Workplace Health & Safety最新文献

Background: Missed infection control practices may negatively impact quality healthcare and patient safety in acute health care settings. Hence, more research is urgently needed especially in Arab countries. To investigate the elements and reasons of missed infection control activities among nurses in Jordan. The sociodemographic correlates with missed infection control activities were also examined.

Methods: A cross sectional design was utilized in this study. A convenience sample of 960 nurses from seven hospitals in the North of Jordan was used. The Missed Nursing Care Infection Prevention and Control (MNCIPC) Survey was employed to collect the data. Data were analyzed using descriptive inferential, and multivariate regression analysis.

Findings: The majority of the participants worked as registered nurses (78.4%). The highest missed infection control activities were: screening new admissions for Multi Resistant Organisms (MRO), wearing gloves for both preparing and administration of all antibiotics, and informing staff and visitors for the need for transmission-based precautions (when managing a patient with a MRO). The least missed infection control activities reported by nurses were performing hand hygiene after touching patients, and before drug administration. The reasons of missed infection control measures most frequently reported by nurses were: urgent patient situation, followed by inadequate number of clerical staff, and unexpected rise in patient volume and or acuity.

Conclusion: This research suggests that interventions to reduce missed infection control measures should focus on the education and training of nursing staff as well as a adopting nurse: patient ratio in managing nursing workload, which should not exceed 1:4.

Background: The construction industry, known for its high-risk environment, increasingly acknowledges the psychological risks to workers. Despite well-documented physical hazards, mental health challenges within this workforce have garnered attention. This systematic review provides a scholarly synthesis of literature on psychological risks and their causative factors affecting construction workers, adhering to PRISMA protocols.

Methods: An exhaustive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar using relevant keywords. Rigorous screening of selected studies focused on the psychological aspects of construction work, with systematic data extraction and analysis.

Findings: From 1992 to 2022, 68 studies met inclusion criteria, identifying key psychological harm factors: job insecurity, long working hours, high demands, poor work-life balance, and workplace bullying. A lack of mental health support and awareness in the sector was noted, with a significant correlation between these factors and increased stress, anxiety, and depression levels among workers.

Conclusions: The review highlights the urgent need for industry recognition of psychological hazards and the relationship between work conditions and mental health issues. It calls for supportive policies, awareness programs, and counseling services, with a suggestion for future longitudinal research on the long-term impacts and intervention efficacy.

Application to practice: This study provides an overview of psychological risks in the construction sector from 1994 to 2022, aiming to identify causative factors for mental health issues. It seeks to pave the way for targeted interventions and policy changes to improve mental health outcomes in the industry.

Background: Although previous studies suggest a link between workplace bullying and presenteeism, uncertainties persist regarding the direction, strength, and influencing factors. Understanding the potential mediators and moderators is crucial to addressing these issues in workplace settings.

Objective: This study aims to clarify the bidirectional relationship between workplace bullying and presenteeism, assess the strength and direction of this association, and identify individual and work-related factors that mediate or moderate these interactions.

Methods: A systematic search of nine databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, CNKI, WANFANG, and Chinese Biomedical) was conducted from inception through March 30, 2023, with an update on September 8, 2024. Independent reviewers screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated methodological quality using the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Exposure tool. Odds ratios, relative risks, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to assess effect sizes.

Results: After adjusting for confounders, workers exposed to workplace bullying had 1.74 times higher odds of reporting presenteeism compared to non-exposed individuals (95% CI [1.02, 2.46]). Workers reporting presenteeism also had increased odds of later workplace bullying exposure (OR = 2.29, 95% CI [1.23, 3.36]). Various individual and work-related factors were identified as potential mediators and moderators influencing these associations.

Conclusion: This study establishes a bidirectional relationship between workplace bullying and presenteeism. Both individual and work-related factors play a critical role as mediators and moderators, potentially mitigating or amplifying the workplace bullying-presenteeism cycle. Future interventions should target these factors to disrupt this harmful dynamic and improve employee well-being.

Background: Workplace violence (WPV) in healthcare has become an issue worldwide, with increasing prevalence after the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, WPV in any setting has individual and systemic repercussions. However, despite extensive literature reporting the prevalence of WPV in healthcare worldwide, effective, standardized prevention policies have not been established. We developed and piloted a WPV initiative at an urban hospital in the state of Maryland. Here, we aim to describe our program development methods and implementation.

Methods: The 6-month program utilized a reporting tool developed within patients' electronic medical records (EMRs) to request the display of a Staff Safety Alert (SSA) banner to alert healthcare professionals of patients who engaged in violent behavior and are at increased risk of subsequent behavior. This tool was piloted on 21 patient care units. A review committee either approved or denied case requests filed by frontline workers, with holistic consideration involving patient status, potential biases, and communication flaws.

Results: Twenty-one banner requests were filed during the course of the pilot. Of which, eight were approved, and 13 were denied. The multi-trauma intermediate care floor filed the most case requests for a safety banner.

