The burden of high workload on the health-related quality of life among home care workers in Northern Sweden

Secondary School Athletic Trainers' Perceptions of How Youth Sport Specialization Impacts Workload

BACKGROUND

Youth sport specialization is a growing trend in youth sports and is associated with an increased risk of injuries and burnout. However, it is unknown how sport specialization is perceived to be affecting the working environment of secondary school athletic trainers (ATs). The purpose of this paper is to describe how ATs perceive youth sport specialization impacting their workload and whether they perceive it to impact patient safety.

HYPOTHESIS

ATs will perceive that youth sport specialization impacts their workload and could impact patient safety.

STUDY DESIGN

A sequential, explanatory mixed methods design with 2 phases: (1) cross-sectional surveys and (2) individual interviews.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 3.

METHODS

A total of 487 secondary school ATs completed the online survey (access rate, 8.4%; completion rate, 85.4%). The survey consisted of Likert questions and included sections about aspects of workload impacted by specialization, impacts on patient safety, demographics. Ten participants were selected to complete a semi-structured interview via video conference.

RESULTS

Approximately two-thirds of ATs perceive that sport specialization impacts their workload. (Somewhat, 38.6%; Quite a bit, 25.5%; A great deal, 5.5%) Attempts to reduce or modify patient activity and a patient's time for rehabilitation were the highest rated aspects of workload impacted by sport specialization. Approximately 30% ATs (29.9%) perceive that sport specialization impacts their workload to where it may influence patient safety (Somewhat, 21.6%; Quite a bit, 6.4%; A great deal, 1.9%). Three themes and subsequent subthemes were identified from the qualitative interviews: (1) current youth sport expectations, (2) conflict between school and club sports, and (3) AT job impacts.

CONCLUSION

Secondary school ATs perceive their workload to be negatively impacted by youth sport specialization and some believe it may impact patient safety.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Youth sport specialization is impacting youth sport stakeholders, including ATs, in a variety of ways.

High workload is related to lower quality of life in public school teachers: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

People with long work hours, as evidenced by teachers, were more likely to present health problems that impact their quality of life (QoL). The reduced physical activity (PA) level or higher sedentary behavior in public school teachers was related to obesity. Although PA seems to improve the QoL in other professions, assessing whether the PA level could influence the relationship between workload and QoL in public school teachers is necessary.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze whether the high workload was related to worse QoL in teachers considered less active and more active.

METHODS

Two hundred forty-three teachers from public schools participated in this study. The domains of QoL and PA levels were assessed by SF-36 and Baecke questionnaires, respectively. Workload perception was assessed by a Likert scale. Binary logistic regression analyzed the association between high workload and QoL domains in teachers considering the PA level in a model adjusted by confounding factors (i.e., sex, age, and socioeconomic condition).

RESULTS

Heavy workload was associated with less chances of having better physical limitation domain of both less and more physically active teachers. Less active teachers with heavy workloads were 53%, 61%, and 56% less likely to have better vitality, social functioning, and mental health, respectively. No such associations were observed in the more physically active teachers.

CONCLUSION

Less active teachers with a heavy workload demonstrate lower QoL. Although the PA practice eliminated this relationship, both active and less active teachers with a heavy workload demonstrated lower QoL in physical limitation domain.

Age affects the association between socioeconomic status and infertility: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown the interaction between age and socioeconomic status (SES) on the risk of infertility in the UK, but the association is still unclear in the United States. Therefore, the present study investigated the effect of age on the relationship between SES and the risk of infertility in American women.

METHODS

The study included adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2013 to 2018. The poverty income ratio (PIR) was used to represent the SES of the population. With participants stratified according to age category (< 35 years; ≥ 35 years), we further assessed differences in the relationship between PIR and infertility risk among participants of different age groups using multivariate logistic regression and interaction tests.

