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BACKGROUND: Lactobacillus coryniformis K8 CECT5711 has immune-modulating properties, enhances the immune response to viral antigens leading to the production of specific antibodies, and has anti-inflammatory activity, which may help to prevent uncontrolled inflammatory processes leading to respiratory and other organ failures. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of the consumption of a probiotic strain on the incidence and severity of COVID-19 in health personnel who carry out their professional work among patients with infection or suspected infection by SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: This is a double-blind randomized clinical trial in which the experimental group will receive a capsule of L coryniformis K8 per day (3×109 colony former units/day), and the control group will receive a daily placebo capsule consisting of maltodextrin. A sample size of 314 volunteers was calculated. Volunteers must meet the following inclusion criteria: older than 20 years and active health personnel caring for patients with COVID-19, including all professionals such as medical doctors, nurses, and caretakers at the 2 referral hospitals that treat patients with COVID-19. The main outcome of the clinical trial will be the incidence of symptomatic infection by SARS-CoV-2 in personnel who care for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. RESULTS: The study had to be extended to the 2 referral hospitals that treat patients with COVID-19 in the province of Granada (Andalusia, Spain); Hospital San Cecilio and Hospital Virgen de las Nieves. A total of 255 individuals met the inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to one of the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this randomized controlled trial will provide valuable information regarding the administration of L coryniformis K8 against COVID-19, including whether there are fewer infectious processes due to this virus or, in case of occurrence, whether the disease is milder in participants taking the probiotic strain. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04366180; http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04366180. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR1-10.2196/37857.
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BACKGROUND: COVID- 19 disease causes serious anxiety in healthcare workers. OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to determine the relationship between the anxiety level of epidemic diseases and occupational satisfaction. METHOD: The "Disease Anxiety Scale," which consists of four subgroups and a total of 18 questions, and the "Vocational Satisfaction Scale," which consists of two subgroups and 20 questions, were utilized to investigate the relationship between epidemic disease anxiety and occupational satisfaction. The statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 26.0 program. RESULTS: A total of 395 nurses were included in the study. The mean age of the participants was 33, and 63% were women. About 35.4% of the participants had deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic in their family or close environment. It was determined that 83% of the nurses have a pandemic disease anxiety. Occupational satisfaction and epidemic anxiety level (p = 0.005, r = 0.560), pandemic (p = 0.01, r = 0.525), economic (p = 0.001, r = -0.473), quarantine (p = 0.003, r = -0.503), and social life (p = 0.003, r = -0.507) were found to be negatively correlated. There was no significant difference between job satisfaction (t = 0.286, p = 0.08) and epidemic anxiety (t = 1.312, p = 0.06) in terms of gender. CONCLUSION: Most health-care professionals experience serious anxiety, especially during the pandemic period.
ANTECEDENTES: La enfermedad de COVID- 19 causa ansiedad grave en los trabajadores de la salud. OBJETIVO: Determinar la relación entre el nivel de ansiedad de las enfermedades durante ña epidemia de COVID-19 y la satisfacción laboral. MÉTODO: Se utilizaron la Escala de Ansiedad por Enfermedad, que consta de cuatro subgrupos y un total de 18 preguntas, y la Escala de Satisfacción Vocacional, que consta de dos subgrupos y 20 preguntas, para investigar la relación entre la ansiedad por enfermedad epidémica y la satisfacción laboral. El análisis estadístico se realizó mediante el programa SPSS 26.0. RESULTADOS: La edad media de los participantes fue de 33 años y el 63% eran mujeres. El 35.4% de los participantes tuvieron muertes a causa de la pandemia de COVID-19 en su familia o entorno cercano. Se determinó que el 83% de los profesionales de enfermería tienen ansiedad por enfermedad pandémica. se Se encontraron correlacionados negativamente nivel de satisfacción laboral y ansiedad epidémica (p = 0.005, r = 0.560), pandemia (p = 0.01, r = 0.525), económica (p = 0.001, r = −0.473), cuarentena (p = 0.003, r = −0.503) y vida social (p = 0.003, r = −0.507). No hubo diferencia significativa entre la satisfacción laboral (t = 0.286, p = 0.08) y la ansiedad epidémica (t = 1.312, p = 0.06) en cuanto al sexo. CONCLUSIONES: La mayoría de los profesionales de la salud experimentan una ansiedad grave, en especial durante el período de pandemia.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Humans , Female , Male , COVID-19/epidemiology , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2 , Health Personnel , Anxiety/epidemiology , Anxiety/etiologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence, clinical features, and factors related to personal protective-associated headaches. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among healthcare workers using an online questionnaire. RESULTS: We surveyed 305 participants. The N95 face-mask was the most used device by 93%. Of 305 respondents, 206 experienced headaches while wearing protective equipment; 36.06% suffered from a headache disorder before the pandemic. The prevalence of de novo headache was 39.01%. Gender, age, or exposure to coronavirus disease were not determining factors to develop headache. Headache intensity was higher in front-line healthcare workers and was correlated (r = 0.728) with the time wearing protective equipment. The more days per month the participants wore personal protective equipment the shorter the time to headache onset after donning equipment. CONCLUSION: Our study confirms the relationship between frequent and prolonged use of protection devices with headaches and reaffirms the implication of external pressure as a primary mechanism.
