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Waltzman M, Ozonoff A, Fournier KA, Welcher J, Milliren C, Landschaft A, Bulis J, Kimia AA. Surveillance of Health Care-Associated Violence Using Natural Language Processing. Pediatrics 2024; 154:e2023063059. [PMID: 38973359 PMCID: PMC11291961 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2023-063059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Patient and family violent outbursts toward staff, caregivers, or through self-harm, have increased during the ongoing behavioral health crisis. These health care-associated violence (HAV) episodes are likely under-reported. We sought to assess the feasibility of using nursing notes to identify under-reported HAV episodes. METHODS We extracted nursing notes across inpatient units at 2 hospitals for 2019: a pediatric tertiary care center and a community-based hospital. We used a workflow for narrative data processing using a natural language processing (NLP) assisted manual review process performed by domain experts (a nurse and a physician). We trained the NLP models on the tertiary care center data and validated it on the community hospital data. Finally, we applied these surveillance methods to real-time data for 2022 to assess reporting completeness of new cases. RESULTS We used 70 981 notes from the tertiary care center for model building and internal validation and 19 332 notes from the community hospital for external validation. The final community hospital model sensitivity was 96.8% (95% CI 90.6% to 100%) and a specificity of 47.1% (39.6% to 54.6%) compared with manual review. We identified 31 HAV episodes in July to December 2022, of which 26 were reportable in accordance with the hospital internal criteria. Only 7 of 26 cases were reported by employees using the self-reporting system, all of which were identified by our surveillance process. CONCLUSIONS NLP-assisted review is a feasible method for surveillance of under-reported HAV episodes, with implementation and usability that can be achieved even at a low information technology-resourced hospital setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Waltzman
- Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Al Ozonoff
- Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Amir A Kimia
- Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Connecticut Children’s Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut
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Duffhues WAC, Barten DG, Cauwer HD, Mortelmans L, van Osch F, Tin D, Koopmans MPG, Ciottone G. Worldwide Trends in COVID-19-Related Attacks Against Healthcare: A Review of the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition Database. Health Secur 2024; 22:294-303. [PMID: 38717838 DOI: 10.1089/hs.2023.0114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, violence targeting healthcare reportedly increased. Attacks against healthcare can severely hamper the public health response during a pandemic. Descriptive data analysis of these attacks may be helpful to develop prevention and mitigation strategies. This study aimed to investigate trends regarding COVID-19-related attacks against healthcare from January 2020 until January 2023. COVID-19-related incidents occurring between January 2020 and January 2023 were extracted from the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition database and screened for eligibility. Included incidents were linked to COVID-19 health measures or were attacks directly interfering with COVID-19 healthcare, including conflict-related attacks. Data collected per incident included temporal factors; country; setting; attack and weapon type; perpetrator; motive; number of healthcare workers (HCWs) killed, injured, or kidnapped; and health facility damage. The study identified 255 COVID-19-related attacks against healthcare, with 18 HCWs killed, 147 HCWs injured, and 86 facilities damaged. The highest attack frequency was reported during the beginning of the pandemic and predominantly concerned stigma-related attacks against healthcare. Reported incidents in 2021 included attacks targeting vaccination campaigns, as well as conflict-related attacks interfering with COVID-19 healthcare. COVID-19-related attacks against healthcare occurred in heterogeneous contexts throughout the pandemic. Due to underreporting, the data presented are a minimum estimate of the actual magnitude of violence. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of public education campaigns, improved coordination between healthcare organizations and law enforcement, and the possible need to bolster the security of medical facilities and health workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willeke A C Duffhues
- Willeke A. C. Duffhues, MD, was a Medical Student, at VieCuri Medical Center, Venlo, the Netherlands
| | - Dennis G Barten
- Dennis G. Barten, MD, is an Emergency Physician and Residency Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, at VieCuri Medical Center, Venlo, the Netherlands
| | - Harald De Cauwer
- Harald De Cauwer, MD, is a Neurologist, Department of Neurology, Dimpna Regional Hospital, Geel, Belgium; and PhD Candidate, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Luc Mortelmans
- Luc Mortelmans, MD, is an Emergency Physician, Center for Research and Education in Emergency Care, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; REGEDIM, Free University Brussels, Brussels, Belgium; and Department of Emergency Medicine, ZNA Camp Stuivenberg, Antwerp, Belgium.in the Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Frits van Osch