RESULTS

Approximately 3,273 participants were enrolled in the study. There were 399 cases of infertility and 2,874 cases without infertility. In women ≥ 35 years of age, PIR levels were significantly higher in infertile participants than in non-infertile participants, but no such difference was found in those < 35 years of age. The association of PIR with the risk of infertility appeared to differ between age < 35 years and age ≥ 35 years (OR: 0.99, 95%Cl: 0.86-1.13 vs. OR: 1.24, 95%Cl: 1.12-1.39) in a fully adjusted model. Furthermore, an interaction between age and PIR increased the risk of infertility (p-value for interaction < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our study found that age may influence the association between PIR and infertility. It is imperative to perform further studies to provide more evidence.

Analysis of home care nurses' workload: A time-motion study

This observational-descriptive time and motion study was conducted to determine how heavy home care nurses' workload is and how they allocate their work time to home healthcare. It was carried out in the home health services of the district municipality.The Information form, Nursing Activities Report Form, Cheltenham Patient Classification Scale were used. The time-motion study method was implemented to perform the workload analysis. The nurses allocated 68.02 minutes to direct care, 61.02 minutes to indirect care, 53.26 minutes to their work unit-related activities, and 119.42 minutes to their personal activities.Among all the activities performed during the day, the longest time was allocated to educational activities. Another area that took a long time was the registration procedures. Performing workload analysis with different methods that will measure many concrete and intangible attempts of home care nurses will contribute to workforce planning in home care services, resolving of the unmet home care needs of patients and continuous quality improvement.

How does the distribution of work tasks among home care personnel relate to workload and health-related quality of life?

BACKGROUND

The work for Swedish home care workers is challenging with a variety of support and healthcare tasks for home care recipients. The aim of our study is to investigate how these tasks relate to workload and health-related quality of life among home care workers in Sweden. We also explore staff preferences concerning work distribution.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 16 municipalities in Northern Sweden. Questionnaires with validated instruments to measure workload (QPSNordic) and health-related quality of life (EQ-5D), were responded by 1154 (~ 58%) of approximately 2000 invited home care workers. EQ-5D responses were translated to a Quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) score. For 15 different work task areas, personnel provided their present and preferred allocation. Absolute risk differences were calculated with propensity score weighting.

RESULTS

Statistically significantly more or fewer problems differences were observed for: higher workloads were higher among those whose daily work included responding to personal alarms (8.4%), running errands outside the home (14%), rehabilitation (13%) and help with bathing (11%). Apart from rehabilitation, there were statistically significantly more (8-10%) problems with anxiety/depression for these tasks. QALY scores were lower among those whose daily work included food distribution (0.034) and higher for daily meal preparation (0.031), both explained by pain/discomfort dimension. Personnel preferred to, amongst other, spend less time responding to personal alarms, and more time providing social support.

CONCLUSION

The redistribution of work tasks is likely to reduce workload and improve the health of personnel. Our study provides an understanding of how such redistribution could be undertaken.

Prevalence, correlates, and network analysis of depression and its associated quality of life among ophthalmology nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background

Nurses in Ophthalmology Department (OD) had a high risk of infection during the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study examined the prevalence, correlates, and network structure of depression, and explored its association with quality of life (QOL) in Chinese OD nurses.

Methods

Based on a cross-sectional survey, demographic and clinical data were collected. Depression was measured with the 9-item Self-reported Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and QOL was measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-brief version (WHOQOL-BREF). Univariate analyses, multivariate logistic regression analyses, and network analyses were performed.

Results

Altogether, 2,155 OD nurses were included. The overall prevalence of depression among OD nurses was 32.71% (95%CI: 30.73-34.70%). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that having family or friends or colleagues who were infected (OR = 1.760, p = 0.003) was significantly associated with higher risk of depression. After controlling for covariates, nurses with depression reported lower QOL (F(1, 2,155) = 596.784, p < 0.001) than those without depression. Network analyses revealed that 'Sad Mood', 'Energy Loss' and 'Worthlessness' were the key central symptoms.

