scholarly journals COVID-19 Pandemic; Anxiety and Depression among frontline healthcare workers: Rising from the Ashes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salman Sharif ◽  
Faridah Amin
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Reflex Response ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Disaster Plan ◽  
The Family ◽  
Rising Incidence ◽  
Frontline Healthcare Workers ◽  
Insight Into

This chapter gives an insight into the psychological journey of the essential healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The catastrophe which started off with uncertainty, provoked fear-related behaviors among the frontline doctors, nurses and paramedical staff. With meager resources and lack of a disaster plan, fire-fighting was a reflex response of healthcare institutions. Though the whole world seemed to be unprepared for the calamity, developing countries with fragile healthcare systems were more vulnerable to collapse. The negative aura was complicated by mistrust among the general population, regarding healthcare workers, institutions and government. Furthermore, with economic downfall; balancing work and protecting the family was a challenge for HCWs, especially during the pandemic peak. The psychological distress translated to rising incidence of depression and anxiety among them. As institutions gained insight into psychosocial issues of HCWs; support and therapies were offered to them. Positive messages labelling HCWs as “Heroes of the Pandemic” were circulated and structured programs developed to address their needs. With the advent of COVID-19 vaccine, a ray of hope emerged, although there are still apprehensions about its efficacy and side-effects. The whole world now eagerly awaits the calamity to perish while normality can rise from ashes.

scholarly journals WILLINGNESS TO WORK AMONGST AUSTRALIAN FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS DURING AUSTRALIA’S FIRST WAVE OF COVID-19 COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION: RESULTS OF AN ONLINE SURVEY

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Michella Hill ◽  
Erin Smith ◽  
Brennen Mills
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
Community Transmission ◽  
Frontline Healthcare Workers ◽  
Insight Into

Abstract Objectives The majority of research investigating healthcare workers’ (HCWs) willingness to work during public health emergencies asks participants to forecast their perceptions based on hypothetical emergencies, rather than in response to actual public health emergencies they have experienced. This research explored frontline HCWs willingness to work during Australia’s first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic among frontline HCWs. Methods Participants (n=580) completed an online questionnaire regarding their willingness to work during the pandemic. Results Forty-two percent of participants reported being less willing to work during the pandemic compared to before. Availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), concern expressed by family members, and viral exposure were significant barriers. One-third of participants disagreed that some level of occupational risk for exposure to infectious disease was acceptable. One-quarter of participants had received communications from their workplace concerning obligations to work during COVID-19. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Australian frontline HCWs’ willingness to work. Scarcity of PPE and exposure to the virus were the most cited reasons impacting on willingness to work. Appropriate policies and practices should be implemented and communicated efficiently to frontline HCW’s. This research provides insight into the lived experiences of Australian healthcare professionals’ willingness to work during a pandemic.

scholarly journals Measles Outbreak among Previously Immunized Adult Healthcare Workers, China, 2015

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhengyi Zhang ◽  
Yuan Zhao ◽  
Lili Yang ◽  
Changhong Lu ◽  
Ying Meng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Medical Staff ◽  
Measles Virus ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Measles Vaccine ◽  
Igm Antibodies ◽  
Virus Rna ◽  
Measles Outbreak ◽  
The Family

Measles is caused by measles virus belonging to genusMorbillivirusof the family Paramyxoviridae. Vaccination has played a critical role in controlling measles infection worldwide. However, in the recent years, outbreaks of measles infection still occur in many developing countries. Here, we report an outbreak of measles among healthcare workers and among the 60 measles infected patients 50 were healthcare workers including doctors, nurses, staff, and medics. Fifty-one patients (85%) tested positive for IgM antibodies against the measles virus and 50 patients (83.3%) tested positive for measles virus RNA. Surprisingly, 73.3% of the infected individuals had been previously immunized against measles. Since there is no infection division in our hospital, the fever clinics are located in the Emergency Division. In addition, the fever and rash were not recognized as measles symptoms at the beginning of the outbreak. These factors result in delay in isolation and early confirmation of the suspected patients and eventually a measles outbreak in the hospital. Our report highlights the importance of following a two-dose measles vaccine program in people including the healthcare workers. In addition, vigilant attention should be paid to medical staff with clinical fever and rash symptoms to avoid a possible nosocomial transmission of measles infection.

Psychosocial Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Frontline Healthcare Workers in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quratul-Ain Zafar
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Psychosocial Impact ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Frontline Healthcare Workers

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on frontline healthcare workers in Pakistan in terms of psychological factors emotional distress, insomnia, and burnout. Study Design: Observational cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at different hospitals across Pakistan and data collection was carried out from 15th June 2020 till 15th August 2020. Material and Methods: This was a questionnaire-based study aiming to compare the levels of burnout and emotional distress between frontline COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 healthcare workers. Any physician, nurse, and other healthcare workers were recruited from emergency care units and Covid-19 care units (target group), and non-COVID-19 care units (control group). Participation was voluntary and participants had to complete self-reported questionnaires and scales. A mixed-mode data collection was carried out, either in paper or web-based form to ensure maximum participation. Results: The independent t-test showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding depression, stress, and insomnia. The study group showed higher scores for these factors than the control group. Chi-square test of association revealed significant scores of burnout and professional fulfillment in both groups. There was a higher prevalence of burnout in the study group than in the control group. Conclusion: This study concludes that there was a significant psychosocial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in the frontline healthcare workers measured in terms of emotional distress, insomnia, and burnout.