- Frits van Osch, PhD, is a Clinical Epidemiologist, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, at VieCuri Medical Center, Venlo, the Netherlands
| | - Derrick Tin
- Derrick Tin, MD, PhD, is an Emergency Physician and Core Faculty, in the Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Marion P G Koopmans
- Marion P. G. Koopmans, PhD, is a Professor of Virology and Head, Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Centre and the Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Center, Rotterdam/Delft, the Netherlands
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Ülgüt R, Tomsic I, Chaberny IF, von Lengerke T. Human resource management to assist infection prevention and control professionals: a scoping review. J Hosp Infect 2024; 148:145-154. [PMID: 38679391 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2024.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Infection prevention and control (IPC) professionals are key intermediaries between hospital managers and frontline staff. During the novel coronavirus disease pandemic, IPC professionals faced new challenges. Unfortunately, research on human resource management (HRM) to support IPC during and between pandemics is lacking. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to elucidate the existing knowledge on HRM measures in this context and thus contribute to the pandemic preparedness of healthcare facilities. It was conducted as part of the "PREparedness and PAndemic REsponse in Germany (PREPARED)" project within the Network University Medicine (NUM), using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. PubMed was searched without time restriction until 2023 (filter: English, German). Two reviewers assessed titles/abstracts and full texts, respectively. A total of nine publications were included, eight of which were published in the USA. All publications reported survey data (quantitative: six). Measures targeting personnel development and the qualification of IPC personnel were reported in six studies, i.e., almost two-thirds of the studies, of which five focused on the tasks of IPC professionals. In contrast, management of personnel costs and remuneration systems were reported less frequently (three studies), and only regarding issues around retention, compensation and dismissal. In conclusion, research gaps include trials on implementation and effectiveness of HRM for IPC. Given the increasing shortage of IPC professionals, HRM measures during and between pandemics become more important for establishing pandemic preparedness.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Ülgüt
- Hannover Medical School, Department of Medical Psychology, Hannover, Germany
| | - I Tomsic
- Hannover Medical School, Department of Medical Psychology, Hannover, Germany
| | - I F Chaberny
- Leipzig University Hospital, Institute of Hygiene, Hospital Epidemiology and Environmental Medicine, Leipzig, Germany; Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Institute of Hospital Epidemiology and Environmental Hygiene, Kiel, Germany
| | - T von Lengerke
- Hannover Medical School, Department of Medical Psychology, Hannover, Germany.
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Janoušková M, Pekara J, Kučera M, Kearns PB, Šeblová J, Wolfová K, Kuklová M, Šeblová D. Experiences of stigma, discrimination and violence and their impact on the mental health of health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10534. [PMID: 38720009 PMCID: PMC11078939 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59700-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Health care workers have been exposed to COVID-19 more than people in other professions, which may have led to stigmatization, discrimination, and violence toward them, possibly impacting their mental health. We investigated (1) factors associated with stigma, discrimination, and violence, (2) the association of stigma, discrimination, and violence with mental health, (3) everyday experiences of stigmatization, discrimination, and violence. We chose a combination of a quantitative approach and qualitative content analysis to analyze data collected at three time points: in 2020, 2021 and 2022. A higher age was associated with lower odds of experiencing stigma, discrimination, and violence, whereas female gender was related to more negative experiences. The intensity of exposure to COVID-19 was associated with greater experience with stigmatization, discrimination, and violence across all three years (for example in 2022: odds ratio, 95% confidence interval: 1.74, 1.18-2.55 for mild exposure; 2.82, 1.95-4.09 for moderate exposure; and 5.74, 3.55-9.26 for severe exposure, when compared to no exposure). Stigma, discrimination, and violence were most strongly associated with psychological distress in 2020 (odds ratio = 2.97, 95% confidence interval 2.27-3.88) and with depressive symptoms in 2021 (odds ratio = 2.78, 95% confidence interval 2.12-3.64). Attention should be given to the destigmatization of contagious diseases and the prevention of discrimination, violence, and mental health problems, both within workplaces and among the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslava Janoušková
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.
- Division of Medical Psychology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.
| | - Jaroslav Pekara
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.
