On the Need for an Association for Vaccinated Person's Rights

COVID-19 has been more difficult to contain in the United States than in other countries due, in part, to our nation's rootedness in preserving individual freedoms, sometimes in defiance of the need for social accountability for health. With growing evidence that anti-vaccination proponents are increasingly organized, funded, and influential, this editorial argues that the right to health should transcend individual freedoms that have a likely probability of spreading harm to others. An association for vaccinated person's rights, much like ANSR, an association for non-smokers rights, may be needed to counter anti-vaccination rights organizers. Advancing a goal of mostly "vaccinated and fully immunized populations' would make members of such a group 'VIP-ers.'".

Cognitive flow in health care settings: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

The state of cognitive flow, colloquially known as being 'in the zone', has been linked with enhanced performance, happiness, career satisfaction and decreased burnout. However, the concept has not been adopted strongly in health care training, continuing professional development, or daily practice. A systematic review with a narrative synthesis was undertaken to map the evidence for flow in health care.

METHODS

A search was conducted in MEDLINE, PsycInfo, and EMBASE in July 2019 and updated in October 2020 for manuscripts discussing flow in all health care disciplines. Articles published between 1806 and 13 October 2020 were included. Two authors independently reviewed titles and abstracts (and subsequently full texts where necessary) for inclusion. Disagreements were resolved by consensus. Data were extracted on location, manuscript type, population and context, measures, and key findings.

RESULTS

A total of 4923 unique abstracts were initially retrieved, and 15 articles were included in the final review. We report on the experience, benefits and strategies to support flow in health care. Flow may benefit providers by enhancing career enjoyment, wellness and performance, while mitigating exhaustion, burnout, and stress. Although research from other domains has focused on supporting flow through individualised training, our results highlight the importance of system and environmental factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Supporting professional and trainee flow in health care requires a holistic approach, including individual training and system-level interventions.

Results of the Workplace Health in America Survey

PURPOSE

To provide a nationally representative snapshot of workplace health promotion (WHP) and protection practices among United States worksites.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional, self-report Workplace Health in America (WHA) Survey between November 2016 and September 2017.

SETTING

National.

PARTICIPANTS

Random sample of US worksites with ≥10 employees, stratified by region, size, and North American Industrial Classification System sector.

MEASURES

Workplace health promotion programs, program administration, evidence-based strategies, health screenings, disease management, incentives, work-life policies, implementation barriers, and occupational safety and health (OSH).

ANALYSIS

Descriptive statistics, t tests, and logistic regression.

RESULTS

Among eligible worksites, 10.1% (n = 3109) responded, 2843 retained in final sample, and 46.1% offered some type of WHP program. The proportion of comparable worksites with comprehensive programs (as defined in Healthy People 2010) rose from 6.9% in 2004 to 17.1% in 2017 ( P < .001). Occupational safety and health programs were more prevalent than WHP programs, and 83.5% of all worksites had an individual responsible for employee safety, while only 72.2% of those with a WHP program had an individual responsible for it. Smaller worksites were less likely than larger to offer most programs.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of WHP programs has increased but remains low across most health programs; few worksites have comprehensive programs. Smaller worksites have persistent deficits and require targeted approaches; integrated OSH and WHP efforts may help. Ongoing monitoring using the WHA Survey benchmarks OSH and WHP in US worksites, updates estimates from previous surveys, and identifies gaps in research and practice.