.085 (working in public health departments vs. in clinical departments), OR = 2.408 (working more than 50 hours per week vs. less than 40 hours per week), and OR = 1.811 (working with night shift vs. without night shift). Compared with those with monthly income < 3 000 yuan, exercise frequency < 1 time per week and sleep time < 6 h per day, those with monthly income > 3 000 yuan (OR = 0.098 - 0.133), exercise frequency 1 time per week(OR = 0.308 - 0.603) and sleep time 6 h per day(OR = 0.300 - 0.334) had a lower risk of job burnout (P < 0.05). The higher the scores of social support (OR = 0.667) and return(OR = 0.605), the lower the risk of burnout of community medical personnel(P < 0.05);the higher the scores of giving (OR = 2.468)and intrinsic input (OR = 1.549), the greater the risk of burnout of community medical personnel(P < 0.05). Conclusions: During the epidemic prevention and control period, there was a certain degree of job burnout among community medical personnel. We can strengthen the intervention from individuals, organizations and society aspects and reduce the job burnout of community medical personnel by improving the level of professional skills, reasonable scheduling, appropriate exercise, and strengthening psychological counseling.

SCIENCE DIGEST

Needlestick injuries (3.1%) were associated with mental health problems presumably related to the transmission of infectious diseases and liquid nitrogen related injuries were reported in 3.1% of respondents. Overall the survey concluded that embryologists experienced a number of occupational health problems of which musculoskeletal and mental health and work stress issues were the dominate issues emerging from the survey which appeared to be linked to lack of control of workflow and irregular breaks as well as workplace stress. [...]these have been difficult to describe but with the ability to sequence multiple genes in a single assay decisions will have to be made on which genes should be identified as being responsible for susceptibility to breast cancer. Recently two high quality major studies (4,5) have identified a number of genes that are statistically associated with breast cancer risk.

Moral Stress among Swedish Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aims: This study quantifies to what extent Health care workers (HCWs) experienced moral stress and to what extent their experiences of moral stress were related to gender and age as well as to working directly with COVID-19 patients and other work-related factors. Methods: This study consists of a cross-sectional survey that was conducted among 16,044 Swedish HCWs. A total of 153,300 HCWs and support staff who participated in the COVID-19 training offered by the Karolinska Institute were invited by email to participate in a web survey during autumn 2020. Results: This study is the first to quantify the frequency and severity of moral stress in a large group of HCWs. Moral stress was reported to a higher extent by HCWs involved in COVID-19 care and those involved in direct patient care. A lack of resources and the restrictions that hindered the patients' family and friends from being involved were major causes of moral stress. Informal support was reported as being the most available and useful for dealing with moral stress. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that moral stress is common among HCWs who work with infected patients during a pandemic. The goal should not be to eliminate moral stress, as such stress may be viewed as a normal reaction to moral issues, but organizational structures (sufficient staffing and resources), could decrease the likelihood of morally stressful situations. Finally, to avoid the development of moral distress and its potential consequences, improvements could be made in providing HCWs with support tools for managing moral stress. © 2023 The Author(s).

The Impact of Organizational Supports on Nurses' Occupational Stress in COVID‐19 Pandemic: A Partial Least Squares Multigroup Analysis

Background: The safety and mental health issues of frontline nurses working during the coronavirus global outbreak must be a first/top priority. The present study aimed to investigate the association between nurses' occupation stress and organizational support in both infectious and non-infectious intensive care units (ICUs) wards during the COVID-19 crisis. Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study. The study population comprised nurses caring for COVID‐19 patients in Imam Reza Hospital complex in Mashhad City, Iran. The sample size was 129 nurses selected through random quota sampling and examined with a standard questionnaire. To analyze the information and test the hypothesis, the structural equation modeling approach using Smart PLS 2.0 software has been used. Descriptive and analytical statistical tests were used in this study. Results: The results indicated a significant negative correlation between stress and perceived organizational support for ICU nurses (P<0.001). Considering subscales in stress, the highest mean occupational stress scores were related to the "death and dying” dimension (n=21, 13.98%). Also, the difference between the two groups of nurses was statistically significant in different workloads (P<0.001) and lack of support (P<0.001). Conclusion: The results of the present study highlighted the importance of organizational support to reduce stress in nurses. To get through this unprecedented situation, nurses need their employers and organizations to support them with action, planning, and resources. © 2022, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.

