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Williams GA, Ziemann M, Chen C, Forman R, Sagan A, Pittman P. Global health workforce strategies to address the COVID-19 pandemic: Learning lessons for the future. Int J Health Plann Manage 2024; 39:888-897. [PMID: 38233974 DOI: 10.1002/hpm.3762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 put unprecedented strain on the health and care workforce (HCWF). Yet, it also brought the HCWF to the forefront of the policy agenda and revealed many innovative solutions that can be built upon to overcome persistent workforce challenges. In this perspective, which draws on a Policy Brief prepared for the WHO Fifth Global Forum on Human Resources for Health, we present findings from a scoping review of global emergency workforce strategies implemented during the pandemic and consider what we can learn from them for the long-term sustainability of the HCWF. Our review shows that strategies to strengthen HCWF capacity during COVID-19 fell into three categories: (1) surging supply of health and care workers (HCWs); (2) optimizing the use of the workforce in terms of setting, skills and roles; and (3) providing HCWs with support and protection. While some initiatives were only short-term strategies, others have potential to be continued. COVID-19 demonstrated that changes to scope-of-practice and the introduction of team-based roles are possible and central to an effective, sustainable workforce. Additionally, the use of technology and digital tools increased rapidly during COVID-19 and can be built on to enhance access and efficiency. The pandemic also highlighted the importance of prioritizing the security, safety, and physical and mental health of workers, implementing measures that are gender and equity-focused, and ensuring the centrality of the worker perspective in efforts to improve HCWF retention. Flexibility of regulatory, financial, technical measures and quality assurance was critical in facilitating the implementation of HCWF strategies and needs to be continued. The lessons learned from COVID-19 can help countries strengthen the HCWF, health systems, and the health and well-being of all, now and in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma A Williams
- European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Margaret Ziemann
- Department of Health Policy & Management, Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Candice Chen
- Department of Health Policy & Management, Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Rebecca Forman
- European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Anna Sagan
- European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Patricia Pittman
- Department of Health Policy & Management, Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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Fronteira I, Mathews V, Dos Santos RLB, Matsumoto K, Amde W, Pereira A, de Oliveira APC, Craveiro I, Chança R, Boniol M, Ferrinho P, Poz MRD. Impacts for health and care workers of Covid-19 and other public health emergencies of international concern: living systematic review, meta-analysis and policy recommendations. HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH 2024; 22:10. [PMID: 38273317 PMCID: PMC10809470 DOI: 10.1186/s12960-024-00892-2] [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: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health and care workers (HCW) faced the double burden of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: as members of a society affected by a public health emergency and as HWC who experienced fear of becoming infected and of infecting others, stigma, violence, increased workloads, changes in scope of practice, among others. To understand the short and long-term impacts in terms of the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health emergencies of international concern (PHEICs) on HCW and relevant interventions to address them, we designed and conducted a living systematic review (LSR). METHODS We reviewed literature retrieved from MEDLINE-PubMed, Embase, SCOPUS, LILACS, the World Health Organization COVID-19 database, the ClinicalTrials.org and the ILO database, published from January 2000 until December 2021. We included quantitative observational studies, experimental studies, quasi-experimental, mixed methods or qualitative studies; addressing mental, physical health and well-being and quality of life. The review targeted HCW; and interventions and exposures, implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic or other PHEICs. To assess the risk of bias of included studies, we used the Johanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tools. Data were qualitatively synthetized using meta-aggregation and meta-analysis was performed to estimate pooled prevalence of some of the outcomes. RESULTS The 1013 studies included in the review were mainly quantitative research, cross-sectional, with medium risk of bias/quality, addressing at least one of the following: mental health issue, violence, physical health and well-being, and quality of life. Additionally, interventions to address short- and long-term impact of PHEICs on HCW included in the review, although scarce, were mainly behavioral and individual oriented, aimed at improving mental health through the development of individual interventions. A lack of interventions addressing organizational or systemic bottlenecks was noted. DISCUSSION PHEICs impacted the mental and physical health of HCW with the greatest toll on mental health. The impact PHEICs are intricate and complex. The review revealed the consequences for health and care service delivery, with increased unplanned absenteeism, service disruption and occupation turnover that subvert the capacity to answer to the PHEICs, specifically challenging the resilience of health systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Fronteira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal.
