COVID-19 Exposure Risk for Family Members of Healthcare Workers: An Observational Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Dioscoridi ◽  
Chiara Carrisi
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Exposure Risk

scholarly journals Tai Chi and workplace wellness for health care workers: a systematic review

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
B Dorelli ◽  
R A Cocchiara ◽  
G Gholamalishahi ◽  
W Longo ◽  
E Musumeci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Case Report ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Methodological Quality ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Tai Chi ◽  
Work Related Stress ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Related Stress

Abstract Background Several studies show positive effects of new non-medical therapies known as complementary and alternative medicines, such as the discipline of tai chi. As healthcare professions are among the most vulnerable for work-related stress, this systematic review aims to investigate the relationship between tai chi practice and wellness of healthcare workers. Methods Cinahl, Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed were searched in September 2019. Full-text articles, written in English and published after 1995, were recruited if they focused on positive effects of tai chi on the psychophysical wellbeing of healthcare workers, in comparison with alternative techniques (such as yoga or traditional care). Outcomes were reduced work-related stress, better physical and psychological function, improvement in attention and/or productivity; no restrictions about study design were applied. Quality assessment was performed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale on cohort/cross-sectional studies, the Jadad scale for randomized clinical trial, AMSTAR for systematic reviews and CASE REPORT scale for case study. Results 6/111 papers were included: 3 clinical trials, 1 observational study, 1 systematic review and 1 case report. The methodological quality was of medium level. 2/3 trials found a significant increase in individuals' wellbeing and improvements in stress levels and nursing staff’s motivation in their work. In the observational study tai chi was a prevalent mind-body practice to reduce stress. The systematic review suggested that tai chi could be a useful tool to reduce stress-related chronic pain. In case report the effectiveness was observed in medical students. Conclusions This study highlights the full potential and possible benefits derived from tai chi but its application to improve health professionals' wellbeing is still limited, and the absence of a standardized intervention impacts on the methodological quality and reduces the robustness of the retrieved evidence. Key messages Tai chi can improve many pathological conditions and reduce work-related stress. Further research is needed to gain robust evidence of its efficacy for wellbeing of healthcare workers.

scholarly journals Novel repurposing of a Laerdal Airway trainer to simulate aerosolisation

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjstel-2020-000802
Author(s):  
Sven Peter Oman ◽  
Scott Helgeson ◽  
Philip Lowman ◽  
Pablo Moreno Franco ◽  
Jonathan Tomshine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Airway Management ◽  
Ultraviolet Light ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Saline Solution ◽  
Size Range ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Airborne Particles ◽  
Exposure Risk ◽  
Aerosol Model ◽  
The Usa

COVID-19 has claimed over 200 000 lives in the USA and put healthcare workers at risk. Healthcare workers have an increased exposure risk from aerosol-generating procedures such as endotracheal intubation. New barrier designs such as the acrylic box and horizontal plastic drape have emerged to reduce exposure to airborne particles. Particle generating models are needed to test aerosol generating procedure (AGP) barrier designs. To achieve this, an aerosol model that generates a visible and measurable increase in particles which SARS-CoV-2 could travel on and that can also be intubated was created. The model was created using a Laerdal Airway Management Trainer (Laerdal Medical, Stavanger, Norway) combined with a nebuliser and Ambu bag-valve resuscitator (Ambu, Columbia, Maryland, USA). Nebulised Glo Germ (Glo Germ, Moab, Utah, USA) dissolved in saline solution was moved through the tubing and out of the mannequin’s mouth with compression of the Ambu bag. This nebulisation was visualised under ultraviolet light and the quantity of particles between 0.3 and 10.0 μm was measured with a particle counter. Nebulisation was visible exiting the mouth of the mannequin. Nebulised Glo Germ was visualised under ultraviolet light moving in the ambient air. Particles in the size range of 0.3–0.5 µm increased by 20-fold and 1–10 µm increased by 10 252%. SARS-CoV-2 can travel on aerosol and droplet particles and particle generating models are needed to visualise and measure exposure areas and the path particles take during AGPs. We used existing medical and simulation supplies to create a particle simulator.

scholarly journals Hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers in Ghana’s health care institutions: An observational study

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 177-186
Author(s):  
Aaron Asibi Abuosi ◽  
Samuel Kaba Akoriyea ◽  
Gloria Ntow-Kummi ◽  
Joseph Akanuwe ◽  
Patience Aseweh Abor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Hand Hygiene Compliance ◽  
Hand Washing ◽  
Job Aids ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Hygiene Compliance