- Medical College, Prague, Czechia.
| | - Matěj Kučera
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
- National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czechia
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pavla Brennan Kearns
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jana Šeblová
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
- Paediatric Emergency Department, Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czechia
| | - Katrin Wolfová
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Marie Kuklová
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Dominika Šeblová
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
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5
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Mausz J, D’Eath J, Jackson NA, Johnston M, Batt AM, Donnelly EA. Sexist, Racist, and Homophobic Violence against Paramedics in a Single Canadian Site. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:505. [PMID: 38673416 PMCID: PMC11050378 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21040505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Violence against paramedics is widely recognized as a serious, but underreported, problem. While injurious physical attacks on paramedics are generally reported, non-physical violence is less likely to be documented. Verbal abuse can be very distressing, particularly if the harassment targets personal or cultural identities, such as race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. Leveraging a novel, point-of-event reporting process, our objective was to estimate the prevalence of harassment on identity grounds against paramedics in a single paramedic service in Ontario, Canada, and assess its potentially differential impact on emotional distress. In an analysis of 502 reports filed between 1 February 2021 and 28 February 2022, two paramedic supervisors independently coded the free-text narrative descriptions of violent encounters for themes suggestive of sexism, racism, and homophobia. We achieved high inter-rater agreement across the dimensions (k = 0.73-0.83), and after resolving discrepant cases, we found that one in four violent reports documented abuse on at least one of the identity grounds. In these cases, paramedics were 60% more likely to indicate being emotionally distressed than for other forms of violence. Our findings offer unique insight into the type of vitriol paramedics experience over the course of their work and its potential for psychological harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Mausz
- Peel Regional Paramedic Services, 1600 Bovaird Drive East, Brampton, ON L6V 4R5, Canada; (J.D.); (N.A.J.); (M.J.)
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada
| | - Joel D’Eath
- Peel Regional Paramedic Services, 1600 Bovaird Drive East, Brampton, ON L6V 4R5, Canada; (J.D.); (N.A.J.); (M.J.)
| | - Nicholas A. Jackson
- Peel Regional Paramedic Services, 1600 Bovaird Drive East, Brampton, ON L6V 4R5, Canada; (J.D.); (N.A.J.); (M.J.)
| | - Mandy Johnston
- Peel Regional Paramedic Services, 1600 Bovaird Drive East, Brampton, ON L6V 4R5, Canada; (J.D.); (N.A.J.); (M.J.)
| | - Alan M. Batt
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen’s University, 99 University Avenue, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada;
- Department of Paramedicine, Monash University, Peninsula Campus, Building H, 47-49 Moorooduc Hwy, Frankston, VIC 3199, Australia
| | - Elizabeth A. Donnelly
- School of Social Work, University of Windsor, 167 Ferry Street, Room 213, Windsor, ON N9A 0C5, Canada;
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Czepiel D, McCormack C, da Silva AT, Seblova D, Moro MF, Restrepo-Henao A, Martínez AM, Afolabi O, Alnasser L, Alvarado R, Asaoka H, Ayinde O, Balalian A, Ballester D, Barathie JA, Basagoitia A, Basic D, Burrone MS, Carta MG, Durand-Arias S, Eskin M, Fernández-Jiménez E, Frey MIF, Gureje O, Isahakyan A, Jaldo R, Karam EG, Khattech D, Lindert J, Martínez-Alés G, Mascayano F, Mediavilla R, Narvaez Gonzalez JA, Nasser-Karam A, Nishi D, Olaopa O, Ouali U, Puac-Polanco V, Ramírez DE, Ramírez J, Rivera-Segarra E, Rutten BP, Santaella-Tenorio J, Sapag JC, Šeblová J, Soto MTS, Tavares-Cavalcanti M, Valeri L, Sijbrandij M, Susser ES, Hoek HW, van der Ven E. Inequality on the frontline: A multi-country study on gender differences in mental health among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2024; 11:e34. [PMID: 38572248 PMCID: PMC10988139 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2024.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Healthcare workers (HCWs) were at increased risk for mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, with prior data suggesting women may be particularly vulnerable. Our global mental health study aimed to examine factors associated with gender differences in psychological distress and depressive symptoms among HCWs during COVID-19. Across 22 countries in South America, Europe, Asia and Africa, 32,410 HCWs participated in the COVID-19 HEalth caRe wOrkErS (HEROES) study between March 2020 and February 2021. They completed the General Health Questionnaire-12, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and questions about pandemic-relevant exposures. Consistently across countries, women reported elevated mental health problems compared to men. Women also reported increased COVID-19-relevant stressors, including insufficient personal protective equipment and less support from colleagues, while men reported increased contact with COVID-19 patients. At the country level, HCWs in countries with higher gender inequality reported less mental health problems. Higher COVID-19 mortality rates were associated with increased psychological distress merely among women. Our findings suggest that among HCWs, women may have been disproportionately exposed to COVID-19-relevant stressors at the individual and country level. This highlights the importance of considering gender in emergency response efforts to safeguard women's well-being and ensure healthcare system preparedness during future public health crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Czepiel
- Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Parnassia Groep, The Hague, The Netherlands
- Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Clare McCormack
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andréa T.C. da Silva
- Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Faculty of Medicine Santa Marcelina, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Dominika Seblova
- Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Maria F. Moro
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexandra Restrepo-Henao
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
- Epidemiology Group, National School of Public Health, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Adriana M. Martínez
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Oyeyemi Afolabi
- Department of Psychiatry, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Lubna Alnasser
- Population Health Research Section, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rubén Alvarado
- Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile
- School of Public Health, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Hiroki Asaoka
- Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Olatunde Ayinde
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Arin Balalian
- Question Driven Design and Analysis Group, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dinarte Ballester
- University Hospital, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Brazil
| | - Josleen A.l. Barathie
- Institute for Development, Research, Advocacy and Applied Care (IDRAAC), Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Armando Basagoitia
- Unidad de Investigación, Consultora Salud Global Bolivia, Sucre, Bolivia
| | - Djordje Basic
- Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - María S. Burrone
- Institute of Health Sciences, Universidad de O’Higgins, Rancagua, Chile
| | - Mauro G. Carta
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Sol Durand-Arias
- National Institute of Psychiatry Ramon de la Fuente Muñiz, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mehmet Eskin
- Department of Psychology, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Eduardo Fernández-Jiménez
- Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology and Mental Health, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), Madrid, Spain
- European University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marcela I. F. Frey
- Social and Community Academic Unit, University of Chubut, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Oye Gureje
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Anna Isahakyan
- National Institute of Health Named After Academician S. Avdalbekyan, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Rodrigo Jaldo
- Social and Community Academic Unit, University of Chubut, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Elie G. Karam
- Institute for Development, Research, Advocacy and Applied Care (IDRAAC), Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Balamand,Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, St George Hospital University Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Dorra Khattech
- Department Psychiatry A, Razi Hospital La Manouba, Manouba, Tunisia
| | - Jutta Lindert
- Faculty of Health and Social Work, University of Applied Sciences Emden/Leer, Emden, Germany
| | - Gonzalo Martínez-Alés
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Franco Mascayano
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Roberto Mediavilla
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier A. Narvaez Gonzalez
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
- Maestría en Epidemiología, División de Postgrados, El Bosque University, Bogotá, Colombia
- Departamento de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Aimee Nasser-Karam
- Institute for Development, Research, Advocacy and Applied Care (IDRAAC), Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Balamand,Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, St George Hospital University Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Daisuke Nishi
- Department of Mental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Olusegun Olaopa
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Uta Ouali
- Department Psychiatry A, Razi Hospital La Manouba, Manouba, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Victor Puac-Polanco
- Departments of Health Policy & Management and Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of San Carlos of Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Dorian E. Ramírez
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of San Carlos of Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Jorge Ramírez
- School of Public Health, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Eliut Rivera-Segarra
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
| | - Bart P.F. Rutten
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Julian Santaella-Tenorio
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Pontifical Xavierian University, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jaime C. Sapag
- Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jana Šeblová
- Emergency Department, Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- Czech Society for Emergency and Disaster Medicine, Czech Medical Association of J. E. Purkyně, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - María T. S. Soto
- Dirección de Investigación Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca, Sucre, Bolivia
| | - Maria Tavares-Cavalcanti
- School of Medicine and Psychiatric Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Linda Valeri
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marit Sijbrandij
- Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ezra S. Susser
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hans W. Hoek
- Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Parnassia Groep, The Hague, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
- University Medical Center Groningen, University Center of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Els van der Ven
- Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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7