- National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, NOVA University of Lisbon, Avenida Padre Cruz, 1600-560, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Verona Mathews
- School of Public, Health University of the Western Cape, South Africa, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, Republic of South Africa
| | - Ranailla Lima Bandeira Dos Santos
- Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sérgio Arouca, Fundação Osvaldo Cruz, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480 - Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Karen Matsumoto
- Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier 524 - 7º andar, Blocos D e E - Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20550-013, Brazil
| | - Woldekidan Amde
- School of Public, Health University of the Western Cape, South Africa, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, Republic of South Africa
| | - Alessandra Pereira
- Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier 524 - 7º andar, Blocos D e E - Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20550-013, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Cavalcante de Oliveira
- Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier 524 - 7º andar, Blocos D e E - Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20550-013, Brazil
| | - Isabel Craveiro
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Raphael Chança
- Instituto Nacional de Cancer, Ministério da Saúde, Rua Marquês de Pombal, 125, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20230240, Brazil
| | - Mathieu Boniol
- Health Workforce Department, World Health Organization, Av. Appia 20, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Paulo Ferrinho
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mario Roberto Dal Poz
- Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier 524 - 7º andar, Blocos D e E - Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20550-013, Brazil
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Troisi A. Mental Health Challenges during the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12031213. [PMID: 36769860 PMCID: PMC9917975 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12031213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health has unveiled the complexity of the relationship between psychiatry and the rest of medicine, as clearly shown by the collection of studies published in this Special Issue entitled "Mental Health Challenges during the COVID-19 Pandemic" [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Troisi
- International Medical School, University of Rome Tor Vergata, via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
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Harbridge R, Ivanitskaya L, Spreitzer G, Boscart V, Alessi VJ, Boscart V. Psychological empowerment and job crafting among registered nurses working in public health: A quantitative study. Appl Nurs Res 2023; 69:151649. [PMID: 36635019 DOI: 10.1016/j.apnr.2022.151649] [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: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The researchers examine the relationship between two variables related to work meaningfulness and engagement - psychological empowerment and job crafting - among Ontario registered nurses working in public health. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted in Ontario, Canada with registered nurses (n = 238) from six randomly selected health units. Registered nurses provided quantitative ratings of their psychological empowerment and job crafting behaviours in an online, confidential, anonymous survey. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, correlations, multiple and hierarchical regressions, and independent samples t-tests. RESULTS Significant, positive relationships were observed between overall scores for psychological empowerment and job crafting (r = 0.50, n = 238, p < .01) and for each of their dimensions. Region, age, job, and public health experience explained 26 % of the variance in overall psychological empowerment; job crafting accounted for an additional 24 % of variance. Region and public health experience moderated the relationship between psychological empowerment and job crafting. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS Registered nurses working in public health experience empowerment when they engage in job crafting. Nurse managers and educators can support and promote job crafting by nurses who are willing to engage and make their jobs more meaningful. What is already known about this topic? WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Harbridge
- Health Administration Division, School of Health Sciences, Central Michigan University, 208D Rowe Hall, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA.
| | - Lana Ivanitskaya
- Health Administration Division, School of Health Sciences, Central Michigan University, 208D Rowe Hall, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA.
