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Occupational Health and Safety in the Healthcare Sector - Second Edition

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A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Factors and Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 23859

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Alberto Modenese

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Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
Interests: occupational health and safety; epidemiology of occupational diseases; ionizing and non-ionizing radiation exposure; occupational medicine; workers' health; prevention at in workplaces; exposure to occupational risk factors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Fabriziomaria Gobba

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Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
Interests: occupational medicine; occupational diseases; non-ionizing radiations (NIRs): occupational exposure evaluation, adverse health effects in workers, and prevention; occupational skin cancer: epidemiology and prevention; visual function in workers: occupational risks to the eye, prevention
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Considering the success of the first edition of this special issue, a brand new edition is now online. The occupational risks affecting healthcare workers (HCW) are several, and health personnel pay an important tribute in terms of occupational diseases and work-related injuries. Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic focuses the attention on the problem of the infectious risk, on the possible consequences of the infection (i.e. the long-COVID) and on the return to work of the workers, as well as on the effectiveness of the vaccination campaign and on the psychosocial impact of the pandemic on HCW, also witnessed by the relevant number of burn-out cases reported. Nevertheless, other important occupational risks should not be overlooked, as e.g. the risks associated to work-organization factors and to the exposure to chemical and physical agents. The health consequences associated with the exposure to all these factors have relevant impacts in terms of induced diseases, DALYs, sickness absence from work and costs for the health systems.

This new edition of the Special Issue “Occupational Health and Safety in the healthcare sector” is therefore soliciting manuscripts addressing topics related to the prevention of the occupational risks in the healthcare sector. Original articles and reviews on the prevention of work-related illnesses and injuries of the health personnel, as well as on the evaluation of the risks in the healthcare workplaces, and on the topics of risk perception and of the knowledge and attitudes of the workers towards the preventive procedures and the use of protections, including the vaccination campaigns, will be considered. Papers dealing with the themes of the prevention of infectious risk, chemical hazard, biomechanical overload of the musculoskeletal system, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation exposure and work-related psychosocial factors are particularly welcome.

The aim of the Special Issue is to provide an up to date panorama of the current occupational risks for the health personnel, focusing on new and emerging topics, and on prevention to be developed and implemented to promote safety and health of healthcare workers.

Dr. Alberto Modenese
Prof. Dr. Fabriziomaria Gobba
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

health personnel
occupational injuries
occupational diseases
infectious risk
chemical safety
musculoskeletal diseases
occupational stress
burnout
radiation exposure
personal protective equipment
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
vaccination campaign

Related Special Issue

Occupational Health and Safety in the Healthcare Sector in Healthcare (21 articles)

Published Papers (13 papers)

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19 pages, 632 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Burnout and Its Relationship with Work Engagement in Healthcare Professionals: A Latent Profile Analysis Approach

by David Luna, Rosa Paola Figuerola-Escoto, Juan José Luis Sienra-Monge, Alejandra Hernández-Roque, Arturo Soria-Magaña, Sandra Hernández-Corral and Filiberto Toledano-Toledano

Healthcare 2023, 11(23), 3042; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11233042 - 26 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1446

Abstract

The aim of this study was to use latent profile analysis to identify specific profiles of burnout syndrome in combination with work engagement and to identify whether job satisfaction, psychological well-being, and other sociodemographic and work variables affect the probability of presenting a profile of burnout syndrome and low work enthusiasm. A total of 355 healthcare professionals completed the Spanish Burnout Inventory, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, the Job Satisfaction Scale, and the Psychological Well-Being Scale for Adults. Latent profile analysis identified four profiles: (1) burnout with high indolence (BwHIn); (2) burnout with low indolence (BwLIn); (3) high engagement, low burnout (HeLb); and (4) in the process of burning out (IPB). Multivariate logistic regression showed that a second job in a government healthcare institution; a shift other than the morning shift; being divorced, separated or widowed; and workload are predictors of burnout profiles with respect to the HeLb profile. These data are useful for designing intervention strategies according to the needs and characteristics of each type of burnout profile. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health and Safety in the Healthcare Sector - Second Edition)