Conclusion

Depression was common among OD nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering the negative impact of depression on QOL and daily life, regular screening for depression, timely counselling service, and psychiatric treatment should be provided for OD nurses, especially those who had infected family/friends or colleagues. Central symptoms identified in network analysis should be targeted in the treatment of depression.

The Impact of Work-Related Problems on Burnout Syndrome and Job Satisfaction Levels among Emergency Department Staff

Burnout syndrome is caused by a number of factors, including personal, organizational, and professional problems. The purpose of this study was to investigate burnout and satisfaction levels among emergency department staff in the context of professional activity issues. We studied a sample of 184 participants working in the emergency department. Participants signed an informed consent form, completed a socio-demographic questionnaire and the MBI-HSS (MP) questionnaire to assess burnout, a JSS (Job Satisfaction Survey) to assess their professional satisfaction, and the AWS (AWS of work survey) questionnaire on work aspects. The questionnaires were completed between November 2022 and March 2023. The study group was aged between 24-64 years old, most of the subjects being female. The study found that 30.2% of emergency medical staff are at high risk of burnout. Emotional exhaustion is indirectly proportional to workload, interpersonal relationships, and rewards. Emotional exhaustion is a direct result of work experience. While participants expressed ambivalence and dissatisfaction with the work environment, they were satisfied with the nature of their work. This study found that job-related factors such as social support and feedback are significant predictors of employee well-being and reducing the risk of burnout. Emotional exhaustion was negatively correlated with job satisfaction, while personal accomplishment was positively correlated with job satisfaction. Depersonalization was associated with job dissatisfaction with operating conditions and coworkers. The study also identified differences in burnout and related constructs among healthcare professionals, with resident physicians reporting higher levels of personal accomplishments and paramedics reporting relatively low levels of emotional exhaustion. The findings suggest that tailored interventions addressing job demands and resources are critical in improving employee well-being and reducing burnout.

Investigating the Connections Between Delivery of Care, Reablement, Workload, and Organizational Factors in Home Care Services: Mixed Methods Study

BACKGROUND

Home care is facing increasing demand due to an aging population. Several challenges have been identified in the provision of home care, such as the need for support and tailoring support to individual needs. Goal-oriented interventions, such as reablement, may provide a solution to some of these challenges. The reablement approach targets adaptation to disease and relearning of everyday life skills and has been found to improve health-related quality of life while reducing service use.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to characterize home care system variables (elements) and their relationships (connections) relevant to home care staff workload, home care user needs and satisfaction, and the reablement approach. This is to examine the effects of improvement and interventions, such as the person-centered reablement approach, on the delivery of home care services, workload, work-related stress, home care user experience, and other organizational factors. The main focus was on Swedish home care and tax-funded universal welfare systems.

METHODS

The study used a mixed methods approach where a causal loop diagram was developed grounded in participatory methods with academic health care science research experts in nursing, occupational therapy, aging, and the reablement approach. The approach was supplemented with theoretical models and the scientific literature. The developed model was verified by the same group of experts and empirical evidence. Finally, the model was analyzed qualitatively and through simulation methods.

RESULTS

The final causal loop diagram included elements and connections across the categories: stress, home care staff, home care user, organization, social support network of the home care user, and societal level. The model was able to qualitatively describe observed intervention outcomes from the literature. The analysis suggested elements to target for improvement and the potential impact of relevant studied interventions. For example, the elements "workload" and "distress" were important determinants of home care staff health, provision, and quality of care.

CONCLUSIONS

The developed model may be of value for informing hypothesis formulation, study design, and discourse within the context of improvement in home care. Further work will include a broader group of stakeholders to reduce the risk of bias. Translation into a quantitative model will be explored.

