ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects almost all countries in the world and it impacts every aspect of people's life-physically, mentally, and socio-economically. There are several research studies examining the impact of this pandemic on health, however, very few studies examining the impact of this pandemic on quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the association between proximity to the COVID-19 and quality of life of healthcare workers and identify factors influencing quality of life. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among hospital staff in a tertiary hospital in Singapore. Data on demographic, medical history, lifestyle factors, psychosocial factors, and quality of life were collected using online self-administered questionnaire. Quality of life (QoL) was measured by the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Robust linear regression was used to determine factors associated with quality of life. RESULTS: A total of 1911 participants were included in the analysis. The average age of participants was 38.25 (SD = 11.28) years old. 26.90% of participants had been quarantined, hospitalised, being suspected or diagnosed of having COVID-19 infection and they were found to have the lowest levels of QoL across all four domains (physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains). Participants who were singles or nurses, worked in shifts or worked longer hours, had chronic diseases were likely to have lower QoL scores compared to participants in other categories. Healthy lifestyle, social connectivity, resilience, social and workplace support were associated with higher QoL scores. CONCLUSIONS: In planning of measures which aim to improve QoL of healthcare workers, priority should be given to individuals who have been quarantined, hospitalised, being suspected, or diagnosed of having COVID-19 infection. In addition to the proximity of the COVID, lifestyle and psychosocial factors contribute to QoL of healthcare workers. Hence, multifaceted interventions are needed to improve QoL of healthcare workers.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Quality of Life , Humans , Adult , Quality of Life/psychology , COVID-19/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Health Personnel/psychology , Linear Models , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Occupational driving may increase cardiovascular events. We studied the risk of overall cardiovascular events in occupational professional drivers against matched controls in a cohort of people with diabetes (N=6563). There was an increase in overall cardiovascular events in occupational drivers despite similar risk factors. This particular occupational risk factor may need to be addressed.
Subject(s)
Automobile Driving , Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology , Diabetes Complications/epidemiology , Occupations , Sedentary Behavior , Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology , Case-Control Studies , Cohort Studies , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diabetes Complications/etiology , Female , Hospitals, General , Humans , Male , Medical Records , Middle Aged , Myocardial Ischemia/epidemiology , Myocardial Ischemia/etiology , Outpatient Clinics, Hospital , Registries , Risk Factors , Singapore/epidemiology , Transportation , WorkforceABSTRACT
Hand dermatitis is commonly seen in primary care, although it is often underdiagnosed. Exogenous causes should always be considered and a detailed environmental and occupational history taken, especially in patients presenting in adulthood. Although not life-threatening, the condition may have significant impact on the patient's quality of life and employment. Refractory cases or those suspected to be due to exogenous workplace agents may need to be referred for further investigation. Hand dermatitis can be treated effectively using pharmacotherapy and prevented by minimising subsequent exposure to irritants and allergens. Occupational skin disorders, once diagnosed, should be notified to the relevant authorities, i.e. the Ministry of Manpower in Singapore.