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12 pages, 909 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Potential Effect of Combined Exposure of Crystalline Silica Dust and Cigarette Smoking on the Incidence of Silicosis among Chinese Male Stone Processing Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Yu Xue, Long Miao, Ping Xu, Xinglong Yang, Man Qu and Hanpeng Lai

Healthcare 2023, 11(16), 2260; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11162260 - 11 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1214

Abstract

Background: Silicosis is a progressive and irreversible disease primarily caused by exposure to crystalline silica dust and, to a lesser extent, cigarette smoking. However, further research is needed to validate the potential combined effect of these risk factors on the increased incidence of the disease. Methods: A total of 1688 male workers employed at a Chinese stone processing plant between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2019, were included in the study. Cumulative exposure to industrial crystalline silica dust and packyears of smoking were collected through health surveillance, and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for silicotic changes due to industrial silica exposure and cigarette smoking were estimated using logistic regression models. Results: Among all participants, a significant exposure–response relationship was observed between long-term exposure to industrial silica dust and radiographic findings resembling silicosis (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.25 to 2.41). However, among middle-aged workers, a weak and statistically insignificant relationship was found between prolonged cigarette smoking and X-ray evidence of lung silicosis (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.53). Furthermore, significant combined effects, exceeding the additive models, were identified in each age group and employment sector (relative risk due to interaction 0.51, 95% CI 0.08 to 3.42). Conclusions: It is critically important to implement effective dust removal measures and tobacco control strategies in order to enhance respiratory health among employees across all age groups in the stone processing industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health and Safety in the Healthcare Sector - Second Edition)

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20 pages, 823 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Violence Prevention Climate and Health-Oriented Leadership in German Emergency Departments

by Mannat Guliani, Sonja Reißmann, Joachim Westenhöfer, Volker Harth and Stefanie Mache

Healthcare 2023, 11(16), 2234; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11162234 - 08 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1120

Abstract

Emergency departments (EDs) are high-risk environments for workplace violence. Research into techniques to prevent violence has less frequently explored the influence of leadership. This study aims to analyze the association of leadership with the prevention of violence using the concepts of health-oriented leadership (HoL) and the violence prevention climate (VPC). This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted through online surveys between November 2021 and March 2022 across Germany. A sample of 370 doctors and nurses working in German EDs were recruited. Perceptions towards VPC and HoL were compared between groups divided according to profession and position using independent t-tests or Mann–Whitney U tests. Separate multiple linear regression models for supervisors and employees analyzed the association between different profiles of HoL with VPC. Supervisors and employees showed significant differences in supervisor staff-care and VPC. Regression analysis demonstrated that supervisors’ self-care and employees’ assessment of supervisor’s staff-care positively predicted all dimensions of VPC. This empirical study provides insights into the variable perceptions of different groups and the association of leadership profiles with the perceptivity of VPC. The results of this study can be used to emphasize the importance of HoL training for both employees and supervisors to improve communication and health-promoting behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health and Safety in the Healthcare Sector - Second Edition)

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15 pages, 271 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Occupational Asthma Prevalence among Migrant Workers Attending Shuaiba Industrial Medical Center in Kuwait

by Hussah Waleed Alhadlaq, Alanoud Ateeq, Abdulaziz M. F. Shayea and Janvier Gasana

Healthcare 2023, 11(14), 2021; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11142021 - 13 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1082

