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Zahrawi H, Asaad SHA, Al Houri AN, Kadri SA, kahal F, Torbey A, Al Houri HN, Odeh A, Alshallah N, Dugha G, Adal LAA, albared SM, Battah FK, Akkad OAD, Alhasan SA, Zawda A, Kudsi M. The prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorder among health care workers in Damascus, Syria. A cross-sectional study. Health Sci Rep 2024; 7:e1860. [PMID: 38357494 PMCID: PMC10864715 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Healthcare workers in particular frequently report Work-related musculoskeletal diseases (WRMSDs). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and features of WRMSDs in residents from different specialties and trainee nurses from educational hospitals in Damascus, Syria. Methods A cross-sectional survey was undertaken aiming at the medical residents and the trainee nurses working in the public health sector in 11 hospitals. The sample size was found to be 2016. In this study, a modified version of the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire was employed. Results After the inclusion and exclusion criteria was the number of the participants 1855. In general, musculoskeletal pain was in the past week (69%) and the past 12 months (85%). Musculoskeletal pain in medical care practitioners was found to be linked to higher mean age (p = 0.0053) and body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.0437) in the last year. Females had a higher prevalence of WRMSDs than males (p = 0.0036), and those who were married also had a higher prevalence (p = 0.0218). Working longer hours per week and per month were associated with musculoskeletal pain in the previous 7 days (p = 0.0043 and p = 0.0003, respectively). Conclusion WRMSD prevalence was 85% among our study participants in the previous year. The most common complaint was lower back pain. Aging, female gender, and increasing BMI have been associated with higher reporting of WRMSDs. Our results suggested that doctors were twice as susceptible to developing WRMSDs as nurses. These results highlight the increasing urgency for ergonomics training programs and effective interventions to reduce WRMSDs and enhance working conditions for healthcare professionals in Syria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanaa Zahrawi
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of MedicineSyrian Private UniversityDamascusSyria
| | - Saja Hasan Al Asaad
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of MedicineSyrian Private UniversityDamascusSyria
| | | | - Saeed A. Kadri
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of MedicineSyrian Private UniversityDamascusSyria
| | - Fares kahal
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of MedicineSyrian Private UniversityDamascusSyria
| | - André Torbey
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of MedicineSyrian Private UniversityDamascusSyria
| | | | - Ameena Odeh
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of MedicineSyrian Private UniversityDamascusSyria
| | - Nour Alshallah
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of MedicineSyrian Private UniversityDamascusSyria
| | - Ghaith Dugha
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of MedicineSyrian Private UniversityDamascusSyria
| | - Lama Ayad Al Adal
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Ibn Al‐Nafees HospitalMinistry of HealthDamascusSyria
| | | | - Fatma Khaled Battah
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of MedicineSyrian Private UniversityDamascusSyria
| | | | | | - Aws Zawda
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of MedicineSyrian Private UniversityDamascusSyria
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Almansour H, Aldossary A, Holmes S, Alderaan T. Migration of nurses and doctors: pull factors to work in Saudi Arabia. HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH 2023; 21:25. [PMID: 36941641 PMCID: PMC10029214 DOI: 10.1186/s12960-023-00809-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although Saudi Arabia is a common destination to which nurses and doctors migrate, few studies have explored the pull factors attracting them to work in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia. This qualitative study explores the pull factors drawing nurses and doctors to work in Saudi Arabian hospitals. METHODS The study utilized a qualitative approach with focus groups. The participants included 83 doctors and nurses at two government hospitals. RESULTS Five themes (rewards, job entry requirements, religion, influence of family and friends, and changing work environments) were identified based on the 10 focus group sessions. CONCLUSION Moving forward, health managers should proactively plan the state of healthcare as the need for migrant healthcare workers changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Husam Almansour
- Health Management Department, College of Public Health & Health Informatics, University of Ha'il, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Ameera Aldossary
- Nursing Saudization, Practice, Education & Research, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sandra Holmes
- Nursing Saudization, Practice, Education & Research, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Thamer Alderaan
- Human Resources Department, Dammam Health Network, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
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Postmes JJ, Rolim Medeiros RL. Respected physician in Syria, unemployed refugee in the Netherlands: An analysis of the integration of Syrian refugees with a medical degree in the Dutch medical field. Soc Sci Med 2023; 323:115836. [PMID: 36965202 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115836] [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: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Refugees in the Netherlands are expected to integrate in society and find employment. Despite years of education, Syrian refugees who graduated in medicine (SRGMs') struggle to enter the Dutch medical field. To ensure patient safety, physicians with a medical degree obtained outside Europe are obliged to finish an 'assessment procedure' (AP) and might be forced to redo clinical internships, before being allowed to practice medicine. In this research, SRGMs' experiences were analysed using Bourdieu's capital theory. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 SRGMs. In Syria, they acquired much capital as physicians, in the shape of financial means (economic capital), connections (social capital), medical degrees and skills (cultural capital), and status (symbolic capital). Their medical skills often provide the only capital that remains when arriving in the Netherlands, but it loses value as they have to prove their competence first in the AP. This is a long and arduous process. The mean duration, for those who had yet finished the AP, from arrival to employment was 4.5 years (n = 5, range 2.7-5.8 years). SRGMs experience difficulties in these AP years because they are forced to study from home and feel excluded from medical practice. They are unable to regain their economic, social and symbolic capital, whilst struggling to get their cultural capital acknowledged. Mentally this is challenging and when they do finish, this capital gap leaves them at a disadvantage when applying for competitive job applications. Once employed, SRGMs need time to adjust but are finally rebuilding their capital and integrating in Dutch society. Both SRGMs and Dutch society benefit when SRGMs' integration in the Dutch medical field improves. Although certain challenges for SRGMs seem inevitable, by offering a clinical internship before the assessment of SRGMs' skills, their capital acquisition might improve which would facilitate their integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Postmes
- Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, 3062, PA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - R L Rolim Medeiros
- Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, 3062, PA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
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Yolci A, Schenk L, Sonntag PT, Peppler L, Schouler-Ocak M, Schneider A. Observed and personally experienced discrimination: findings of a cross-sectional survey of physicians and nursing staff. HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH 2022; 20:83. [PMID: 36494666 PMCID: PMC9733037 DOI: 10.1186/s12960-022-00779-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Discrimination against hospital staff based on ascribed features is prevalent in healthcare systems worldwide. Detrimental effects on health and quality of patient care have been shown. Our study aims to describe and analyse the discrimination experiences of both physicians and nurses, specifically for the German hospital context. METHODS A cross-sectional online survey on observed and personally experienced discrimination at work addressed staff from 22 hospitals of two organizations in Germany. Sociodemographic and occupational as well as institutional characteristics served as independent variables. In multivariable analyses, block- and stepwise logistic regressions were calculated for the two dependent variables (witness and victim of discrimination). Sensitivity analyses with imputed data for missings were performed. RESULTS N = 800 healthcare professionals (n = 243 physicians, n = 557 nurses; response rate: 5.9%) participated in the survey. 305 respondents (38.1%) were witnesses of discrimination, while 108 respondents (13.5%) were victims of discrimination in their wards. Reasons for observed discriminatory acts were predominantly attributed to the ethnicity of the person concerned, their appearance and language, whereas personally affected staff most frequently cited gender as a reason, followed by ethnicity, and physical appearance. In multivariable models, cultural competence significantly increased the likelihood of witnessing discrimination (β = .575; p = .037). In terms of the likelihood of being a victim of discrimination, in addition to cultural competence (β = 2.838; p = < .001), the interaction of the effects of gender and professional group was statistically significant (β = .280; p = .010). CONCLUSIONS Given the extent of experienced and observed discrimination, appropriate institutional responses are needed. Further research on discriminatory structures in the German-speaking health care system should focus on discrimination at the intersection of ethnicity, gender and occupation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arda Yolci
- Institute of Medical Sociology and Rehabilitation Science, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Liane Schenk
- Institute of Medical Sociology and Rehabilitation Science, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Pia-Theresa Sonntag
- Institute of Medical Sociology and Rehabilitation Science, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lisa Peppler
- Institute of Medical Sociology and Rehabilitation Science, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Meryam Schouler-Ocak
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St. Hedwig-Krankenhaus, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Schneider
- Institute of Medical Sociology and Rehabilitation Science, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
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Schumann M, Sepke M, Peters H. Doctors on the move 2: a qualitative study on the social integration of middle eastern physicians following their migration to Germany. Global Health 2022; 18:78. [PMID: 36028861 PMCID: PMC9412787 DOI: 10.1186/s12992-022-00871-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The integration of immigrating physicians has become a challenge for many societies and health care systems worldwide. Facilitating the integration process may benefit both the uptaking country and the immigrating physicians. Previous studies have approached this problem from a system integration perspective. The present study explores the degree of social integration of an exemplary group of Middle Eastern physicians following their migration to Germany from an individual perspective. Methods Based on social constructivist epistemology, a series of fifteen interviews and two focus groups with immigrated Middle Eastern physicians (n = 23, purposively sampled) were conducted between 2017 and 2020 in Germany. The audio recordings were transcribed, translated into English and analysed deductively based on Esser’s model of social integration, consisting of four dimensions: acculturation, positioning, interaction and identification. Results The social integration of the participants showed a multifaceted picture. The early phase was characterized by disorientation and trial and error. Cultural differences were of major importance. Acculturation was facilitated by German language acquisition and increased over time, although some cultural difficulties remained. Professional positioning was facilitated by the need for physicians and a relatively low-hurdle relicensing procedure. Interaction and identification depended on the efforts of the individual physicians. Conclusions This study provides a comprehensive picture of the individual social integration of Middle Eastern physicians in Germany. Language and cultural adaptation are identified as being of primary importance. Social integration can be facilitated through orientation programmes or cross-cultural training that benefits the uptaking countries as well as the immigrating physicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa Schumann
- Dieter Scheffner Center for Medical Education and Educational Research, Dean's Office of Student Affairs, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Free and Humboldt University Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.,Medical Education Department, Alexandria Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Maria Sepke
- Dieter Scheffner Center for Medical Education and Educational Research, Dean's Office of Student Affairs, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Free and Humboldt University Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Harm Peters
- Dieter Scheffner Center for Medical Education and Educational Research, Dean's Office of Student Affairs, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Free and Humboldt University Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
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