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Jones CB, Kim S, McCollum M, Tran AK. New insights on a recurring theme: A secondary analysis of nurse turnover using the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses. Nurs Outlook 2024; 72:102107. [PMID: 38160504 DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2023.102107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Registered nurse (RN) turnover is a recurring phenomenon that accelerated during COVID-19 and heightened concerns about contributing factors. PURPOSE Provide baseline RN turnover data to which pandemic and future RN workforce turnover behaviors can be compared. METHODS A cross-sectional, secondary analysis of RN turnover using U.S. National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses 2018 data. Responses from 41,428 RNs (weighted N = 3,092,991) across the United States were analyzed. Sociodemographic, professional, employment, and economic data and weighting techniques were used to model prepandemic RN turnover behaviors. DISCUSSION About 17% of the sample reported a job turnover, with 6.2% reporting internal and 10.8% reporting external turnover. The factors common across both internal and external turnover experiences included education, employment settings, and years of nursing experience. CONCLUSIONS Baseline RN turnover data can help employers and policymakers understand new and recurring nursing workforce trends and develop targeted actions to reduce nurse turnover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl B Jones
- School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Sinhye Kim
- School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
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8
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Soni MM, Mamdouh HM, Suliman EA. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Utilization of Healthcare Services and Spending Patterns in Dubai, United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Study. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:473. [PMID: 38391849 PMCID: PMC11290142 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12040473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic affected the utilization of healthcare services in many parts of the world. The response to the healthcare burden imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with ensuring the provision of optimum healthcare services. This study aimed to estimate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on health services utilization and spending patterns in Dubai, the UAE. METHODS This cross-sectional study used secondary data on healthcare utilization and spending to compare between 2019 and 2020. The data was extracted from the health insurance claims on the eClaimLink platform. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to calculate the percent change of service utilization and spending and percentages of total claims by each encounter type across major diagnostic categories (MDCs). RESULTS In 2020, there was an overall reduction in outpatient visits and inpatient admissions of 27% and 21%, respectively, compared to 2019. Outpatient visits and prescriptions decreased across all the MDCs except mental and behavioral disorders, which showed an increase of 8% in outpatient visits and 29% in prescriptions. The admissions to the healthcare facilities were also reduced significantly across various MDCs, ranging from 10% to 44%. Similarly, a downward trend was seen in diagnostics for different MDCs. An increase in expenditure on diagnostics and drugs for neoplasm was reported, despite a corresponding decrease in outpatient and inpatient admissions for the same. CONCLUSION A significant decrease in overall healthcare utilization and corresponding healthcare spending, resulting from a decline in outpatient and inpatient volume in healthcare facilities at all the levels (hospitals, clinics, speciality centres), was reported during the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic on mental health was reported by this study, as it showed an upward trend in utilization and spending. For the neoplasms, although the utilization declined, the expenditure on diagnostics and drugs during each encounter increased significantly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meenu Mahak Soni
- Health Economics and Insurance Policies Department, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai P.O. Box 4545, United Arab Emirates
| | - Heba Mohammed Mamdouh
- Department of Data Analysis, Research and Studies, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai P.O. Box 4545, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Eldaw Abdalla Suliman
- Department of Strategy and Governance, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai P.O. Box 4545, United Arab Emirates;
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9
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Navalpotro-Pascual S, Matellán-Hernández MP, Pastor-Benito E, Soto-Cámara R, Cárdaba-García RM, García-Santa-Basilia N, Onrubia-Baticón H, Mahtani-Chugani V. Experiences of Spanish out-of-hospital emergency workers with high levels of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study. Arch Public Health 2024; 82:15. [PMID: 38291523 PMCID: PMC10826038 DOI: 10.1186/s13690-023-01233-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic had a major psychological impact on health care workers (HCWs). This study was embedded in a larger quantitative study on the mental health care of out-of-hospital HCWs in Spain. To better understand this, a qualitative study was conducted to explore the experiences, coping strategies, and influencing factors of out-of-hospital HCWs who scored high (> 25 points) on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) in a previous quantitative mental health study. METHODS A qualitative study was conducted using six in-depth interviews with individuals who scored high on the depression scale and agreed to be contacted by email between May and June 2021, using the phenomenological approach. The data were analysed using Brawn and Clare's method. RESULTS The main results findings related to four themes. The emotional impact of assuming a professional role with high self-demands and responsibilities; Factors influencing the development of negative emotions such as the cruelty of the pandemic, the helplessness in relation to health management and policy, the changing role of the professional and the relationship with society; Personal protection through coping strategies to manage negative emotions such as support from colleagues and family; Good practices for the future looking for different management strategies that can influence individuals and their personal, professional, and social relationships. CONCLUSION The strong impact of the circumstances experienced points to the need to develop psychological support programmes that can protect people's mental health from depression during a crisis and improve the relationship between workers and their managers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Navalpotro-Pascual
- Nursing Department, Faculty of Medicine, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
- Emergency Medical Service of Madrid-SUMMA 112, Madrid, Spain.