How to Address the Health of Home Care Workers: A Systematic Review of the Last Two Decades

Making home care a healthy workplace is a societal concern but research on specific interventions is still scarce. The aim of this systematic review was to provide an initial overview of interventions addressing home care workers' health. All (quasi-) experimental studies, presenting any intervention among home care employees, and reporting any outcome related to occupational health, safety, or well-being were included. PsycArticles, Medline, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched from January 2000 to February 2022. From 16,345 publications, 18 studies with 2432 participants were included and assessed with the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools. Organizational and training/educational approaches were found in five studies each, a behavioral approach in one, and seven studies presented a combined approach. Due to methodological limitations and the heterogeneity of interventions, the existing studies are insufficient to inform new programs, but emphasize the need for tailored approaches, integrated concepts, and participatory intervention development.

Motivation and Quality of Work Life of In-Home Paid Caregivers of Older Adults

Hiring in-home paid caregivers (IPCs) to tend to older adults at home has been one of the popular long-term care strategies in several urban aging societies. Relevant studies in the Global South that provide empirical findings have been lacking. This study contributes to the literature on home care by conducting a qualitative analysis of work motivation and the quality of work life of female IPCs in Thailand. We found that work motivation involved the desire for personal economic improvement and the search for an emotional anchor. Analysis of quality of work life pointed to three major themes: great contribution but low recognition and support; interdependence as an ultimate career goal; and effective training as a key to opportunity and success. We proposed a theoretical extension to the existing care theories and suggested necessary policy interventions to sustain the supply of IPCs.

The Hidden Script of Work-Related Burdens in Home Care - A Cross Over Mixed Analysis of Audio Diaries

The lived experiences of work-related burdens in the daily working routines of home care workers are insufficiently investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the types, frequencies, and distributions of work-related burdens and to explore their co-occurrence. Qualitative data was collected via audio diaries and analyzed applying a crossover mixed analysis using content as well as network analysis. In all, 23 home care workers (mean age = 46.70 ± 10.40; 91.30% female) produced 242 diary entries. Participants reported work-related burdens 580 times with 77 different types, predominately in relation to work organization (50.5%). Network analysis reveals a complex picture, which shows the strong relation between time pressure and travel between homes, and identifies additional tasks as the central node in the network of burdens. A holistic understanding of setting-specific burdens provides an important starting point for measures of workplace health promotion.

Implementing A person-centred CommunicaTION (ACTION) educational intervention for in-home nursing assistants - a study protocol

BACKGROUND

In this study, the focus is on how to support the competence development needed for nursing assistants in home care. Home care services for older persons can be challenging concerning the nature of the interpersonal interaction and communication needed to care for and respond to the diverse needs of older people who seek to live well in our communities. This implies a need to offer more person-centred care (PCC) to older persons. However, there is a lack of knowledge on how to develop such competence. We, therefore, developed A Person-centred CommunicaTION (ACTION) programme, which is a web-based educational intervention aimed at supporting competence development for nursing assistants. The research objective is to evaluate the ACTION programme with respect to participants' responses to and the effect of the intervention.

METHODS

A multicentre case-control study with pre- and post-assessments was designed. The ACTION programme will be implemented at home care units, in two different geographic areas in Sweden. A total of 300 nursing assistants will be recruited: 150 for the intervention group and 150 for the control group. We will evaluate the impact measures and the process. Pre- and post-assessments will be performed with data collected via a) audio recordings of communication, b) a questionnaire on self-efficacy communication skills, PCC, empathy and job satisfaction, c) user data, evaluation forms, field notes and observations, and d) interviews. The data will be analysed with descriptive and analytic statistics and/or qualitative methods for meanings.

DISCUSSION

This study has the potential to contribute to the evidence supporting competence development required to offer person-centred and quality home care to older persons and to meet upcoming needs for flexible and easily accessible competence development.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN64890826. Registered 10 January 2022, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN64890826.

