scholarly journals Responding to the Psychological Needs of Health Workers During Pandemic: Ten Lessons From Humanitarian Work

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Elena Cherepanov
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Aid Workers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Humanitarian Aid Workers

ABSTRACT When a complex emergency (CE) overwhelms infrastructure, the ability of health-care providers to work efficiently under duress saves lives. The author uses her experience of providing mental health supports to humanitarian aid workers and the pieces of training conducted for internal medicine practitioners to offer guidance on how to manage severe job-related stresses during the response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This work reminds responders about their professional mission and purpose, but its extreme physical and mental demands can take a toll on their well-being and health. In CEs, the sheer volume of work and the emotional over-engagement tend to produce toxic fantasies (eg, rescuer or helper fantasies), acting upon which threatens integrity of care and increases risks for both patients and providers. Accumulated fatigue and exposure to mass suffering and mortality can change the perceived value of life and increase reckless, risk-taking, and suicidal behaviors. Introducing a self-awareness framework prioritizes the awareness of the available choices and making situation-appropriate and informed decisions about balancing one’s own and others’ needs. The COVID-19 response has demonstrated that fostering peer supports, changing organizational culture, addressing self-awareness within a training and supervisory context, and strengthening supports for managers are important parts of disaster preparedness. It also revealed that more research is needed to better understand and meet the special psychological needs of health-care responders.

scholarly journals Experiencia en tiempos de pandemia

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-31
Author(s):  
Santos Ibáñez Barceló ◽  
Luis Alcaraz Clemente ◽  
Francisca Del Valle Cebrián
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Phone Calls ◽  
Primary Care Services

En los últimos meses, el virus SARS-CoV-2 ha generado una crisis global que atañe a todos los ámbitos de la vida. La enorme velocidad de propagación y el elevado número de contagios entre los profesionales de la salud han requerido aumentar la disponibilidad de personal sanitario. En respuesta, numerosos países han propuesto la posibilidad de que estudiantes de medicina y recién graduados sean contratados para realizar diversos trabajos que alivien estas carencias. En España, la declaración del Estado de Alarma inició la regulación legal para que esta posibilidad fuese llevada a cabo, lo que ha permitido contratar a estudiantes y médicos pre-MIR en diversos territorios. Dentro de este marco, se describe la experiencia llevada a cabo en la Gerencia de Atención Integrada de Almansa (Albacete), con la creación de un equipo integrado por dos graduados en medicina a la espera de escoger plaza MIR y una especialista de oftalmología. En el período comprendido entre el 27 de marzo y el 21 de abril de 2020, se ha realizado seguimiento clínico vía telefónica de 274 pacientes dados de alta con diagnóstico o sospecha de COVID-19, 790 llamadas y 26 derivaciones al servicio de Urgencias. El seguimiento telefónico supone una tarea que, aunque cuenta con limitaciones, puede ser desempeñada por médicos con menor experiencia laboral. Su papel ha sido clave en estos momentos, pues disminuye la congestión de los servicios hospitalarios y permite el adecuado control epidemiológico de los casos y sus contactos. Esta experiencia ha puesto de manifiesto otros puntos que atañen a la incertidumbre en tiempos cambiantes, las necesidades psicológicas de acompañamiento o el refuerzo de valores. Elementos como la telemedicina, el valor de la atención primaria, o la consideración de los estudiantes en la asistencia sanitaria deberán tenerse en cuenta por los planes de estudio de ahora en adelante. In recent months SARS-CoV-2 has generated a global crisis, which has had an impact on all aspects of life. The quick spread of the virus amongst medical professionals has meant that more and more health workers are needed. To address this demand, many countries have approached Medicine graduates to assist health care providers. The state of emergency in Spain started the legal process so this initiative could materialise and, ultimately, Medicine students and pre-resident medical interns could be hired across different territories. This account describes the experience of two pre-specialty graduates and a consultant ophthalmologist within this context. This team conducted clinical follow-up phone calls on 274 patients discharged from hospital with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, 790 calls and 26 referrals to A&E. Although with limitations, clinical follow- up conversations can be carried out by less experienced doctors. Their role has been key as they ease up congestion in hospital services as well as contributing towards the provision of epidemiological control and contact tracing. This experience has brought to light other issues related to the uncertainty in these fast-moving times, the psychological needs of social interaction and the strengthening of human values. Therefore, aspects such as telemedicine, the importance of primary care services and the role of students in health care will have to be taken into account in university programmes of study in the future.