- Prehospital Emergency Research Network (RINVEMER), Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES), Madrid, Spain.
| | - María Paz Matellán-Hernández
- Prehospital Emergency Research Network (RINVEMER), Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES), Madrid, Spain
- Emergency Medical Service of Castilla and León-Sacyl, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Elena Pastor-Benito
- Emergency Medical Service of Madrid-SUMMA 112, Madrid, Spain
- Prehospital Emergency Research Network (RINVEMER), Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES), Madrid, Spain
| | - Raúl Soto-Cámara
- Prehospital Emergency Research Network (RINVEMER), Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES), Madrid, Spain
- Emergency Medical Service of Castilla and León-Sacyl, Valladolid, Spain
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Burgos, Burgos, Spain
| | - Rosa M Cárdaba-García
- Prehospital Emergency Research Network (RINVEMER), Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES), Madrid, Spain
- Faculty of Nursing of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
- Nursing Care Research Group (GICE), Department of Nursing, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Noemi García-Santa-Basilia
- Prehospital Emergency Research Network (RINVEMER), Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES), Madrid, Spain
- Emergency Medical Service of Castilla and León-Sacyl, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Henar Onrubia-Baticón
- Prehospital Emergency Research Network (RINVEMER), Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES), Madrid, Spain
- Emergency Medical Service of Castilla and León-Sacyl, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Vinita Mahtani-Chugani
- Healthcare Quality Assessment and Information Systems Service, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife, Spain
- Primary Care Management of Tenerife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife, Spain
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10
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Chowdhury SR. Stigmatisation and workplace violence against healthcare workers: the need for evidence-based preventive strategies. Evid Based Nurs 2023; 26:141. [PMID: 37068927 DOI: 10.1136/ebnurs-2022-103618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Saifur Rahman Chowdhury
- Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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11
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Brunelli L, Scarpis E, Lo Presti T, Fiorillo F, Campanella F, Zuliani P, Farneti F, Croci E, Pellizzari B, Cocconi R, Arnoldo L. Health professionals who have worked in COVID-19 immunization centers suffer the effects of violence. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1264301. [PMID: 37799152 PMCID: PMC10548233 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1264301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The phenomenon violence against health professionals has received increasing attention in recent years because of its frequency and significant impact on victims' mental health and disruption of health services. Despite this attention, little is known about the incidence of workplace violence in the highly politicized immunization services. Therefore, we decided to examine the prevalence of workplace violence in the COVID-19 immunization campaign, the risk and protective factors, and the impact on victims' mental health. Methods Between March and April 2022, we conducted an anonymous online survey among health professionals working in COVID-19 vaccination centers in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region (Italy). We used the Questionnaire for Workplace Violence in Healthcare Settings and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised. Results Of the 200 participants, 93 (46.5%) reported being victims of an act of violence during the vaccination campaign, 60 of them verbally and 7 physically. In 35.5% of cases, the IES score indicated a possible post-traumatic stress reaction in the victim. Opinions on measures to prevent violence and support workers in the workplace differed according to the sex of the health professional, with women emphasizing the need for self-defense training and improvement of security arrangements (p < 0.001). Conclusion One-third of health professionals involved in the COVID-19 immunization campaign reported that their mental health was affected by workplace violence. Public health professionals dealing with politicized and debated issues such as immunization should receive more attention, as should the implementation of a more structured and multidisciplinary approach to the problem within healthcare organizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Brunelli
- Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
- Clinical Risk, Quality and Accreditation Unit, Friuli Centrale Healthcare University Trust, Udine, Italy
| | - Enrico Scarpis
- Medical Directorate of Palmanova-Latisana Hospital, Friuli Centrale Healthcare University Trust, Udine, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Fiorillo
- Regional Transplant Centre, Friuli Centrale Healthcare University Trust, Udine, Italy
| | - Fabio Campanella
- Neurosurgery Unit, Friuli Centrale Healthcare University Trust, Udine, Italy
| | - Paola Zuliani
- Clinical Risk, Quality and Accreditation Unit, Friuli Centrale Healthcare University Trust, Udine, Italy