Conclusions/application to practice: Our pilot program offers a patient-centered intervention program where extensive personnel training and patient-focused considerations were applied prior to the approval or denial of a banner display. The SSA program was the initial step in institutionally combatting WPV in healthcare as staff are encouraged to officially document unsafe events followed by careful action in response.

Background: Access to preventive healthcare improves health outcomes and reduces risk of chronic disease. Annual examinations were integrated into an underutilized clinic at the University of Utah to improve access to preventive care.

Methods: Nurse practitioners conducted these examinations, which included history, physical examination, age-based screenings, and immunizations. The service was part of a wellness program offering health premium discounts for participants. With employee permission, visit documentation was shared with primary care providers (PCPs) or used to help establish a PCP. Human resources received monthly reports of participating employees identification numbers, validating participation in order to receive premium discount.

Results: In 2023, 373 examinations were performed, including 719 preventive services and screenings, with 143 referrals for specialty and primary care. Patient satisfaction remained high throughout implementation.

Conclusion/application to practice: This initiative effectively increased access to preventive care for employees, demonstrating the feasibility of offering annual examinations in worksite clinics. The program addresses common barriers to preventive care such as long wait times, PCP shortages, and travel time to appointments.

Background: Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control indicate that the use of e-cigarettes, vaping, and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are increasing although data on their safety is limited. While most employers ban smoking in the workplace, tobacco-free policies do not always extend specifically to e-cigarette products.

Methods: An IRB approved exploratory, cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate occupational health professionals' (OHPs) knowledge of e-cigarettes, vaping and ENDS and the ability to create change in tobacco-free workplace policies. A 91-item electronic survey was sent via email to 3248 OHPs who were members of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses.

Findings: A total of 299 surveys were returned, but only 230 completed the entire survey. Of those who completed the entire survey, those with advanced education had higher attitude toward change summary scores (p = .043) and those with lower years of practicing had low scores for transformational leadership (p = .039). Approximately 40% of individuals did not have or were unsure that a tobacco-free program was in place that included e-cigarettes, but the majority (90%) perceived their organizational leaders as interested in safety changes.

Conclusions: The majority of respondents understood the health issues inherent in e-cigarettes, were open to implementing policies that included e-cigarettes but needed education and both managerial and employee support to implement policy changes.

Application to practice: OHPs are well positioned to be advocates for workplace education, policy development, and worker health promotion for smoking and vaping cessation by leading organizational change.

Background: This quality improvement project aimed to increase the screening rate for OSA in individuals aged 18 and above with obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥30).

Methods: This quality improvement study occurred from March 2023 to August 2023 using a two-independent pre-implementation post-implementation design. The STOP-Bang Questionnaire (SBQ) was implemented during annual exams, chronic disease management visits, and Department of Transportation (DOT) physicals.

Findings: There were 946 patients involved in the study, including 471 in the pre-implementation group and 475 in the post-implementation group. OSA screening increased from 14.1% to 71.6% after implementing the screening protocol in the general population and 26.7% to 90.4% in the commercial driver's license (CDL) holder population. Of the CDL holders screened in the pre-intervention group, 15 (65.2%) were at intermediate to high risk for OSA (SBQ ≥3), and in the post-intervention group, 33 (50%) had an SBQ score of ≥3.

Conclusions/application to practice: Standardized OSA screening is crucial because it is common but underdiagnosed. Screening for OSA during DOT exams promotes community safety. Earlier identification of at-risk patients leads to earlier diagnosis and treatment of OSA to prevent long-term complications, reduce healthcare costs, improve patient outcomes, and improve community safety.

Background: The number of women in the chemical industry has recently increased due to more women pursuing science careers. It is necessary, therefore, to analyze the emerging health risks for female workers in the chemical industry. This study examines the relationship between occupational health and sex/gender in the chemical industry, with a gender perspective.

Methods: We present a scoping review (n = 97). After removing duplicates and applying eligibility criteria, we selected 27 articles published in the last decade that explored the industry's occupational risks.

Findings: Most of the papers include predominantly male samples and describe adult populations, mainly from developed countries. The studies focus on various employment contexts of chemical industries. We identified health risks in oncology, dermatology, and the respiratory system, among others. We found that particular emphasis was given to the relationship between occupational exposure and cancer, especially breast cancer. Furthermore, we observed sex/gender differences in the prevalence of respiratory and dermatological disorders. These results highlight the need to consider specific sex/gender-based health risk factors in the chemical industry.

Conclusions/application to practice: The chemical industry is considered a crucial health determinant, however, the studies focused on sex/gender-based differences without considering gender-specific physiology and work circumstances. Although some studies do mention sex/gender disparities, such as occupational rhinitis, which is more frequent in women, studies are scarce. The absence of a segregated analysis with a gender perspective could lead to the ignorance of emerging health risks for female workers, highlighting the urgent need to include a gender perspective in future research.