Heat Stress and Thermal Perceptions Amongst Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Developed and Developing Countries

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jimmy Lee ◽  
Vidhya Venugopal ◽  
P.K. Latha ◽  
Sharifah Alhadad ◽  
Clarence Leow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Healthcare Workers

A Review of Phytochemical and Pharmacological Studies of Inula Species

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 557-567
Author(s):  
Aparoop Das ◽  
Anshul Shakya ◽  
Surajit Kumar Ghosh ◽  
Udaya P. Singh ◽  
Hans R. Bhat
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Chemical Constituents ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Important Ingredient ◽  
Pharmacological Activities ◽  
Medicinal Uses ◽  
The Family ◽  
Pharmacological Studies ◽  
Perennial Herbs ◽  
Insight Into

Background: Plants of the genus Inula are perennial herbs of the family Asteraceae. This genus includes more than 100 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Africa and Asia including India. Many of them are indicated in traditional medicine, e.g., in Ayurveda. This review explores chemical constituents, medicinal uses and pharmacological actions of Inula species. Methods: Major databases and research and review articles retrieved through Scopus, Web of Science, and Medline were consulted to obtain information on the pharmacological activities of the genus Inula published from 1994 to 2017. Results: Inula species are used either alone or as an important ingredient of various formulations to cure dysfunctions of the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, urinary system, central nervous system and digestive system, and for the treatment of asthma, diabetes, cancers, skin disorders, hepatic disease, fungal and bacterial infections. A range of phytochemicals including alkaloids, essential and volatile oils, flavonoids, terpenes, and lactones has been isolated from herbs of the genus Inula, which might possibly explain traditional uses of these plants. Conclusion: The present review is focused on chemical constituents, medicinal uses and pharmacological actions of Inula species and provides valuable insight into its medicinal potential.

scholarly journals Rapid Deployment of an Algorithm to Triage Dental Emergencies During COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon C Perelman ◽  
Steven Erde ◽  
Lynda Torre ◽  
Tunaidi Ansari
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Development ◽  
The United States ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Patient Needs ◽  
Columbia University ◽  
Dental Infection ◽  
Screening Algorithm ◽  
Rapid Deployment ◽  
Medical Infrastructure ◽  
Insight Into

Abstract COVID-19 quickly immobilized healthcare systems in the United States during the early stages of the outbreak. While much of the ensuing response focused on supporting the medical infrastructure, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine pursued a solution to triage and safely treat patients with dental emergencies amidst the pandemic. Considering rapidly changing guidelines from governing bodies, dental infection control protocols and our clinical faculty's expertise, we modeled, built, and implemented a screening algorithm, which provides decision support as well as insight into COVID-19 status and clinical comorbidities, within a newly integrated Electronic Health Record (EHR). Once operationalized, we analyzed the data and outcomes of its utilization and found that it had effectively guided providers in triaging patient needs in a standardized methodology. This article describes the algorithm's rapid development to assist faculty providers in identifying patients with the most urgent needs, thus prioritizing treatment of dental emergencies during the pandemic.

scholarly journals Stress and Associated Factors among Frontline Healthcare Workers in the COVID-19 Epicenter of Da Nang City, Vietnam

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7378
Author(s):  
Nhan Phuc Thanh Nguyen ◽  
Duong Dinh Le ◽  
Robert Colebunders ◽  
Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo ◽  
Trung Dinh Tran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Stress Component ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Laboratory Workers ◽  
Frontline Healthcare Workers ◽  
Second Wave

Frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) involved in the COVID-19 response have a higher risk of experiencing psychosocial distress amidst the pandemic. Between July and September 2020, a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic appeared in Vietnam with Da Nang city being the epicenter. During the outbreak, HCWs were quarantined within the health facilities in a bid to limit the spread of COVID-19 to their respective communities. Using the stress component of the 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), we assessed the level of stress among HCWs in Da Nang city. Between 30 August and 15 September 2020, 746 frontline HCWs were recruited to fill in an online structured questionnaire. Overall, 44.6% of participants experienced increased stress and 18.9% severe or extremely severe stress. In multivariable analysis, increased stress was associated with longer working hours (OR = 1.012; 95% CI: 1.004–1.019), working in health facilities providing COVID-19 treatment (OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.04–2.39), having direct contact with patients or their bio-samples (physicians, nurses and laboratory workers; OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.02–1.99), low confidence in the available personal protective equipment (OR = 0.846; 95% CI: 0.744–0.962) and low knowledge on COVID-19 prevention and treatment (OR = 0.853; 95% CI: 0.739–0.986). In conclusion, many frontline HCWs experienced increased stress during the COVID-19 outbreak in Da Nang city. Reducing working time, providing essential personal protective equipment and enhancing the knowledge on COVID-19 will help to reduce this stress. Moreover, extra support is needed for HCWs who are directly exposed to COVID-19 patients.

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