Abstract

Specific work environments, such as exposure to chemicals emitted during industrial processes, are related to occupational asthma. From 1985 to 2012, Kuwait was expected to have the highest asthma prevalence rate among Middle East nations, at 15%. This cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data from occupational health physicians’ records in the Shuaiba Industrial Medical Center (SIMC) extracted and analyzed using SPSS. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used to check the association between risk factors and bronchial asthma (BA). The data sample size was 3478 in 2018 and 3807 in 2019. In 2018, BA had a significant relationship with age categories, work year groups, and determinants of fitness. Migrant workers above 51 years of age had a high risk of developing BA (p-value = 0.012). There was a high risk of developing BA in workers who worked > 21 years (p-value < 0.001) and in workers who worked between 11 and 20 years (p-value = 0.042). Overweight workers had a risk of developing BA (p-value = 0.042). In 2019, BA had an associated relationship with age categories and determinants of fitness. Workers above 51 years of age had about a 39% risk of developing BA (p-value = 0.009). Otherwise, the BMI, working year groups, marital status, and smoking status had no association with BA. In conclusion, BA is prevalent among migrant workers at the SIMC. Long hours, low income, and a lack of PPE are just a few of the issues that migrant workers have been exposed to, raising their risk of poor health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health and Safety in the Healthcare Sector - Second Edition)

10 pages, 596 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Neck Disability Index Detects Higher Neck-Related Disability Levels among Physiotherapists and Family Medicine Specialists than among Dentists

by Jure Aljinović, Blaž Barun, Benjamin Benzon, Ivanka Marinović, Ante Aljinović and Ana Poljičanin

Healthcare 2023, 11(4), 581; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11040581 - 15 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1676

Abstract

Background: Healthcare workers who are in physical contact with patients are prone to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Much is known about the prevalence of neck pain, but the extent of disability associated with neck pain among physical therapists (PTs), dentists, and family medicine specialists (FMs) is unknown. Methods: The prevalence of neck pain and Neck Disability Index (NDI) data were collected from 239 PTs, 103 FMs, 113 dentists, and 112 controls from June to August 2022. Results: The highest prevalence of neck pain was found in FMs (58.3%), followed by dentists (50.4%), PTs (48.5%) and controls (34.8%). The NDI% in PTs and FMs had higher values than controls: 14.6 ± 12.4, p = 0.02 for PTs, 14.9 ± 12.4, p = 0.01 for FMs vs. 10.1 ± 10.1 controls. The dentist group did not differ from controls (11.9 ± 10.2, p = 0.13). Mild, moderate, or severe forms of disability were more common in medical professionals than in controls (44.2%, 9.5%, and 1.5% vs. 37.5%, 7%, and 0%). Dentists were the youngest group with high functionality and the lowest degree of disability, comparable to the control population. Gender or age had no effect on NDI scores in this population. FMs, who represented the oldest group, showed age dependency (eleven years older in higher disability groups). Gender had no effect on NDI. In PTs, females predominated in all disability categories and PTs became five years older with increasing disability level. Conclusion: By using NDI in assessing neck-related WMSDs, we can detect medical professionals prone to more serious disability and potentially plan preventive actions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health and Safety in the Healthcare Sector - Second Edition)

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17 pages, 1355 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Musculoskeletal Pain in the Neck and Lower Back Regions among PHC Workers: Association between Workload, Mental Disorders, and Strategies to Manage Pain

by Marta Regina Cezar-Vaz, Daiani Modernel Xavier, Clarice Alves Bonow, Jordana Cezar Vaz, Letícia Silveira Cardoso, Cynthia Fontella Sant’Anna, Valdecir Zavarese da Costa, Carlos Henrique Cardona Nery, Aline Soares Alves, Joice Simionato Vettorello, Jociel Lima de Souza and Helena Maria Almeida Macedo Loureiro

Healthcare 2023, 11(3), 365; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11030365 - 28 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2667