scholarly journals Emotional Intelligence among the Health Care Providers Working in a Tertiary Level Hospital

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pramila Thapa ◽  
Ramesh Bhatta ◽  
Josana Khanal ◽  
Anil Chaudhary
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Tertiary Level ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Level Hospital

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to be aware of and control one's emotions and empathize with others. EI is essential for the well-being of a health care provider and their professional practice. A health care provider’s empathy is important in building a strong relationship with the patient which results in enhanced positive service outcomes. Emotional intelligence competence can be acquired through training and implementation in our own life. As every person is unique, he or she needs to learn concepts that will be suitable for him or her. The objective of the study is to assess the emotional intelligence among health care providers working in a tertiary level hospital and also to understand the association of emotional intelligence with demographic variables of work experience and age of health care providers working in a tertiary level hospital. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was conducted in the Tertiary Level Hospital of Kathmandu District, Nepal to assess the emotional intelligence among health care providers. Through convenience non-probability sampling technique 100 health care providers were selected and to assess the status of emotional intelligence Standard Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT) was used. Results of the study revealed that the highest forty per cent of the respondents have a low level of emotional intelligence and only thirty-two per cent of respondents have a high level of emotional intelligence. Lower in the level of EI among the health workers may be due to the lack of awareness on EI There was also significant association between the level of emotional intelligence with the respondent’s age (p= 0.003). which shows with the increasing age, individuals have different working exposures that improve in their maturity, which may support increasing the level of EI, and there is no significant association with respondent’s working experience.

scholarly journals Brazil’s Community Health Workers Practicing Narrative Medicine: Patients’ Perspectives

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rogério Meireles Pinto ◽  
Rahbel Rahman ◽  
Margareth Santos Zanchetta ◽  
W. Galhego-Garcia
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Hybrid Approach ◽  
Narrative Medicine ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Patient Perspectives ◽  
Care Providers

Abstract Background Narrative medicine (NM) encourages health care providers to draw on their personal experiences to establish therapeutic alliances with patients of prevention and care services. NM medicine practiced by nurses and physicians has been well documented, yet there is little understanding of how community health workers (CHWs) apply NM concepts in their day-to-day practices from patient perspectives. Objective To document how CHWs apply specific NM concepts in Brazil’s Family Health Strategy (FHS), the key component of Brazil’s Unified Health System. Design We used a semi-structured interview, grounded in Charon’s (2001) framework, including four types of NM relationships: provider–patient, provider–colleague, provider–society, and provider–self. A hybrid approach of thematic analysis was used to analyze data from 27 patients. Key Results Sample: 18 females; 13 White, 12 “Pardo” (mixed races), 12 Black. We found: (1) provider–patient relationship—CHWs offered health education through compassion, empathy, trustworthiness, patience, attentiveness, jargon-free communication, and altruism; (2) provider–colleague relationship—CHWs lacked credibility as perceived by physicians, impacting their effectiveness negatively; (3) provider–society relationship—CHWs mobilized patients civically and politically to advocate for and address emerging health care and prevention needs; (4) provider–self relationship—patients identified possible low self-esteem among CHWs and a need to engage in self-care practices to abate exhaustion from intense labor and lack of resources. Conclusion This study adds to patient perspectives on how CHWs apply NM concepts to build and sustain four types of relationships. Findings suggest the need to improve provider–colleague relationships by ongoing training to foster cooperation among FHS team members. More generous organizational supports (wellness initiatives and supervision) may facilitate the provider–self relationship. Public education on CHWs’ roles is needed to enhance the professional and societal credibility of their roles and responsibilities. Future research should investigate how CHWs’ personality traits may influence their ability to apply NM.