OBJETIVO: Investigar la prevalencia, las características clínicas y los factores relacionados con las cefaleas asociadas al equipo de protección personal. MÉTODOS: Realizamos un estudio transversal entre trabajadores de la salud por medio de un cuestionario en línea. RESULTADOS: Encuestamos a 305 participantes. La mascarilla N95 fue el dispositivo más utilizado opor 93%. Del total de encuestados, 206 experimentaron cefalea mientras usaban el equipo de protección; el 36.06% padecía algun trastorno cefalálgico antes del inicio de la pandemia. La prevalencia de cefalea de novo fue del 39.01%. El género, la edad o la exposición a la enfermedad por coronavirus no fueron factores determinantes para desarrollar cefalea. La cefalea fue de mayor intensidad en los trabajadores de primera línea y se correlacionó (r = 0.728) con el tiempo que se uso el equipo de protección personal. Mientras más días por mes los participantes usaron el equipo de protección personal menor fue el tiempo de inicio de la cefalea tras la colocación del equipo cada vez. CONCLUSIONES: Nuestro estudio confirma la asociación del uso frecuente y prolongado de dispositivos de protección con el desarrollo de cefalea y reafirma la implicación de la compresión externa como mecanismo primario.
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Introducción y objetivos: La pandemia por coronavirus 2 del síndrome respiratorio agudo grave (SARS-CoV-2) ha generado efectos psicológicos y sociales negativos en el personal de salud según se evidenció en la encuesta IMPPACTS-SAC20. Nuestro objetivo es determinar qué dominios del Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ 9) tienen más influencia en el diagnóstico de depresión mayor e identificar subpoblaciones con elevada prevalencia de esta enfermedad. Métodos: Subanálisis de la encuesta IMPPACTS-SAC20. Se utilizaron técnicas de machine learning no supervisado para realizar un análisis factorial y generar subgrupos de casos similares en cuanto a su desempeño en el puntaje PHQ 9. Resultados: Se incluyeron 1,221 encuestados que respondieron el puntaje PHQ 9. El análisis factorial demostró la presencia de dos dimensiones principales (neurastenia y autopercepción negativa) que explican el 67.2% de la varianza del cuestionario (prueba KMO 0.911, Bartlett p < 0.001). La combinación de ambas dimensiones en un análisis jerárquico generó 9 clusters. Los grupos 5, 4, 2 y 1 explican el 93% de los casos de depresión mayor. Los grupos 5 y 4 presentaron valores más elevados de neurastenia, y los grupos 2 y 1 de autopercepción negativa. Los grupos 6, 7 y 8 en su conjunto presentaron una prevalencia de depresión mayor del 0.6%. Conclusión: La implementación de técnicas de machine learning detectó dos dimensiones dentro del puntaje PHQ 9, la neurastenia y la autopercepción negativa. Se evidenciaron subgrupos de alta prevalencia de depresión mayor, cuyas principales características clínicas fueron el sexo femenino, el consumo de alcohol, el tabaquismo y la intención suicida.