Objective To assess hand hygiene compliance in selected primary hospitals in Ghana. Design A cross-sectional health facility-based observational study was conducted in primary health care facilities in five regions in Ghana. A total of 546 healthcare workers including doctors, nurses, midwives and laboratory personnel from 106 health facilities participated in the study. Main outcome measures The main outcome measures included availability of hand hygiene materials and alcohol job aids; compliance with moments of hand hygiene; and compliance with steps in hygienic hand washing. These were assessed using descriptive statistics. Results The mean availability of hand hygiene material and alcohol job aids was 75% and 71% respectively. This was described as moderately high, but less desirable. The mean hand hygiene compliance with moments of hand hygiene was 51%, which was also described asmoderately high, but less desirable. It was observed that, generally, hand hygiene was performed after procedures than before. However, the mean compliance with steps in hygienic hand washing was 86%, which was described as high and desirable. Conclusion Healthcare workers are generally competent in performance of hygienic hand washing. However, this does not seem to influence compliance with moments of hand hygiene. Efforts must therefore be made to translate the competence of healthcare workers in hygienic hand washing into willingness to comply with moments of hand hygiene, especially contact with patients.

scholarly journals Novel transportation capsule technology could reduce the exposure risk to SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers: A feasibility study

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Basel Almuabbadi ◽  
Huda Mhawish ◽  
Bobby Marasigan ◽  
Alva Alcazar ◽  
Zahraa Alfrdan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Exposure Risk

Risk of Hepatitis C Virus Transmission from Patients to Healthcare Workers: A Prospective Observational Study

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 759-761 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Strasser ◽  
Elmar Aigner ◽  
Ilse Schmid ◽  
Andreas Stadlmayr ◽  
David Niederseer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Prospective Observational Study ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus Transmission

Differences in Hand Hygiene Behavior Related to the Contamination Risk of Healthcare Activities in Different Groups of Healthcare Workers

2004 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constanze Wendt ◽  
Donald Knautz ◽  
Heike von Baum
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Contamination Risk ◽  
Hygiene Behavior

AbstractBackground:The Fulkerson scale lists 15 typical clinical activities ranked according to their risk of hand contamination.Objective:To investigate how often healthcare workers (HCWs) apply antiseptic handrubs after each of the specified activities ranked in the Fulkerson scale.Design:Observational study.Setting:University Hospital of Heidelberg, a 1,600-bed teaching hospital.Methods:Using a structured protocol, 41 observers recorded whether HCWs rubbed their hands in 1 of 15 given situations.Results:Handrubs were used in 1,115 (52.2%) of 2,138 observations. Comparatively high rates of handrub use were observed after contact with sterile materials (39.6%) and after contact with excretions (90% to 97%). Nurses used handrubs significantly more frequently than did physicians after contact with the inanimate environment, but physicians applied handrubs significantly more frequently after contact with body secretions.Conclusions:This study showed better compliance with hand hygiene than that reported by many previous studies, but compliance was still inadequate and varied significantly by type of HCW, type of activity, and location in the hospital.

scholarly journals Psychometric Properties of the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5: Findings From Family Members of Chinese Healthcare Workers During the Outbreak of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Cheng ◽  
Nicholas Jasinski ◽  
Wanhong Zheng ◽  
Aradhita Yadava ◽  
Lirong Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Youden Index ◽  
Cutoff Score ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Demographic Information ◽  
Alpha Coefficient ◽  
Cronbach’S Alpha ◽  
Cronbach's Alpha

Background: Minimal research has examined utility of PC-PTSD-5 in family members of frontline medical workers. The aims of our study were to develop and elucidate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the PC-PTSD-5 and to determine its usefulness in screening for possible PTSD in relatives of Chinese healthcare workers during the COVID-19.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional research in the relatives of medical staffs working in a general hospital during the COVID-19. Descriptive analysis was used to characterize demographic information of family members to find factors associated with PTSD symptoms. For reliability test, the internal consistency of PC-PTSD-5 was accessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. A validity test was assessed by Pearson's correlation between scales. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the optimal cutoff score with the maximum Youden Index in this study.Results: The result of demographic information indicated that gender and the type of work undertaken by medical staff in the family have a potential impact on the PTSD symptoms of medical staff's family members. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of PC-PTSD-5 was 0.83, indicating the high reliability. Good validity was also demonstrated by Pearson coefficient. By calculating the Youden index, a cutoff score of 2 was found to be optimal in our study, with sensitivity of 80.74% and specificity of 88.43%.Conclusions: Our study has demonstrated the robust psychometric strengths of the PC-PTSD-5, introducing a reliable tool for screening PTSD among vulnerable and neglected families of these medical workers.

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