Does the RUSON employment model support transition to practice, relieve workload pressure and improve patient care?

The article examines whether the Registered Undergraduate Student of Nursing (RUSON) employment model can help improve transition to practice and address workforce shortages in Australia. Topics discussed include the global nursing shortage following the COVID-19 pandemic, challenges facing new nursing graduates, and the RUSON employment model's success in reducing workload pressure and increasing job satisfaction for registered nurses.

Suicide among nurses: how talking can reduce risk and stigma: With increasing workplace and home pressures for many, nurses can support colleagues through open, honest

In the BBC TV programme 'This Is Going to Hurt', hospital staff plant a tree in memory of a colleague who has died by suicide.

Survey Finds 1 in 7 Physicians Uses Alcohol or Drugs on the Job to Cope With Stress

The article presents results of the study "State of Mental Health: American Healthcare Workers Report," commissioned by recovery and rehabilitation center All Points North. Topics discussed include findings on the average number of physicians who admitted consuming alcohol or controlled substances while working to cope with occupational stress, the implications of the study, and the percentage of healthcare workers who checked into a rehabilitation or detox facility.

Quitting in the face of intolerable pressure: To what extent is burnout from the pandemic pushing nurses to leave the profession?

Surveys are highlighting concerns about negative psychological effects of the pandemic – notably stress, burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder – on the UK nursing workforce. Another, published by the RCN, shows nursing staff in the UK are still being asked to keep going in the face of intolerable pressure.

Worried Sick: Anxiety, depression, and the impact on dental health care workers

The article calls for the evaluation of the impact of anxiety and depression on dental health care workers and for improved identification and prevention of mental health disorders. It explains the relationship of psychological stress, anxiety and depression and identifies symptoms of depression and anxiety. Emphasis is also given on the need to recognize and screen mental health disorders. It discusses the impact of stress, distress and burnout on personal and professional functioning.

Nurses Psychological Well-Being During Covid19 Outbreak in Saudi Arabia

Background: The global coronavirus disease pandemic of 2019 (COVID-19) has caused health care provider to experience extraordinary psychological stress. Objective: This study assessed the psychological well-being of nurses during the COVID-19 outbreak and factors associated with it. Methods: An online survey was sent to all nurses working at the Ministry of Health Hospitals and living in Tabuk city, Saudi Arabia. A total of 219 nurses were completed the survey. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale -- 21 items (DASS-21) assessed the psychological well-being of respondents in the previous week. Results: One -quarter of nurses (24.7%) reported extremely severe symptoms of anxiety, more than one third (37%) reported extremely sever symptoms of stress, less than one quarter (14.1%) reported extremely sever symptoms of depression. Higher anxiety scores were significantly associated with direct contact with confirmed COVID 19 cases (p= 0.08), general health status (p= 0.001) and marital status (p= 0.042). Higher DASS-21 Stress scores were significantly associated with working more than eight hours per shift (p=0.024), marital status(P=0.036) and general health status (p <0.001). Higher DASS-21 Depression scores was significantly associated general health status (p <0.001). Conclusions & implication for practice: The COVID-19 outbreak has had a significant effect on the psychological well-being of Saudis nurses, particularly nurses who were married, had contact with COVID 19 cases, had working more than eight hours per shift, and had poor general health status. Protecting the psychological health of nursing staff is essential, nursing leaders are in charge of providing social support for nurses so that they will be able to cope with their anxiety, stress, and depression.

How to recognize compassion fatigue

The COVID-19 pandemic has created the perfect storm for healthcare workers, but compassion fatigue can be avoided.

IMPROVING ERGONOMICS: KEEPING WELL AT WORK

Self-care is a phrase that is often used recently, especially with the additional stresses and strains that the pandemic has delivered. With a common general focus on the care provided to women, birthing people and their families, consideration for midwives' own wellbeing can sometimes be low down on the list of priorities. So, for the new year, I challenge you all to be more mindful of yourself, your health, and your wellbeing needs. After all, what will benefit you will in turn benefit the people who you care for and make services overall more efficient. Also look out for your colleagues and students;it's often when observing others that we can see potential hazards more clearly. An important element of professional self-care is working with the correct equipment to ensure optimal outcomes for the person receiving care and to decrease the risk of injury for the practitioner.