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INTRODUCTION: As of 30 April 2020, 203.715 SARS-CoV-2 infections had been reported in Spain, 54.486 in Madrid, 21.4% were health care workers. Our objective is to determine seroprevalence of COVID-19 among workers in a monographic pediatric hospital. METHODS: Between April13th and 30th, 1.523 health workers were recruited to be tested for SARS-CoV-2 serology screening (All Test®) and they answered a questionnaire with demographic, epidemiological and clinical information and previous exposure to COVID-19. FINDINGS: One thousand two hundred ninety two (84.8%) were tested. Positive serology (IgM and/or IgG) to SARS-CoV-2 was found in 17.2% (222/1.292), in 15.5% (201/1.292) if only IgG was considered. Median age was 44±13 years, 73% were female. The 33.8% (75/222) were asymptomatic. Eighty one had a previous positive rRT-PCR. The 14% (32/222) referred a family contact. CONCLUSION: Serology prevalence for SARS-CoV-2 in workers of a pediatric hospital was higher than in general population. Many of them had an unnoticed infection.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Adult , COVID-19/diagnosis , COVID-19/epidemiology , Child , Female , Health Personnel , Hospitals, Pediatric , Humans , Immunoglobulin G , Male , Middle Aged , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Spain/epidemiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Frontline healthcare workers (F-HCWs) are at the forefront of medical care providers against the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic which has life-threatening potentials. Inadequate knowledge and incorrect attitudes among HCWs can directly influence practices and lead to delayed diagnosis, poor infection control practices, and spread of disease. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding the COVID-19 pandemic among the frontline healthcare workers (F-HCWs) working at a tertiary care hospital situated in eastern Uttar Pradesh and to identify the factors significantly associated with KAP. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 260 health care providers across eastern Uttar Pradesh including Basti city during December 2020. Data was collected using a self-primed pretested questionnaire from the FHCWs working at a tertiary care hospital of eastern Uttar Pradesh. In this survey, a convenience sampling method was adopted. 12 items on knowledge, 10 items on attitude, and 5 items on practices related to COVID-19. The other variables consisted of 4 items on socio-demographic attributes, p-value and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were performed to assess the attitude and practices in relation to knowledge. RESULTS: Of the total 260 study population, 228 were interviewed online, 32 were self-administered. Knowledge and attitude of the nursing staff were highest but practice score was best for residents. Among different age groups knowledge, attitude and practices scores were highest for 35-45, 45-60 and 25-35 age groups respectively. Respondents having 5-10 years of experience had the best knowledge and the attitude score was highest for HCWs having 10-20 years' experience but the practice score was higher for HCWs having more than 20 years' work experience. Overall knowledge score of respondents having strong correlation with attitude (p<0.05) and to the practice (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In this survey many F-HCWs reported adequate overall knowledge with a positive attitude and adopted appropriate practices. The F-HCWs with a higher level of education and more years of experience in health care facilities had better KAP towards COVID-19.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Pandemics , Cross-Sectional Studies , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Health Personnel , Humans , Pandemics/prevention & control , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Healthcare workers are vulnerable to adverse mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We assessed prevalence of mental disorders and associated factors during the first wave of the pandemic among healthcare professionals in Spain. METHODS: All workers in 18 healthcare institutions (6 AACC) in Spain were invited to web-based surveys assessing individual characteristics, COVID-19 infection status and exposure, and mental health status (May 5 - September 7, 2020). We report: probable current mental disorders (Major Depressive Disorder-MDD- [PHQ-8≥10], Generalized Anxiety Disorder-GAD- [GAD-7≥10], Panic attacks, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder -PTSD- [PCL-5≥7]; and Substance Use Disorder -SUD-[CAGE-AID≥2]. Severe disability assessed by the Sheehan Disability Scale was used to identify probable "disabling" current mental disorders. RESULTS: 9,138 healthcare workers participated. Prevalence of screen-positive disorder: 28.1% MDD; 22.5% GAD, 24.0% Panic; 22.2% PTSD; and 6.2% SUD. Overall 45.7% presented any current and 14.5% any disabling current mental disorder. Workers with pre-pandemic lifetime mental disorders had almost twice the prevalence than those without. Adjusting for all other variables, odds of any disabling mental disorder were: prior lifetime disorders (TUS: OR=5.74; 95%CI 2.53-13.03; Mood: OR=3.23; 95%CI:2.27-4.60; Anxiety: OR=3.03; 95%CI:2.53-3.62); age category 18-29 years (OR=1.36; 95%CI:1.02-1.82), caring "all of the time" for COVID-19 patients (OR=5.19; 95%CI: 3.61-7.46), female gender (OR=1.58; 95%CI: 1.27-1.96) and having being in quarantine or isolated (OR= 1.60; 95CI:1.31-1.95). CONCLUSIONS: One in seven Spanish healthcare workers screened positive for a disabling mental disorder during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers reporting pre-pandemic lifetime mental disorders, those frequently exposed to COVID-19 patients, infected or quarantined/isolated, female workers, and auxiliary nurses should be considered groups in need of mental health monitoring and support.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Health Personnel , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Mental Health , Occupational Diseases/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , COVID-19/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Health Personnel/psychology , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/etiology , Middle Aged , Occupational Diseases/etiology , Prevalence , Spain/epidemiology , Young AdultABSTRACT
Background: Acute stress disorder (ASD) is one of the most frequent mental illnesses occurring during sanitary emergencies. This study aimed to estimate the frequency of ASD in health care workers of a tertiary level pediatric hospital during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in which health care workers completed a virtual questionnaire, including sociodemographic information and the ASD scale. Results: We analyzed 206 questionnaires. The population was divided into three groups: attending physicians, medical residents, and nursing personnel. The frequency of health care workers who showed at least nine symptoms of ASD was 88.8%. No significant differences were found between the studied groups. Conclusions: ASD is a frequent condition in health care workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to investigate further and assess risk and protective factors for developing this and other psychopathologies in this population.