Abstract

Scientific evidence indicates that workers in the health sector are commonly exposed to work-related musculoskeletal pain. Objectives: We aimed to identify the relationship between the presence and intensity of musculoskeletal pain in the neck and lumbar regions reported by Primary Health Care (PHC) workers with workloads and occupational risks, analyze musculoskeletal pain in the presence and absence of self-reported mental disorders based on a medical diagnosis, and identify workers’ strategies to manage pain. Method: This cross-sectional study addressed 338 health professionals working in PHC outpatient services in the extreme South of Brazil. One questionnaire addressed sociodemographic questions concerning occupation, occupational risks, and mental disorders. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to assess self-reported musculoskeletal pain. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) measured the workload. A descriptive and inferential analysis was performed using SPSS version 21.0. Results: Most (55.3%) participants reported neck and (64.5%) lower back pain in the previous 12 months, and 22.5% and 30.5% reported intense neck and lower back pain, respectively, in the previous 12 months. The results showed different independent associations with increased musculoskeletal pain among health workers. Dentists presented the highest prevalence of neck pain, while female workers presented the highest prevalence of lower back pain. Furthermore, the perception of ergonomic risk and virtually all self-reported mental disorders (except panic syndrome for neck pain) were associated with pain in the neck and lower back regions and a higher frustration level (mental demand). Additionally, professionals with graduate degrees, nurses, and professionals working the longest in PHC services reported seeking complementary therapies more frequently, while physicians and those with self-reported mental disorders self-medicated more frequently. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health and Safety in the Healthcare Sector - Second Edition)

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17 pages, 306 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Elderly Care Practitioners’ Perceptions of Moral Distress in the Work Development Discussions

by Elina Weiste, Maria Paavolainen, Nina Olin, Eveliina Korkiakangas, Eveliina Saari, Tiina Koivisto and Jaana Laitinen

Healthcare 2023, 11(3), 291; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11030291 - 18 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2775

Abstract

Elderly care practitioners are at specific risk of experiencing prolonged moral distress, which is associated with occupational health-related problems, low job satisfaction, and staff turnover. So far, little attention has been paid to the moral concerns specific to elderly care, a field whose importance is constantly growing as the populations in Western countries age. By drawing on seven workshop conversations as data and interaction-oriented focus group research, conversation analysis and discursive psychology as methods, we aim to study the ways in which elderly care practitioners discuss moral distress in their work. We found that the moral distress experienced was related to three topics that arose when client work and teamwork contexts were discussed: the power to influence, equal treatment of people, and collaboration. The interaction in client work and teamwork contexts differed systematically. The discussion on client work was characterised by negotiations on the rights and wrongs of care work, whereas the teamwork discussion engendered emotional outbursts, a potential manifestation of work-related burnout. Hence, attempts to improve the work-related health of elderly care practitioners require time and space for sharing the emotional load, followed by reflection on what could be improved in the work and what institutional solutions could help in morally distressing situations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health and Safety in the Healthcare Sector - Second Edition)

11 pages, 268 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Burnout and Depressive Symptoms in Healthcare Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia

by Monira Alwhaibi, Tariq M. Alhawassi, Bander Balkhi, Noha Al Aloola, Aliyah A. Almomen, Abdulaziz Alhossan, Sarah Alyousif, Bana Almadi, Maryam Bin Essa and Khalid M. Kamal

Healthcare 2022, 10(12), 2447; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10122447 - 05 Dec 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2081