Comparison of the Physical Care Burden on Formal Caregivers between Manual Human Care Using a Paper Diaper and Robot-Aided Care in Excretion Care

Although the older population has been rapidly growing, the availability of formal caregivers remains limited. Assistance provided by care robots has helped lower this burden; however, whether using a care robot while providing excretion care (EC) is quantitatively increasing or decreasing caregivers' physical care burden has not been extensively studied. This study aimed to quantitatively compare the physical burden experienced by caregivers while providing manual excretion care (MC) using a paper diaper versus robot-aided care (RC). Ten formal caregivers voluntarily participated in the experiment. MC and RC tasks were structuralized according to phases and classified by characteristics. The experiment was conducted in a smart care space. The physical load of formal caregivers was estimated by muscular activity and subjective rating of perceived physical discomfort. The results demonstrated that although the physical load on the lower back and upper extremities during the preparation and post-care phases were greater in RC than MC, RC markedly alleviated caregivers' physical load when performing front tasks. In the preparation-care phases, the physical loads on the lower back and upper extremities were approximately 40.2 and 39.6% higher in the case of RC than MC, respectively. Similar to the preparation-care phases, the physical loads on the lower back and upper extremities during post-care phases were approximately 39.5 and 61.7% greater in the case of RC than MC, respectively. On the other hand, in the front-care phases, the physical loads on the lower back and upper extremities were approximately 25.6 and 34.9% lower in the case of RC than MC, respectively. These findings can quantitatively explain the effectiveness and features of a care robot to stakeholders and provide foundational research data for the development of EC robots. This study emphasizes the implementation and promotion of the dissemination, popularization, and development of care robots to fulfill formal caregiving needs.

Organizational and psychosocial environmental work factors associated with self-rated exhaustion disorder among municipal employees in rural northern Sweden

BACKGROUND

Research indicates that good organizational and psychosocial environments are vital to well-functioning workplaces and employee health. Working in the municipal sector and in the rural context may contribute to more health problems, poorer organizational and psychosocial work environments, and higher sick-leave rates.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore organizational and psychosocial environmental work factors among municipal employees with or without self-rated exhaustion disorder (s-ED) in rural northern Sweden.

METHODS

The Modern Work Life Questionnaire and the Self-Rated Exhaustion Disorder Scale were used among 1093 municipal employees.

RESULTS

The results showed that there were significant differences between the s-ED and the non-s-ED group in all but one of the organizational and psychosocial environmental work factors. Various demands, i.e. quantitative, emotional, intellectual, and IT demands were some factors associated with the s-ED group. Social support, resources, and time for work and reflection were some factors associated with the non-s-ED group. Both the s-ED and the non-s-ED groups assessed significantly higher emotional demands and less resources compared to national reference values.

CONCLUSION

Findings from this study are relevant to a better understanding what organizational and psychosocial work environmental work factor the employer need to pay extra attention to. Addressing risk and protective factors in the work environment could tribute to promote occupational well-being, preventing exhaustion disorder and long-term sick leave among municipal employees in rural northern Sweden.

Co-Design in Electrical Medical Beds with Caregivers

Among the plethora of instruments present in healthcare environments, the hospital bed is undoubtedly one of the most important for patients and caregivers. However, their design usually follows a top-down approach without considering end-users opinions and desires. Exploiting Human-centered design (HCD) permits these users to have a substantial role in the final product outcome. This study aims to empower caregivers to express their opinion about the hospital bed using a qualitative approach. For a holistic vision, we conducted six focus groups and six semi-structured interviews with nurses, nursing students, social-health operators and physiotherapists belonging to many healthcare situations. We then used thematic analysis to extract the themes that participants faced during the procedures, providing a comprehensive guide to designing the future electrical medical bed. These work results could also help overcome many issues that caregivers face during their everyday working life. Moreover, we identified the User Experience features that could represent the essential elements to consider.