Introducción: El trastorno por estrés agudo es una de las enfermedades mentales más frecuentemente manifestadas en emergencias sanitarias. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer la frecuencia con la que se presentó el trastorno por estrés agudo en el personal de salud de un hospital pediátrico de tercer nivel durante la epidemia de COVID-19. Método: Se realizó un estudio transversal en el que trabajadores de la salud contestaron un cuestionario virtual que incluyó datos sociodemográficos y la Escala de Trastorno por Estrés Agudo. Resultados: Se analizaron 206 encuestas. La población se dividió en tres grupos: médicos adscritos, residentes y personal de enfermería. El 88.8% de los trabajadores de la salud reportaron más de nueve síntomas de trastorno por estrés agudo. No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los grupos de estudio. Conclusiones: Los síntomas del trastorno por estrés agudo son frecuentes en los trabajadores de la salud en el contexto de la COVID-19. Es necesario investigar acerca de los factores de riesgo y protectores asociados al desarrollo de esta y otras psicopatologías en dicha población.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/prevention & control , Health Personnel/psychology , Occupational Stress/epidemiology , Personnel, Hospital/psychology , Acute Disease , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Hospitals, Pediatric , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires , Tertiary Care CentersABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: As of 30 April 2020, 203.715 SARS-CoV-2 infections had been reported in Spain, 54.486 in Madrid, 21.4% were health care workers. Our objective is to determine seroprevalence of COVID-19 among workers in a monographic pediatric hospital. METHODS: Between April13th and 30th, 1.523 health workers were recruited to be tested for SARS-CoV-2 serology screening (All Test®) and they answered a questionnaire with demographic, epidemiological and clinical information and previous exposure to COVID-19. FINDINGS: One thousand two hundred ninety two (84.8%) were tested. Positive serology (IgM and/or IgG) to SARS-CoV-2 was found in 17.2% (222/1.292), in 15.5% (201/1.292) if only IgG was considered. Median age was 44±13 years, 73% were female. The 33.8% (75/222) were asymptomatic. Eighty one had a previous positive rRT-PCR. The 14% (32/222) referred a family contact. CONCLUSION: Serology prevalence for SARS-CoV-2 in workers of a pediatric hospital was higher than in general population. Many of them had an unnoticed infection.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Healthcare workers are vulnerable to adverse mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We assessed prevalence of mental disorders and associated factors during the first wave of the pandemic among healthcare professionals in Spain. METHODS: All workers in 18 healthcare institutions (6 AACC) in Spain were invited to web-based surveys assessing individual characteristics, COVID-19 infection status and exposure, and mental health status (May 5 - September 7, 2020). We report: probable current mental disorders (Major Depressive Disorder-MDD- [PHQ-8≥10], Generalized Anxiety Disorder-GAD- [GAD-7≥10], Panic attacks, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder -PTSD- [PCL-5≥7]; and Substance Use Disorder -SUD-[CAGE-AID≥2]. Severe disability assessed by the Sheehan Disability Scale was used to identify probable "disabling" current mental disorders. RESULTS: 9,138 healthcare workers participated. Prevalence of screen-positive disorder: 28.1% MDD; 22.5% GAD, 24.0% Panic; 22.2% PTSD; and 6.2% SUD. Overall 45.7% presented any current and 14.5% any disabling current mental disorder. Workers with pre-pandemic lifetime mental disorders had almost twice the prevalence than those without. Adjusting for all other variables, odds of any disabling mental disorder were: prior lifetime disorders (TUS: OR=5.74; 95%CI 2.53-13.03; Mood: OR=3.23; 95%CI:2.27-4.60; Anxiety: OR=3.03; 95%CI:2.53-3.62); age category 18-29 years (OR=1.36; 95%CI:1.02-1.82), caring "all of the time" for COVID-19 patients (OR=5.19; 95%CI: 3.61-7.46), female gender (OR=1.58; 95%CI: 1.27-1.96) and having being in quarantine or isolated (OR= 1.60; 95CI:1.31-1.95). CONCLUSIONS: One in seven Spanish healthcare workers screened positive for a disabling mental disorder during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers reporting pre-pandemic lifetime mental disorders, those frequently exposed to COVID-19 patients, infected or quarantined/isolated, female workers, and auxiliary nurses should be considered groups in need of mental health monitoring and support.