Abstract

Objectives. The study objectives were to examine the prevalence of burnout among healthcare professionals, analyze the association of depression and burnout among healthcare professionals, and explore the factors related to burnout. Methods. A prospective cross-sectional study using a validated questionnaire was conducted among healthcare professionals in a tertiary teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia’s central region. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) questionnaire was used to measure burnout through emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. Descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out using SAS version 9.4. Results. The study sample was composed of 139 healthcare professionals. Around 48% of the study sample were nurses, 26% were physicians, 19% were pharmacists, and 6% were other healthcare professionals. About 61% screened positive for depression. Overall, one third of the participants had a high risk of burnout. Around 61.8% of the participants were in the high-risk group of the EE, 58.3% of the DP, and 41.0% of the PA subscales. Scores for the overall MBI were significantly different between various age groups, gender, those with social and financial responsibility, income, job titles, or years of experience. A higher risk of burnout in all subscales was observed among those with depression. Conclusions. A high risk of burnout was observed among healthcare professionals. The level of burnout was connected to workplace factors and the presence of depression. The burnout suffering among these healthcare professionals underlines the need to study further how to reduce the factors that contribute to burnout and the impact of interventions to reduce healthcare professionals’ burnout levels. The burnout scientific literature would benefit from further high-quality research with larger samples using longitudinal study designs to identify the causal risk factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health and Safety in the Healthcare Sector - Second Edition)

7 pages, 740 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Prolonged FFP2 Mask Use Cause Changes in Nasal Cytology? A Pilot Observational Study on Healthcare Workers

by Massimo Campagnoli, Valeria Dell’Era, Maria Silvia Rosa, Paolo Aluffi Valletti and Massimiliano Garzaro

Healthcare 2022, 10(12), 2365; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10122365 - 24 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1167

Abstract

TheCOVID-19 pandemic has rapidly spread worldwide. Individual prevention approaches include FFP2/N95 mask use. Healthcare (HC) workers wear face masks for a long time during their work shifts and often complain of nasal symptoms. Current data on mask-associated symptoms or upper airway epithelium transformations are limited. Nasal cytology (NC) is a useful, non-invasive diagnostic method to assess cellular alterations. The aim of this study is to compare NC in HC workers before and after the continuous wearing of FFP2 face masks. We conducted a pilot observational study on 10 volunteer HC workers, who continuously used FFP2 masks during the work shift. All subjects underwent NC at the beginning (T0) and at the end of their workshift (T1) and the cytological findings were compared. Moreover, nasal symptoms were collected. Rare inflammatory cells were detected at T0 and, comparing cytological data about T0 and T1, no significant differences were observed. The most reported nasal symptoms were itching (70%) and a dry nose (60%). Difficulty of breathing and nasal blockage were not relevant. These preliminary data seem to suggest that wearing an FFP2 mask does not determine observable alterations in NC in daily work. However, further studies on a larger population for a longer period are needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health and Safety in the Healthcare Sector - Second Edition)

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10 pages, 950 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Shank Circumference Reduction by Sleep Compression Stockings in University Students and Convenience Store Cashiers

by Yi-Lang Chen, Pai-Sheng Huang, Che-Wei Hsu, Yuan-Teng Chang and Hong-Tam Nguyen

Healthcare 2022, 10(8), 1532; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10081532 - 13 Aug 2022

Viewed by 1643

Abstract

Compression stockings (CSs) are a relatively simple and effective tool for alleviating varicose veins and are often used as a preventive measure among workers whose jobs require prolonged standing. Nevertheless, the efficacy of CSs that are advertised as sleepwear remains unverified. This study recruited 10 female university students and 10 cashiers as participants to test the effects of sleep CSs. During the experiment, the changes in shank circumference (SC) and the subjective discomfort rating upon getting up and going to bed were collected. Data were recorded immediately after getting up and SC measurement was repeated 10 min later. The results demonstrated that both CS condition and measurement time significantly affected SC reduction, whereas cashier or student status did not. The reported discomfort and tightness of the legs attributed to CSs were relatively high, and the benefit toward SC reduction was minimal. Cashiers exhibited slightly larger SC values and higher perceived discomfort levels, which may be attributed to their occupational characteristic of prolonged standing, and the cumulative effect of prolonged standing on muscle properties warrants further study. The study findings suggest that wearing CSs for sleep may not be effective for reducing OE Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health and Safety in the Healthcare Sector - Second Edition)

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9 pages, 2482 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