Factors Affecting Perceived Work Environment, Wellbeing, and Coping Styles: A Comparison between Physicians and Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic is a current emergency worldwide. All the consequent changes in sanitary systems have negatively affected the work-life balance. In particular, healthcare workers suffered from anxiety, stress, and depression, mostly nurses compared to physicians. To handle this situation, the adoption of different coping strategies has played a strategic role in psychophysical wellbeing. Our main goal is to the assess the perception of work environment and wellbeing (EQ-5D questionnaire), as well as to analyze possible differences in coping styles between physicians and nurses (brief COPE questionnaire). The arising differences were compared between the two groups, and associations with variables were assessed through a bivariate correlation analysis. This cross-sectional study was conducted from November to December 2020 through an online survey. A total of 172 respondents (117 physicians and 55 nurses), of which 102 were women and 70 were men, accepted to join the study. Our results showed that physicians referred a higher perception of wellbeing, and nurses reported an increased perception of work activity and efficiency, along with an unchanged economic status. The most frequently adopted coping strategies were Active and Planning (self-sufficient coping). Physicians showed a greater tendency to use avoidant coping strategies. More-experienced nurses and physicians were less prone to adopt socially supported coping strategies, emphasizing the need for novel organizational measures at the social dimension that favored sharing and interaction between peers. Future research should aim to further investigate the relationship between the perception of work environment and coping strategies in order to identify risk factors to be prevented by promoting adequate measures at an organizational level.

The moderating effect of care‐burden on formal caregiver's mental health during COVID ‐19

Background

Homecare organisations employ professionals (i.e. gerontologists, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and social workers) to help their clients gain rights and supervise non‐professional formal caregivers. Formal caregivers, and especially those who work closely with impaired older people, are at greater risk of infecting or being infected by SARS‐Cov‐2 (COVID‐19). During the first waves of COVID‐19, older people were encouraged to stay home; and the care‐burden inflicted on their caregivers has increased.

Objectives

This study examined formal caregiver's mental health during the COVID‐19 pandemic, that is, the association between anxiety and depression symptoms and how care‐burden moderated this association.

Methods

A cross‐sectional online survey conducted in the home care services sector throughout Israel. A sample of 400 formal caregivers of older people (M_age = 47.7, SD = 13.8) completed a questionnaire regarding their levels of care‐burden, general anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms.

Results

A significant positive relationship was found between anxiety and depressive symptoms among formal caregivers. The level of care‐burden moderated this relationship, showing that caregivers with higher care‐burden demonstrated a stronger association between anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

Professionals may use ADL/IADL as a practical index to assess care‐burden and the risk of mistreatment.

Implications for Practice

Formal caregivers with higher care‐burden should get enhanced professional's support to reduce adverse mental health outcomes.

Mental health and health-related quality of life among healthcare workers in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are more exposed to COVID-19 than other professions. Studies from other countries have shown that the mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of HCWs were affected during this pandemic. However, studies on mental health in Indonesia remain scarce and no study has evaluated the HRQoL among HCWs. Thus, this study was designed to explore the mental health status and HRQoL among HCWs in Indonesia.

DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional study.

SETTING

This was an open online survey in Indonesia conducted from December 2020 to February 2021.

PARTICIPANTS

This study involved HCWs who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 502 respondents who accessed the online questionnaire, 392 were included in the analysis.

OUTCOMES

Mental health status was measured using the 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale and HRQoL was measured using the second version of the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF12v2).

RESULTS

The prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among HCWs was 29.4%, 44.9% and 31.8%, respectively. Using the SF12v2 questionnaire, 354 (90.3%) HCWs were found to have impaired physical component and 156 (39.8%) HCWs have impaired mental component.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of mental health problems among HCWs was high in Indonesia. HRQoL, particularly the physical component, was affected in most HCWs. Thus, policymakers should give more attention to the mental health and HRQoL of HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health-Related Quality of Life among Rural-Urban Migrants Living in Dhaka Slums: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Bangladesh

BACKGROUND

The study aimed to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its associated factors among urban slum dwellers who migrated from different rural parts of Bangladesh.