scholarly journals Depression and Suicidality in Gay Men: Implications for Health Care Providers

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 910-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie Lee ◽  
John L. Oliffe ◽  
Mary T. Kelly ◽  
Olivier Ferlatte
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sexual Practices ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Prevalence Of Depression

Gay men are a subgroup vulnerable to depression and suicidality. The prevalence of depression among gay men is three times higher than the general adult population. Because depression is a known risk factor for suicide, gay men are also at high risk for suicidality. Despite the high prevalence of depression and suicidality, health researchers and health care providers have tended to focus on sexual health issues, most often human immunodeficiency virus in gay men. Related to this, gay men’s health has often been defined by sexual practices, and poorly understood are the intersections of gay men’s physical and mental health with social determinants of health including ethnicity, locale, education level, and socioeconomic status. In the current article summated is literature addressing risk factors for depression and suicidality among gay men including family acceptance of their sexual identities, social cohesion and belonging, internalized stigma, and victimization. Barriers to gay men’s help seeking are also discussed in detailing how health care providers might advance the well-being of this underserved subgroup by effectively addressing depression and suicidality.

Training health workers to provide person-centred maternal and newborn health care in Burkina Faso

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-159
Author(s):  
Janet Perkins ◽  
Aminata Bargo ◽  
Cecilia Capello ◽  
Carlo Santarelli
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Newborn Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Maternal And Newborn Health ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Maternal And Newborn

Assuring the provision of person-centred care is critical in maternal and newborn health (MNH). As a component of the national strategy to improve MNH, Burkina Faso Ministry of Health, supported by Enfants du Monde, La Fondation pour le Développement Communautaire/Burkina Faso and UNFPA, is implementing the World Health Organization’s (WHO) framework for Working with Individuals, Families and Communities (IFC) to improve MNH. As a first step in district implementation, participatory community assessments were conducted. These assessments consistently revealed that poor interactions with healthcare providers posed one important barrier preventing women from seeking MNH services. In order to address this barrier, healthcare providers were trained to improve their interpersonal skills and in counselling women. During 2011-12 a total of 175 personnel were trained over a 5-day course developed using a WHO manual. The course was met with enthusiasm as providers expressed their need and desire for such training. Immediate post-test results revealed an impressive increase in knowledge and anecdotal evidence suggests that training has influenced provider’s behaviours in their interactions with women. In addition, health care providers are taking concrete action to build the capabilities of women to experience pregnancy and birth safely by engaging directly with communities.  While early findings are promising, an evaluation will be necessary to measure how the training has influenced practices, whether this translates into a shift of perceptions at community level and ultimately its contribution toward promoting person-centred care in Burkina Faso.

Creating Comics to Address Well-Being and Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 152483992110654
Author(s):  
Kathryn West ◽  
Karen R. Jackson ◽  
Tobias L. Spears ◽  
Brian Callender
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Narrative Medicine ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Graphic Medicine ◽  
Racial Injustice ◽  
Pilot Implementation

In this descriptive case series, we detail the theoretical basis, methodology, and impact of a small-scale pilot implementation of graphic medicine workshops as an innovative approach to well-being and resilience in the age of COVID-19 and increasing awareness of racial injustice. The data provided in this article are anecdotal and based on participation in the workshops. Images created during the workshops are also shared as examples of the types of reflection that graphic medicine can enable. The workshops themselves were designed collaboratively and are based on the theoretical principles of graphic medicine, narrative medicine, and racial and social justice. They were conducted as part of a larger wellness initiative and were offered to health care-focused faculty at our academic medical institution. Our findings suggest that this was a beneficial activity which helped participants to reflect and reconsider their experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic and surging awareness of racial injustice. Reflections also showed that drawings were correlated with ProQOL scores and may, in larger numbers, also help to mitigate or bring attention to issues of burnout in frontline providers. Drawings shared show the tremendous impact of COVID-19 and the simultaneous chaos and emptiness of practicing during dual pandemics. Our workshops engaged about 20 frontline health care providers and other health care faculty and highlight the utility of graphic medicine as a tool for building resilience and encouraging self-reflection. Further study is necessary, as is more rigorous analysis of the relationship between the graphics created and the ability to recognize and mitigate burnout.