| | - Federico Farneti
- Clinical Risk, Quality and Accreditation Unit, Friuli Centrale Healthcare University Trust, Udine, Italy
| | - Eleonora Croci
- Department of Prevention, Giuliano Isontina Healthcare University Trust, Trieste, Italy
| | - Barbara Pellizzari
- Department of Prevention, Friuli Occidentale Healthcare Trust, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Roberto Cocconi
- Clinical Risk, Quality and Accreditation Unit, Friuli Centrale Healthcare University Trust, Udine, Italy
| | - Luca Arnoldo
- Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
- Clinical Risk, Quality and Accreditation Unit, Friuli Centrale Healthcare University Trust, Udine, Italy
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12
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Garcia-Zamora S, Iomini PA, Pulido L, Miranda-Arboleda AF, Lopez-Santi P, Burgos LM, Perez GE, Priotti M, García DE, Antoniolli M, Musso G, Zaidel EJ, Sosa-Liprandi Á, Del-Sueldo MA, Lopez-Santi R, Vazquez G, Baranchuk A. Comparison of violence and aggressions suffered by health personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina and the rest of Latin America. Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica 2023; 40:179-188. [PMID: 38232264 PMCID: PMC10953667 DOI: 10.17843/rpmesp.2023.402.12646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES. Motivation for the study. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused profound repercussions at different socio-environmental levels. Its impact on violence against healthcare team workers in Argentina has not been well documented. Main findings. The present study evidenced high rates of aggression, particularly verbal aggression. In addition, almost half of the participants reported having suffered these events on a weekly basis. All participants who experienced violence reported having experienced post-event symptoms, and up to one-third reported having considered changing their profession after these acts. Implications. It is imperative to take action to prevent acts of violence against health personnel, or to mitigate its impact on the victims. . To explore the frequency and impact of violence against healthcare workers in Argentina and to compare it with the rest of their Latin American peers during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A cross-sectional study was conducted by applying an electronic survey on Latin American medical and non-medical personnel who carried out health care tasks since March 2020. We used Poisson regression to estimate crude (PR) and adjusted (aPR) Prevalence Ratios with their respective 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS. A total of 3544 participants from 19 countries answered the survey; 1992 (56.0%) resided in Argentina. Of these, 62.9% experienced at least one act of violence; 97.7% reported verbal violence and 11.8% physical violence. Of those who were assaulted, 41.5% experienced violence at least once a week. Health personnel from Argentina experienced violence more frequently than those from other countries (62.9% vs. 54.6%, p<0.001), and these events were more frequent and stressful (p<0.05). In addition, Argentinean health personnel reported having considered changing their healthcare tasks and/or desired to leave their profession more frequently (p<0.001). In the Poisson regression, we found that participants from Argentina had a higher prevalence of violence than health workers from the region (14.6%; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS. There was a high prevalence of violence against health personnel in Argentina during the COVID-19 pandemic. These events had a strong negative impact on those who suffered them. Our data suggest that violence against health personnel may have been more frequent in Argentina than in other regions of the continent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Garcia-Zamora
- Servicio de Cardiología, Sanatorio Delta, Rosario, Argentina.Servicio de CardiologíaSanatorio DeltaRosarioArgentina
| | - Pablo A. Iomini
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) - UDH Hospital Dr. Prof. Alejandro Posadas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.Universidad de Buenos AiresFacultad de MedicinaUniversidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)UDH Hospital Dr. Prof. Alejandro PosadasBuenos AiresArgentina
| | - Laura Pulido
- Pneumonology Service, Sanatorio Centro, Rosario, Argentina.Pneumonology ServiceSanatorio CentroRosarioArgentina
| | - Andrés F. Miranda-Arboleda
- Cardiology Division, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.Cardiology DivisionQueen’s UniversityKingstonOntarioCanada
| | - Pilar Lopez-Santi
- Cardiology Division, Hospital Italiano de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.Cardiology DivisionHospital Italiano de La PlataLa PlataArgentina
| | - Lucrecia M. Burgos
- Instituto Cardiovascular de Buenos Aires, Argentina.Instituto Cardiovascular de Buenos AiresArgentina
| | - Gonzalo E. Perez
- Cardiology Division, Clínica Olivos, Buenos Aires, Argentina.Cardiology DivisionClínica OlivosBuenos AiresArgentina
| | - Mauricio Priotti
- Servicio de Cardiología, Sanatorio Delta, Rosario, Argentina.Servicio de CardiologíaSanatorio DeltaRosarioArgentina
| | - Darío E. García
- Latin American Federation of Emergency Medicine, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico.Latin American Federation of Emergency MedicineCiudad de MexicoMexico