| | - Gretchen Spreitzer
- Keith E. and Valerie J. Alessi Professor of Business Administration, Stephen M. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, 701 Tappan St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Veronique Boscart
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Schlegel Industrial Research Chair for Colleges in Seniors Care, Canadian Institute for Seniors Care, School of Health and Life Sciences, Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, 299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
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Zhao N, Liu B, Wang Y. Examining the Relationship between Death Anxiety and Well-Being of Frontline Medical Staff during the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph192013430. [PMID: 36294046 PMCID: PMC9603769 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
To examine the well-being of medical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted a survey of 705 medical staff who were involved in anti-epidemic work in China from 20 February to 16 March 2020. The findings of the present study showed a "psychological typhoon eye" effect in which the medical staff in areas with a high contagion rate showed a significantly lower level of death anxiety than those in low-contagion regions. We also found a significant negative relationship between death anxiety and hedonic well-being, but there was no relationship between death anxiety and eudaimonic well-being. Moreover, the results revealed that a narcissistic personality moderates the relationships between death anxiety and the two types of well-being. For those who had higher narcissistic personality scores, death anxiety had no negative effect on their well-being. The findings of the present study can help us to better understand the life profiles of medical staff and can also provide some practical implications for understanding the life conditions of medical staff when facing a great health crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Zhao
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-15011245375
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Alimoradi Z, Ohayon MM, Griffiths MD, Lin CY, Pakpour AH. Fear of COVID-19 and its association with mental health-related factors: systematic review and meta-analysis. BJPsych Open 2022; 8:e73. [PMID: 35307051 PMCID: PMC8943231 DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2022.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The severity of COVID-19 remains high worldwide. Therefore, millions of individuals are likely to suffer from fear of COVID-19 and related mental health factors. AIMS The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize empirical evidence to understand fear of COVID-19 and its associations with mental health-related problems during this pandemic period. METHOD Relevant studies were searched for on five databases (Scopus, ProQuest, EMBASE, PubMed Central, and ISI Web of Knowledge), using relevant terms (COVID-19-related fear, anxiety, depression, mental health-related factors, mental well-being and sleep problems). All studies were included for analyses irrespective of their methodological quality, and the impact of quality on pooled effect size was examined by subgroup analysis. RESULTS The meta-analysis pooled data from 91 studies comprising 88 320 participants (mean age 38.88 years; 60.66% females) from 36 countries. The pooled estimated mean of fear of COVID-19 was 13.11 (out of 35), using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale. The associations between fear of COVID-19 and mental health-related factors were mostly moderate (Fisher's z = 0.56 for mental health-related factors; 0.54 for anxiety; 0.42 for stress; 0.40 for depression; 0.29 for sleep problems and -0.24 for mental well-being). Methodological quality did not affect these associations. CONCLUSIONS Fear of COVID-19 has associations with various mental health-related factors. Therefore, programmes for reducing fear of COVID-19 and improving mental health are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zainab Alimoradi
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Iran
| | - Maurice M. Ohayon
- Stanford Sleep Epidemiology Research Center (SSERC), School of Medicine, Stanford University, California, USA
| | - Mark D. Griffiths
- International Gaming Research Unit, Department of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, UK
| | - Chung-Ying Lin
- Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan; Biostatistics Consulting Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan; and Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
| | - Amir H. Pakpour
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Iran; and Department of Nursing, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Sweden
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Long-Term Impact of Economic Downturn and Loneliness on Psychological Distress: Triple Crises of COVID-19 Pandemic. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10194596. [PMID: 34640614 PMCID: PMC8509467 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10194596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 crisis poses global mental health and global economy challenges. However, there is a lack of longitudinal research investigating whether financial instability and social disruption may increase the risk of developing mental health problems over time that may potentially outlast the pandemic. Methods: We conducted an online survey for members of the general population (n = 2703) in Germany during the twelve months spanning from April 2020 to March 2021. We investigated the development of COVID-19 related psychological distress, the number of unemployed people, federal government debt, income distribution, and loneliness over the time period. Results: Over a period of twelve months, 53.6% of respondents in Germany reported experiencing psychological distress, varying from mild levels, 34.2%, to severe levels, 19.4%, of distress. High federal government debt, high incident COVID-19 cases, low incomes, and the prevalence of loneliness were found to be associated with increased long-term mental health problems. Psychological distress scores were most strongly increased in female and young respondents as well as those who reported fewer years of education, low income, and higher loneliness. Conclusions: Our study highlights factors that have a long-term impact on mental health amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We suggest that specific mental-health services could be offered to support high-risk groups experiencing financial fragility and loneliness. For purposes of safeguarding their mental health there is a need to monitor and track such risk factors in real time.
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