scholarly journals Knowledge and attitudes of tuberculosis management in San Juan de Lurigancho district of Lima, Peru

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (10) ◽  
pp. 783-788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Kiefer ◽  
Theresa Shao ◽  
Olveen Carrasquillo ◽  
Pamela Nabeta ◽  
Carlos Seas
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
San Juan ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Knowledge Gaps ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes

Background: Expansion of the health care workforce in Peru to combat tuberculosis (TB) includes both professional health care providers (HCPs) such as doctors and nurses, and non-professional HCPs such as community health workers (CHWs). We describe the knowledge and attitudes of these HCPs, and identify modifiable barriers to appropriate anti-tuberculosis treatment.  Methodology: We surveyed HCPs practicing in 30 clinical settings (hospitals, community health centers, and health posts) in the San Juan de Lurigancho district of Eastern Lima, Peru. Multiple-choice questions were used to assess knowledge of TB. A five-item Likert scale was created to assess attitudes toward the community, patients, and clinics. Linear regression was used to identify predictors of mean knowledge score, and analysis of variance was used to test differences in HCP score.  Results: Of the 73 HCPs surveyed, 15% were professionals (doctors or nurses). The remaining 85% were health technicians, community health workers (CHWs) or students. The mean knowledge score was 10.0 ± 1.9 (maximum 14) with professional HCPs scoring higher than other HCPs (11.7 ± 1.1 vs. 9.7 ± 1.9), p < .01). Knowledge gaps included identification of patients at high risk for TB, assessment of treatment outcomes, and consequences of treatment failure. The most commonly cited modifiable barriers were structural, including laboratory facilities and staffing of TB clinics, with 52.1% and 62.5% of HCPs, respectively, citing these as problematic.  Conclusions: Efforts to improve knowledge of TB HCPs in Peru should focus on the specific gaps we have identified. Further research is needed to evaluate whether these knowledge gaps correlate with TB control.     

scholarly journals Influencing Factors for Prevention of Postpartum Hemorrhage and Early Detection of Women at Risk in The Northern Province of Rwanda: Beneficiary and Health Worker Perspectives

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliva Bazirete ◽  
Manassé Nzayirambaho ◽  
Aline Umubyeyi ◽  
Marie Chantal Uwimana ◽  
Evans Marilyn
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Early Detection ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Northern Province ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Childbearing Women

Abstract Background: Reduction of maternal mortality and morbidity is a major global health priority. However, much remains unknown regarding factors associated with postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) among childbearing women in the Rwandan context. The aim of this study is to explore the influencing factors for prevention of PPH and early detection of women at risk as perceived by beneficiaries and health workers in the Northern Province of Rwanda. Methods: A qualitative descriptive exploratory study was drawn from a larger sequential exploratory‐mixed methods study. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 11 women who experienced PPH within the 6 months prior to interview. In addition, focus group discussions were conducted with: women’s partners or close relatives (2 focus groups), community health workers (CHWs) in charge of maternal health (2 focus groups) and health care providers (3 focus groups). A socio ecological model was used to develop interview guides to describe factors related to early detection and prevention of PPH in consideration of individual attributes, interpersonal, family and peer influences, intermediary determinants of health and structural determinants. The research protocol was approved by the University of Rwanda, College of Medicine and Health Sciences Institutional Ethics Review Board. Results: We generated four interrelated themes: (1) Meaning of PPH: beliefs, knowledge and understanding of PPH: (2) Organizational factors; (3) Caring and family involvement and (4) Perceived risk factors and barriers to PPH prevention. The findings from this study indicate that PPH was poorly understood by women and their partners. Family members and CHWs feel that their role for the prevention of PPH is to get the woman to the health facility on time. The main factors associated with PPH as described by participants were multiparty and retained placenta. Low socioeconomic status and delays to access health care were identified as the main barriers for the prevention of PPH. Conclusions: Addressing the identified factors could enhance early prevention of PPH among childbearing women. Placing emphasis on developing strategies for early detection of women at higher risk of developing PPH, continuous professional development of health care providers, developing educational materials for CHWs and family members could improve the prevention of PPH. Involvement of all levels of the health system was recommended for a proactive prevention of PPH. Further quantitative research, using case control design is warranted to develop a screening tool for early detection of PPH risk factors for a proactive prevention.