The First Attempt to Apply an Online Mindfulness Program to Nursing Staff in a Traditional Korean Medicine Clinic in COVID-19 Era: A Case Series

by Chan-Young Kwon and Do Hyeon Park

Healthcare 2023, 11(1), 145; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11010145 - 03 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1315

Abstract

The importance of medical personnel’s mental health is emphasized in the COVID-19 era. The characteristics of traditional Korean medicine (KM) may affect the mental health of nursing staff working at KM clinics. In this case series, we report the first attempt to apply an online mindfulness program to the nursing staff in a KM clinic in Korea. For three female nursing assistants, an online mindfulness program consisting of five sessions was offered for two months. After the program, a decrease in emotional labor was observed in two participants, and a decrease in the level of burnout was observed in all participants. One participant showed an increase in their emotional labor level, which was associated with an increase in deep acting. The participants expressed a high level of satisfaction with this program in terms of recommendations for peers and willingness to participate again. As this report is a case series, larger studies are needed to fully evaluate the benefits of the program on emotional labor and burnout of KM clinic nursing staff. However, the potential benefits of emotional labor and burnout, high satisfaction, and some challenges identified in this case series can be considered in future extensions and modifications of the program. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health and Safety in the Healthcare Sector - Second Edition)

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17 pages, 334 KiB

Open AccessPerspective

Legal Regulations and the Anticipation of Moral Distress of Prospective Nurses: A Comparison of Selected Undergraduate Nursing Education Programmes

by Karen Klotz, Annette Riedel, Sonja Lehmeyer and Magdalene Goldbach

Healthcare 2022, 10(10), 2074; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10102074 - 19 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1817

Abstract

Moral distress is commonly experienced by nurses in all settings. This bears the risk of a reduced quality of care, burnout and withdrawal from the profession. One approach to the prevention and management of moral distress is ethical competence development in undergraduate nursing education. Profession-specific legal regulations function as a foundation for the decision on the educational content within these programmes. This theoretical article presents the extent to which legal regulations may open framework conditions that allow for the comprehensive preparation of prospective nurses to manage moral distress. The legal frameworks and the immediate responsibilities regarding their realisation in the context of undergraduate nursing education vary slightly for the three chosen examples of Switzerland, Austria and Germany. While an increased awareness of ethics’ education is represented within the nursing laws, no definite presumption can be made regarding whether undergraduate nursing students will be taught the ethical competencies required to manage moral distress. It remains up to the curriculum design, the schools of nursing and instructors to create an environment that allows for the realisation of corresponding learning content. For the future, the establishment of professional nursing associations may help to emphasise acutely relevant topics, including moral distress, in undergraduate nursing education. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health and Safety in the Healthcare Sector - Second Edition)

18 pages, 1508 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Systematic Review of Mind–Body Modalities to Manage the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Era

by Chan-Young Kwon and Boram Lee

Healthcare 2022, 10(6), 1027; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10061027 - 01 Jun 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2790

Abstract

Healthcare workers (HCWs) have suffered physical and psychological threats since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Mind-body modalities (MBMs) can reduce the long-term adverse health effects associated with COVID-specific chronic stress. This systematic review aims to investigate the role of MBMs in managing the mental health of HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. A comprehensive search was conducted using 6 electronic databases, resulting in 18 clinical studies from 2019 to September 2021. Meta-analysis showed that MBMs significantly improved the perceived stress of HCWs (standardized mean difference, −0.37; 95% confidence intervals, −0.53 to −0.21). In addition, some MBMs had significant positive effects on psychological trauma, burnout, insomnia, anxiety, depression, self-compassion, mindfulness, quality of life, resilience, and well-being, but not psychological trauma and self-efficacy of HCWs. This review provides data supporting the potential of some MBMs to improve the mental health of HCWs during COVID-19. However, owing to poor methodological quality and heterogeneity of interventions and outcomes of the included studies, further high-quality clinical trials are needed on this topic in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health and Safety in the Healthcare Sector - Second Edition)

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