Evaluation of the Level of Psychological Distress in Construction Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Southern Spain.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed a major challenge for construction companies, which were confronted with the need to prevent the enormous negative socio-psychological impact of the pandemic on their employees. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of psychological distress among construction workers in an advanced phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Andalusia, southern Spain. For this, a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using online questionnaires with data on sociodemographic variables and employment situation, COVID-19 pandemic-related data, and Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). A total of 860 questionnaires from all provinces of Andalusia, Spain, were collected between March and May 2022. Descriptive statistical analyses and non-parametric Mann-Whitney U and Chi-squared tests were performed, followed by logistic regression analysis. The incidence of psychological distress was higher among women, individuals under 43 years of age, those with a family income below EUR 1200, participants whose working conditions had been affected by the pandemic, those who had not received adequate means or specific training to protect themselves from infection, those who had experienced symptoms, those who had suffered side effects after vaccination, and those who had been hospitalised. The logistic regression analysis predicted the occurrence of psychological distress in this study by the effect of the pandemic on mental/emotional well-being, the working conditions affected during the pandemic, health-related variables, and the age of the worker. The correctly classified percentage was 75.1%. Assessing psychological distress in construction sectors may allow for the identification of vulnerable groups or even help to reduce the number of errors in daily practice and potential risks of occupational injury or illness.

Psychological distress among Brazilian workers during the initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic: a descriptive study.

Background: COVID-19 pandemic imposed drastic and abrupt changes to working environment and organization and that might have caused additional negative effects on mental health. Thus, this study aimed to quantify and assess the severity of psychological distress experienced by Brazilian essential and nonessential workers during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This descriptive study included 2,903 participants who answered an online questionnaire between April and May 2020. The research questionnaire was translated and culturally adapted to the Brazilian population from a questionnaire developed and validated for the Spanish population. Variables were analyzed using simple and cumulative percentage distributions and measures of central tendency and dispersion. The Wilson score interval was used to calculate confidence interval (CI) for the main outcome, psychological distress. Results: It was observed a high prevalence (72.6%) of psychological distress among the study's participants. They also presented a median risk perception score of 60 (out of a maximum of 90), and their greatest concern was transmitting the virus to family members, close contacts or patients. Furthermore, it was found a lower sense of coherence and work engagement among the participants than those observed in previous studies conducted in other countries. Conclusion: Almost three quarters of the study's participants were classified as presenting psychological distress. Thus, it is imperative to provide mental health remotely delivered interventions to workers during public health events that require prolonged social distancing measures.

Risk perception of healthcare workers in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.

Objectives: To validate the items of the Emotional Impact Questionnaire coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) related to risk perception, estimating its degree, among healthcare workers in the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic, identifying possible associated factors.Methods: cross-sectional study in 1872 healthcare workers of Brazil. The population was characterized by sociodemographic and occupational information, knowledge about COVID-19, quality of information received, risk perception and preventive measures about the disease, and sense of coherence. Results: Being divorced, having a chronic disease, spending more than 1 h per day getting informed about COVID-19, and always or almost always wearing a mask regardless of symptoms, as well as self-perception of health were associated with high-risk perception. An inverse association was found between risk perception, sense of coherence and not knowing if one has had occasional contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases. Conclusion: Risk perception is influenced by emotions, experiences, and knowledge. Sense of coherence and resilience have a role in reducing risk perception. Understanding risk perception is crucial for developing effective strategies to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other similar scenarios.

Risk Factors and Environmental Preventive Actions for Aspergillosis in Patients with Hematological Malignancies.

(1) Background: Aspergillus spp. is a widely distributed filamentous fungus in the environment due to its high sporulation capacity. Currently, invasive aspergillosis (IA) is the most common invasive fungal infection in patients with hematologic malignancies, with high rates of mortality and morbidity. The multifactorial nature of the disease requires appropriate risk stratification to enable the most appropriate preventive measures to be adapted and implemented according to the characteristics of the patient. In this sense, the present research aims to identify recent risk factors and environmental control measures against invasive aspergillosis to establish preventive actions to reduce the incidence of invasive aspergillosis in hospitals. (2) Methods: We conducted a qualitative systematic review of the scientific literature on environmental risk factors and preventive measures for invasive aspergillosis in patients with hematologic malignancies. The Medline, Cochrane, and Scopus databases were consulted, following the PRISMA and STROBE guidelines. (3) Results: Adequate implementation of environmental control measures is presented as the most efficient intervention in terms of prevention to decrease the incidence of invasive aspergillosis in hospitals. Neutropenia, fungal contamination, insufficient environmental control measures in hospital and home settings, length of hospital stay, and anemia, are identified as independent risk factors. We show that HEPA, LAF, and Plasmair® systems are suitable methods to reduce the concentration of airborne fungal spores. Antifungal prophylaxis did not significantly influence IA reduction in our study. (4) Conclusions: Proper professional training and environmental control measures in hospitals are essential for the prevention of invasive aspergillosis. We should optimize risk stratification for patients with hematologic malignancies. Antifungal prophylaxis should be complementary to environmental control measures and should never be substituted for the latter. Studies should also be undertaken to evaluate the efficiency of environmental control measures against IA at patients' homes.

Stress, fear, and anxiety among construction workers: a systematic review.