scholarly journals FRONTLINE HEALTH PROVIDER'S PERSPECTIVE IN REDUCING CHILD DEATHS DUE TO MALNUTRITION IN A TRIBAL DISTRICT OF MAHARASHTRA: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

2021 ◽  
pp. 246-249
Author(s):  
Lalit Sankhe ◽  
Chhaya Rajguru ◽  
Monali Kadam
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Care Service ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Child Deaths ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Refresher Training

Background: Malnutrition is a complex problem with double burden of undernutrition and overweight. India is no exception to it but there is a higher level of malnutrition in tribal blocks and to curb this situation,various activities have been undertaken but the slow pace of decline in malnutrition is a concern.The role of frontline health workers is crucial in strengthening primary health care.They serve as the bridge between the formal government health-care system and the community.The present study helps to seek the perception of primary health care service providers and challenges faced by them in reducing child deaths due to malnutrition. Method: A descriptive cross sectional qualitative study was conducted during August 2019 - February 2020 in three talukas of a tribal district. Focus group discussions (FGD) for each service providers Auxiliary Nurse midwife (ANM), Anganwadi worker (AWW) and Accredited Social Health activist (ASHA) were conducted. All the FGDs were audio recorded and transcripts were prepared,a thematic analysis framework was used for doing the analysis. Results: Most of the service providers were aware regarding their roles and responsibilities in implementation of schemes/ services related to malnutrition. The important factors influencing their performance were superstitions, more reliance on health seeking from unqualified health care providers and faith healers, poor road connectivity, network issues,lack of refresher training,overburdening with work,poor incentives. Conclusion: Specific training programs to tackle malnutrition along with frequent refresher training of the service providers,better infrastructure and human resources will help in achieving the desired results in future in dealing with child malnutrition.

scholarly journals Birth Companions, Health workers perspective: Mixed Method Study in St. Paul’s Hospital and Millennium Medical College and its Catchment Centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kidist Gizachew ◽  
Tewodros Getinet ◽  
Delayehu Bekele
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Addis Ababa ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Child Birth ◽  
Medical College

Abstract Background: Birth companions have been shown to improve quality of care provided to laboring women. Various studies have shown the benefits of companion during child birth. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of health care providers towards the involvement of birth companions during child birth in St Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) and its selected catchment health centers. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional study which was supplemented by qualitative study design which employed phenomenological design was conducted using in depth interview of health care providers who were on practice during the study period in SPHMMC. Result: The study included a total 58 health care providers. The finding from the study showed that great proportion of health care providers involved in the study (90 %) have positive attitude towards involvement of birth companions but majority 82.4 % didn’t allow birth companions. The commonest reasons mentioned for not involving companions include fear of breach of privacy, interference with routine medical care and risk of litigation/complaints.Conclusion and Recommendation: The findings from this study showed that majority of the health care providers are against the practice of involving birth companions. Since involvement of birth companions is one way to ensure the quality of care provided there should be an effort to increase the knowledge of health professionals on benefits of birth companions. There is also a need for improvement of the work setup. Simple measures like providing screens, providing separate rooms for laboring and post-partum women will have a significant impact on the quality of care provided.

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