| | - Melisa Antoniolli
- Cardiology Service, Sanatorio Finochietto, Buenos Aires, Argentina.Cardiology ServiceSanatorio FinochiettoBuenos AiresArgentina
| | - Gabriel Musso
- Intensive Care Service, Sanatorio Parque, Rosario, Argentina.Intensive Care ServiceSanatorio ParqueRosarioArgentina
| | - Ezequiel J. Zaidel
- Cardiology Department, Sanatorio Güemes, CABA, Argentina. Cardiology DepartmentSanatorio GüemesCABAArgentina
| | - Álvaro Sosa-Liprandi
- Cardiology Department, Sanatorio Güemes, CABA, Argentina. Cardiology DepartmentSanatorio GüemesCABAArgentina
| | - Mildren A. Del-Sueldo
- Certus-Clínica de Especialidades Foundation, Cordoba, Argentina.Certus-Clínica de Especialidades FoundationCordobaArgentina
| | - Ricardo Lopez-Santi
- Cardiology Division, Hospital Italiano de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.Cardiology DivisionHospital Italiano de La PlataLa PlataArgentina
| | - Gustavo Vazquez
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.Department of PsychiatryQueen’s UniversityKingstonOntarioCanada
| | - Adrián Baranchuk
- Cardiology Division, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.Cardiology DivisionQueen’s UniversityKingstonOntarioCanada
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13
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Naglee C. Violence in the health care workplace and ERM solutions. J Healthc Risk Manag 2023; 42:9-13. [PMID: 36884011 DOI: 10.1002/jhrm.21535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Many health care workers are subject to violence at work on a frequent basis. This article will define different types of violence in the workplace and outline the current scope of the issue. There are a myriad of laws and regulations that apply including OSHA, Joint Commission, state and potentially new federal legislation. Violence in the health care workplace is an exceedingly complex issue that is well suited to enterprise risk management (ERM) solutions. A sample framework for an ERM solution will be explored. Health care organizations should strongly consider use of ERM to address workplace violence based on their unique risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen Naglee
- Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Health System, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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14
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Costa DK, Hammond NE. Critical care workforce in crisis: A path forward. Aust Crit Care 2023; 36:1-2. [PMID: 36697120 DOI: 10.1016/j.aucc.2022.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Naomi E Hammond
- Critical Care Program, The George Institute for Global Health and UNSW Sydney, Newtown, Australia; Malcolm Fisher Department of Intensive Care, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Australia
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15
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Brigo F, Zaboli A, Rella E, Sibilio S, Canelles MF, Magnarelli G, Pfeifer N, Turcato G. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on temporal trends of workplace violence against healthcare workers in the emergency department. Health Policy 2022; 126:1110-1116. [PMID: 36171162 PMCID: PMC9502437 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2022.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Background It is known that there has been an increase over the years in attacks by patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) on healthcare workers; it is unclear what effect the COVID-19 pandemic has on these attacks. Aim to verify through a long-term time analysis the effect of COVID-19 on ED attacks on healthcare workers. Mothods a quasi-experimental interrupted time-series analysis on attacks on healthcare workers was performed from January 2017 to August 2021. The main outcome was the monthly rate of attacks on healthcare workers per 1000 general accesses. The pandemic outbreak was used as an intervention point. Results 1002 attacks on healthcare workers in the ED were recorded. The rate of monthly attacks on total accesses increased from an average of 13.5 (SD 6.6) in the pre-COVID-19 era to 27.2 (SD 9.8) in the pandemic months, p < 0.001. The pandemic outbreak led to a significant increase in attacks on healthcare workers from 0.05/1000 attacks per month (p = 0.018), to 4.3/1000 attacks per month (p = 0.005). Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in attacks on healthcare workers in the ED. Trends compared to pre-pandemic months do not seem to indicate a return to normality. Health institutions and policymakers should develop strategies to improve the safety of the working environment in hospitals and EDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Brigo
- Department of Neurology, Hospital of Merano (SABES-ASDAA), Merano-Meran, Italy.
| | - Arian Zaboli
- Emergency Department, Hospital of Merano (SABES-ASDAA), Merano-Meran, Italy
| | - Eleonora Rella
- Emergency Department, Hospital of Merano (SABES-ASDAA), Merano-Meran, Italy
| | - Serena Sibilio
- Emergency Department, Hospital of Merano (SABES-ASDAA), Merano-Meran, Italy
| | | | | | - Norbert Pfeifer
- Emergency Department, Hospital of Merano (SABES-ASDAA), Merano-Meran, Italy
| | - Gianni Turcato
- Emergency Department, Hospital of Merano (SABES-ASDAA), Merano-Meran, Italy
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