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Health Personnel/psychology , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Occupational Diseases/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Prevalence , Spain/epidemiology , Young AdultABSTRACT
Apresentamos, no presente artigo, o percurso teórico e prático que envolveu a criação do projeto Pausas e Pousos - Vivências do Trabalhador de Saúde em Tempos de Pandemia. A inciativa tem por objetivo conhecer as vivências dos trabalhadores de saúde na pandemia de COVID-19, no cenário nacional. Apresentamos o modo de conhecimento narrativo e o testemunho como uma modalidade particular de produção narrativa, examinando modalidades morais da recepção de testemunhos de profissionais de saúde. Discutimos ainda como o uso de plataformas digitais pode servir como recurso para a produção de memória. Por último, descrevemos a construção de um espaço de escrita, memória, cuidado e diálogo através de intervenções artísticas em ferramentas digitais, afirmando a aposta no poder que o compartilhamento de histórias pode exercer sobre as angústias e sofrimentos emocionais dos trabalhadores de saúde.
This article presents the theoretical and practical path involving the creation of the Pausas e Pousos (Pauses and Landings) Project - Health Worker Experiences in Times of the Pandemic. The initiative aims to take a closer look at the experiences of health workers in the Brazilian scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic. Narrative knowledge and testimony are presented as special modalities of narrative production, analyzing the moral modalities of receiving the health professionals' testimonies. The use of digital platforms as a resource for the production of memories was also discussed. Last, we describe the creation of a space for writing, memories, care and dialogue through artistic interventions using digital tools and highlight the power that sharing stories may have on coping with fear and emotional distress of health workers.
Cet article décrit le cheminement théorique et pratique qui a impliqué la création du projet Pauses et Poses - Expériences de travailleurs de la santé en temps de pandémie. L'initiative vise à connaître les expériences des travailleurs de la santé pendant la pandémie de COVID-19 au Brésil. Nous présentons le mode de connaissance narrative et de témoignage comme un mode particulier de production narrative en examinant les modalités morales de réception des témoignages de professionnels de santé. Ensuite, nous décrivons comment l'utilisation des plateformes digitales peut servir de ressource pour la production de mémoire. Pour finir, nous présentons la construction d'un espace d'écriture, de mémoire, de soins et de dialogue à partir d'interventions artistiques sur les outils numériques, affirmant le pari sur le pouvoir que le partage d'histoires peut exercer sur l'angoisse et la souffrance émotionnelle des travailleurs de la santé.
En este artículo presentamos el camino teórico y práctico de la creación del Proyecto Pausas y Aterrizajes - Experiencias del Trabajador de la Salud en Tiempos de Pandemia. La iniciativa tiene como objetivo conocer las experiencias de los trabajadores de la salud durante la pandemia de COVID-19, en el escenario brasileño. Presentamos el modo de conocimiento narrativo y el testimonio como modalidad particular de producción narrativa, examinando modalidades morales de la recepción de testimonios de los profesionales de la salud. También discutimos cómo el uso de plataformas digitales puede servir como recurso para la producción de memoria. Finalmente, describimos la construcción de un espacio de escritura, memoria, cuidado y diálogo mediante intervenciones artísticas en herramientas digitales, reafirmando el poder que el intercambio de historias puede ejercer sobre la angustia y el sufrimiento emocional de los trabajadores de la salud.