Objectives: The aim of this review was to assess the possible risk factors arising from working conditions, that could have an impact on the stress, fear, and anxiety of construction workers. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA format in the Pubmed, Cochrane, Web of Science, Scopus, and PsycInfo electronic databases on February 3, 2023, using the following key words: anxiety, stress, fear, and construction workers. Methodological quality was assessed using the critical appraisal tools of the Joanna Briggs Institute. Results: A total of 35 studies were included. The results showed a number of conditioning factors for stress, anxiety, and fear among construction workers such as age, inappropriate safety equipment, safety culture, high workload and long working hours, physical pain, low social support from direct supervisor or co-workers, lack of organizational justice and lack of reward, financial situation, maladaptive coping strategies, and characteristics of the pandemic. Conclusions: There are a number of risk factors related to working conditions, organizations, and individuals that can affect the levels of stress, anxiety, and fear among construction workers, such as age, work hardship, safety culture and, especially, the long hours that construction professionals work. This may lead to an increase in the number of occupational accidents and higher associated fatality rates. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022367724, identifier: CRD42022367724.

[Sources used to obtain information on COVID-19 and its impact on mental health.] / Fuentes utilizadas para obtener información sobre la COVID-19 y su impacto en la salud mental.

With the rise of COVID-19, the society has had the need to search for information about the pandemic and the sources used to obtain information have been very diverse, with a greater predominance of social media, traditional media and consultation with loved ones. In addition, an excess of information has been observed in the media that made access and understanding difficult, as well as a constant concern and anxiety about health that caused a need to search excessively or repeatedly for information on health and disease. This information was not always endorsed by the scientific community and during the pandemic there has been the spread of misinformation, fake news and conspiracy theories about COVID-19 disseminated, mainly through social media. In this sense, both the knowledge and the beliefs apprehended have been able to impact the mental health of the population.

Con la aparición de la COVID-19, la sociedad ha tenido la necesidad de buscar información sobre la pandemia y las fuentes de información usadas para ello han sido muy diversas, con un mayor predominio de las redes sociales, los medios tradicionales y la consulta a las personas allegadas. Además, se ha observado un exceso de información en los medios de comunicación que dificultaba el acceso y el entendimiento, así como una constante preocupación y ansiedad por la salud, lo cual provocaba una necesidad de búsqueda de información excesiva o repetida sobre la salud y la enfermedad. Esta información no siempre estaba avalada por la comunidad científica y durante la pandemia se han sucedido la difusión de información errónea, de las llamadas fake news y de las teorías de conspiración sobre la COVID-19 difundidas, principalmente, a través de las redes sociales. En este sentido, tanto los conocimientos como las creencias aprehendidas han podido impactar en la salud mental de la población.

Fuentes utilizadas para obtener información sobre la COVID-19 y su impacto en la salud mental / ources used to obtain information on COVID-19 and its impact on mental health

Con la aparición de la COVID-19, la sociedad ha tenido la necesidad de buscar información sobre la pandemia y las fuentes de informa-ción usadas para ello han sido muy diversas, con un mayor predominio de las redes sociales, los medios tradicionales y la consulta alas personas allegadas. Además, se ha observado un exceso de información en los medios de comunicación que dificultaba el accesoy el entendimiento, así como una constante preocupación y ansiedad por la salud, lo cual provocaba una necesidad de búsquedade información excesiva o repetida sobre la salud y la enfermedad. Esta información no siempre estaba avalada por la comunidadcientífica y durante la pandemia se han sucedido la difusión de información errónea, de las llamadasfake news y de las teorías deconspiración sobre la COVID-19 difundidas, principalmente, a través de las redes sociales. En este sentido, tanto los conocimientoscomo las creencias aprehendidas han podido impactar en la salud mental de la población.(AU)

With the rise of COVID-19, the society has had the need to search for information about the pandemic and the sources used to obtaininformation have been very diverse, with a greater predominance of social media, traditional media and consultation with lovedones. In addition, an excess of information has been observed in the media that made access and understanding difficult, as well asa constant concern and anxiety about health that caused a need to search excessively or repeatedly for information on health anddisease. This information was not always endorsed by the scientific community and during the pandemic there has been the spreadof misinformation, fake news and conspiracy theories about COVID-19 disseminated, mainly through social media. In this sense, boththe knowledge and the beliefs apprehended have been able to impact the mental health of the population.(AU)

Risk Factors for Working Pregnant Women and Potential Adverse Consequences of Exposure: A Systematic Review.

Objective: To assess the risk factors perceived as stressors by pregnant women in the work environment and the possible adverse consequences of such exposure for the normal development of pregnancy. Methods: Systematic review, guided by the PRISMA guidelines, and using Pubmed, Web of Science, Dialnet, SciELO, and REDIB databases. Methodological quality was assessed using the critical appraisal tools for non-randomised studies of the Joanna Briggs Institute. Results: A total of 38 studies were included. The main risk factors found in the work environment of pregnant women were chemical, psychosocial, physical-ergonomic-mechanical factors, and other work-related factors. The main adverse consequences of exposure to these factors include low birth weight, preterm birth, miscarriage, hypertension and pre-eclampsia, as well as various obstetric complications. Conclusion: During pregnancy, working conditions that are considered acceptable in normal situations may not be so during this stage due to the major changes that occur during pregnancy. Many obstetric effects may have an important impact in the mother's psychological status; therefore, it is important to optimise working conditions during this stage and to reduce or eliminate possible risks.