Vicarious trauma: Risk factors, symptoms and coping strategies

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Comerchero
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
Saravanan Murugan ◽  
Prerana Saravanan ◽  
Disha Avaiya ◽  
Ibrahim Bawa ◽  
Charmi Shah ◽  
...  

<strong>Introduction:</strong> School teachers have high prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders which decrease productivity at work due to sick leave and absenteeism. In India, more traditional methods of teaching are used as compared to other countries, and this difference encouraged us to determine prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, risk factors and coping strategies adopted by teachers. <strong>Methods:</strong> A self-administered Questionnaire was distributed to 810 particcipants. 567 responses were received out of which 30 questionnaires were incomplete. The self-administered Questionnaire included 31 questions under 5 categories: General Profile, Occupational profile, Health/Musculoskeletal pain profile, Perceived risk factors and Coping Strategies. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation, frequency were calculated for continuous and categorical variables respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association of musculoskeletal symptoms with demograpic factors and working conditions. <strong>Results:</strong> 112 (20.9%) reported having musculoskeletal pain. Low back (48.2%) was commonly affected. 50.9% had chronic pain and 71.4% reported pain interfered with occupational routine. 48.2% reported with sleep disturbances. Commonly percieved factor was standing for prolonged periods (76.8%). Risk factor analysis using logistic regression model on cause of pain showed statistical significance (χ2 (27)=77.169, p&lt;0.005). Females were 3.952 times more likely to exhibit pain than males (OR 3.952, 95% CI 1.694- 9.217). Commonly reported coping strategy was visiting a Physiotherapist (44.6%). While 33% coped up with pain using prescribed analgesics, none of them opted to rest. Despite high prevalence and severity, only 17% had frequented absenteism to work by taking sick leave.<strong> Discussion:</strong> Prevalence rate of musculoskeletal pain was found to be higher among school teachers as per the results of this present study. Prevalence and risk factor perceptions of school teachers as reported in this study can be of significance in understanding and addressing these factors and appropriate measures to prevent and overcome them can be devised based on these results. Since the risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms can be multifactorial in nature, the results of this present study need to be correlated with all possible mechanisms related to this population and further studies to determine the effectiveness of appropriate ergonomic modifications should be taken into consideration.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 9004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiziana Maiorano ◽  
Monia Vagni ◽  
Valeria Giostra ◽  
Daniela Pajardi

The COVID-19 crisis has placed a heavy burden on medical staff and emergency workers, who may be at risk of developing psychological distress and secondary trauma. Coping and resilience to stress during a pandemic are protective factors that can mitigate the potential adverse psychological effects. Here, we investigated the direct and mediated effects of coping strategies and hardiness on secondary trauma among Italian medical staff (physicians and nurses, n = 140) and emergency workers (firefighters, civil protection, and ambulance personnel, n = 100) involved in the first phase of the pandemic. For this purpose, we collected data from participants through online questionnaires to measure emergency stress, coping strategies, hardiness, and secondary trauma. Other variables analyzed were age, sex, direct contact with COVID-19 patients, and use of personal protective equipment (PPE). We performed a correlational analysis, regressions, and a mediation analysis. The results show that nurses and physicians experienced higher levels of emergency stress than emergency workers. Direct contact with COVID-19 patients, female sex, unexpected events, and lack of PPE were risk factors for emergency stress, while resilience and coping strategies played a protective role. Mediation analysis shows that coping strategies and hardiness are protective factors and reduce the effect of stress on secondary trauma.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 6-12
Author(s):  
Saravanan Prerana ◽  
Murugan Saravanan ◽  
Lad Krunal ◽  
Ramani Krishna ◽  
Vadodarariya Ruchi

Background: Physiotherapists, despite having good knowledge of work related musculoskeletal disorders, are not immune to it. As literature related to these injuries in Physiotherapy profession in India is scarce, this study aims to investigate prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorder, job risk factors commonly involved and coping strategies used among Physiotherapist in India. Methods: A semi structured questionnaire adopted from questionnaires used for similar studies around the world was circulated to 314 Physiotherapists. A total of 271 questionnaires were received back with a response rate of 86%. Mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentage and chi square test were used as appropriate for data analysis. Results: Prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders was found to be 62.73%. Lower back region was affected the most (65.3%) followed by neck (41.8%) and shoulder (26.5%). As per response of therapists in this study, the most common risk factors were: working in static positions for longer periods (77%), treating large number of patients in single day (68.2%) and bending and twisting back in awkward positions (65.8%).Common coping strategies adopted by respondents were: modifying positions of patient and self (54.1%), adjusting height of treatment surface (47.1%) and selection of techniques that does not aggravate or provoke discomfort (41.8%). Conclusion: This study has identified the prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders among Physiotherapists in India and possible risk factors associated with this profession. It has also identified the common coping strategies utilized by therapists. These findings would be significant in modifying risk factors to prevent and/or minimize work related musculoskeletal disorders among physiotherapists.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Lamia Amin Awad Salama ◽  
Hend Abdel Monem Eleshenamie

Background: It is established that nurses suffer from varying degrees of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) at different regions of their body, which results in frequent loss of work days. Aim of study is to identify the risk factors for developing musculoskeletal disorder and to determine the coping strategies to reduce their frequency.Methods: This study was conducted in the Outpatient Departments (OPDs), intensive care units of University Hospital and also from the nursing schoolof the Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria, Egypt.Results: A high proportion of nurses reported MSD (99.0%) during the last year. Also during their whole careers at one or the other body regions, with the shoulder (97.0%) and Neck (95.0%) being the most commonly affected. Nurses with more than two pregnancies and usage of computer for more than two years were those with the most perceived risk factors for MSD. The usage of different part of body by the nurses as a coping mechanism during the nursing procedures (34.0%) and change of posture (30.0%) were the top two statistically significant coping strategies.Conclusions: The study confirms very high prevalence of MSD among the nursing staff and it was prominent at some specific body parts, of which neck and shoulder were the most affected.


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