METHODS

The present study analyzed data from a Migration and Mobility Determinants on Health survey and was conducted in 2017 among 935 migrant slum dwellers of Dhaka city (North & South) and Gazipur City Corporations, as a part of the icddr,b's Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance System (UHDSS). The face-to-face interviews were conducted with the adult population by using a semi-structured questionnaire that included variables related to socio-demographics, migration, occupation, and HRQoL (SF-12). Bivariate and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with HRQoL.

RESULTS

The mean (±SD) scores of physical component summary (PCS), and mental component summary (MCS) were 57.40 ± 22.73 and 60.77 ± 22.51, respectively. As per multiple regression analysis, lower PCS scores were associated with having older age, being female, and not having any job. Mean MCS scores were significantly lower among participants who reported having older age, not having any job, not working/ less working hours (≤8 h/day), as well as increased work-related stress in the current urban slum.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that available urban social protection programs should include a comprehensive social safety net for the improvement of the slum infrastructure as well as proper health care and risk mitigation plans at workplaces.

Associations between work-related stressors and QALY in a general working population in Japan: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate an association between quality-adjusted life years (QALY) and work-related stressors (job strain, effort/reward imbalance, and poor support from supervisor and coworkers), and estimate loss in QALY caused by these stressors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study investigated data from a third-wave survey (in December 2017) of a 2-year prospective cohort study of Japanese workers. At baseline (first-wave survey), 5000 participants were recruited from workers who registered with an internet survey company. A total of 2530 participants responded to the second-wave survey 1 year later. Participants were then further recruited to the third-wave survey. An online questionnaire collected information regarding health-related quality of life (measured by EQ-5D-5L), job strain, supervisor and coworker support (Brief Job Stress Questionnaire), effort/reward imbalance (Effort/reward Imbalance Questionnaire), and demographic variables (age, sex, education, occupation, work contract, smoking, and alcohol drinking). Multiple linear regression analysis of the QALY score calculated from responses to EQ-5D-5L was employed on standardized scores of the work-related stressors and adjusted for demographic variables (SPSS version 26).

RESULTS

Data of 1986 participants were analyzed. Job strain (unstandardized coefficient, b =  - 0.013, p < 0.01) and effort/reward imbalance (b =  - 0.011, p < 0.01) and coworker support (b = 0017, p < 0.01) were significantly associated with QALY score in the fully adjusted model.

CONCLUSION

Job strain, effort/reward imbalance, and poor coworker support may be associated with a reduced QALY score among workers. A substantial impairment in QALY associated with the work-related stressors indicates that workplace interventions targeting work-related stressors may be cost-effective.

Prevalence of depression and its impact on quality of life among frontline nurses in emergency departments during the COVID-19 outbreak

BACKGROUND

Frontline medical staff exposed to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) could be psychologically and mentally exhausted. This study examined the prevalence of depressive symptoms (depression hereafter) and their correlates and the association between depression and quality of life (QOL) in Emergency Department (ED) nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic in China.

METHODS

This national, cross-sectional online survey was conducted between March 15 and March 20, 2020 in China. Depression and QOL were measured using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-Brief Version, respectively.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of depression in 1103 ED nurses was 43.61% (95% CI=40.68-46.54%). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that working in tertiary hospitals (OR=1.647, P=0.009), direct patient care of COVID-19 patients (OR=1.421, P=0.018), and current smokers (OR=3.843, P<0.001) were significantly associated with depression. After controlling for covariates, nurses with depression had an overall lower QOL compared to those without (F_(1,1103)=423.83, P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Depression was common among ED nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering the negative impact of depression on quality of patient care and nurses' QOL, a heightened awareness of, and early treatment for depression for frontline ED nurses should be provided.