Hepatitis B vaccination coverage and the determinants of vaccination among health care workers in selected health facilities in Lusaka district, Zambia

Namwaka Mungandi,Mpundu Makasa,Patrick Musonda 대한직업환경의학회 2017 대한직업환경의학회지 Vol.29 No.-

Background: Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver and causes both acute and chronic disease. It is transmitted through contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids. It is an occupational hazard for healthcare workers and can be prevented by the administration of a vaccine. It is recommended that healthcare workers be vaccinated against vaccine preventable diseases including hepatitis B. The study objective was to determine the prevalence and determinants of hepatitis B vaccination among healthcare workers in selected health facilities in Lusaka. Methods: The study took place in seven health facilities across Lusaka district in Zambia. A total sample size of 331 healthcare workers was selected of which; 90 were nurses, 88 were doctors, 86 were laboratory personnel and 67 were general workers. A self-administered structured questionnaire was given to a total of 331 healthcare workers. Investigator led stepwise approach was used to select the best predictor variables in a multiple logistic regression model and all analyses were performed using STATA software, version 12.1 SE (Stata Corporation, College Station, TX, USA). Results: Only 64(19.3%) of the healthcare workers were vaccinated against hepatitis B, with 35 (54.7%) of these being fully vaccinated and 29 (45.3%) partially vaccinated. Analysis showed that; age of the healthcare worker, sharp injuries per year and training in infection control were the variables that were statistically significant in predicting a healthcare worker’s vaccination status. Conclusion: It is reassuring to learn that healthcare workers have knowledge regarding hepatitis B and the vaccine and are willing to be vaccinated against it. Health institutions should bear the cost for vaccinating staff and efforts should be made for appropriate health education regarding hepatitis B infection and its prevention. Establishment of policies on compulsory hepatitis B vaccination for healthcare workers in Zambia is recommended.

병원과 의원 종사자의 근로 환경과 건강관련 문제의 비교

김우진,정병용,박명환 대한인간공학회 2022 大韓人間工學會誌 Vol.41 No.1

Objective: This study analyzes occupational risk factors and health-related problems of healthcare workers and compares hospital workers with clinic workers. Background: There are differences in the working environment, health problems, and health status between hospital and clinic workers. However, comparative studies between hospital and clinic workers have been insufficient so far. Method: 1,135 workers were extracted from the 5th Korean Working Condition Survey data. Among them, 644 were hospital workers, and 491 were clinic workers. Results: Hospital workers were more exposed to risk factors such as patient lifting and carrying, heavy material handling, and infection. On the other hand, clinic workers had more exposure to risk factors such as vibration, standing posture, and repetitive movements. Both hospital and clinic workers complain of musculoskeletal pain and depression. The rate of complaints regarding upper limb, back pain, and depression was higher for hospital workers compared to clinic workers. Conclusion: Healthcare workers are exposed to risk factors and have musculoskeletal pains and depression. Therefore, it is required to make efforts to improve working conditions of the healthcare workers. Application: The results can be used as basic data for improving working conditions and for reducing work-related risk factors and health-related problems of healthcare workers.

A study on the extraction of necessary items to establish of a strategy for overseas expansion of Korean healthcare workers : Based on expert surveys

최훈화,오민재,정기택 한국보건경제정책학회 2018 보건경제와 정책연구 Vol.24 No.4

The government reported that the healthcare industry would be a repository of the creation of new government jobs and has promoted the policy for supporting expansion while visualizing Korean healthcare workers’ overseas expansion project in earnest, but still, a problem emerges, concerning medical institutions’ overseas expansion. On the other hand, as Korean medical institutions’ overseas expansion project is revitalized, the importance of the utilization of healthcare workers, the main axis of the expansion comes to the fore, but there are insufficient surveys of the opinion and recognition in the workers to be dispatched overseas about the overseas expansion project. Above all, there is no study of Korean healthcare workers’ overseas expansion projects with expects in overseas expansion. Thus, the long-term success mode of Korean medical institutions’ overseas expansion project, with experts related to overseas expansion, this study would investigate their overall opinion and awareness about healthcare workers’ overseas expansion, which may be the core of the overseas expansion strategy and draw the factors at a competitive edge for the items necessary for successful overseas expansion. This study conducted a Delphi survey with experts related to the overseas expansion of medical services a total of two times, and the first survey was conducted in the form of an in-depth open interview. As a result of a survey with experts, first, The medical institution identified the differences between the needs that are considered important on a personal level and those that are important at the government or medical institution level, when the medical personnel are released overseas. This study is the first research that conducted a survey with experts concerning Korean healthcare workers’ overseas expansion, which has a high academic contribution. Especially, this study presented opinions from various aspects of the experts. It has implications in that it provided basic data on policy decisions related to overseas advancement and human resource management strategies.

Healthcare Workers' Mental Health in Pandemic Times: The Predict Role of Psychosocial Risks

Barros Carla,Baylina Pilar,Fernandes Rúben,Ramalho Susana,Arezes Pedro 한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원 2022 Safety and health at work Vol.13 No.4

Background: Healthcare workers perform an emotionally exhausting daily work activity, making them prone to occupational hazards, namely psychosocial ones. This study aims to assess the impact of psychosocial risk factors on healthcare workers’ mental health. Methods: A cross-sectional study was developed between May and June of 2021 with 479 healthcare workers from Portuguese hospitals. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale was used to assess mental health, and psychosocial risks were assessed through the Health and Work Survey e INSAT. Statistical analysis was performed to identify the psychosocial risk factors related to anxiety, depression, and stress. Subsequently, a multiple linear regression was performed to identify the models that better explained psychosocial risk factors’ relationship with anxiety, depression, and stress. Results: Data showed a strong exposure to psychosocial risks. Work pace and intensity, work relationships, and emotional demands stood out with higher global average percentages for yes answers to “exposure and discomfort.” The analysis of the b values and p-values from the multiple linear regression shows that some cross-sectional psychosocial risks are predictors of anxiety and stress dimensions, and other psychosocial risks differ in the two mental health dimensions. However, it is important to highlight that healthcare workers still showed great joy and pleasure in performing their work activities. Conclusion: Support network development in the work environment is needed to prevent healthcare workers’ emotional stress and promote their psychological well-being. Therefore, new research is essential to understand the psychosocial risks that affect healthcare workers and assess the less visible effects of workehealth relationships.

요양보호사의 노인 구강건강관리 실천도 연구 : 노인 구강건강관리 교육과 행위 필요도의 매개효과

문상은,양진주,최유진 한국치위생학회 2024 한국치위생학회지 Vol.24 No.1

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of care workers’ knowledge of elderly oral health, education on elderly oral healthcare and behavioral needs, awareness of elderly oral healthcare, and actual practices in elderly oral healthcare. Furthermore, it explores the mediating effects of elderly oral healthcare education and behavioral needs on the relationship between awareness and practice. Methods: Data were collected from October 11 to December 29, 2023, from 172 certified care workers employed in nursing hospitals and other workplaces. For analyzing the data, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and hierarchical regression were conducted using SPSS Statistics 21.0. Results: Elderly oral health knowledge, education and behavioral needs, awareness, and practice were significantly higher among: those aged 51 years and older, female, primarily working in nursing hospitals, with a total career span of 10 years, higher job satisfaction, in organizations prioritizing elderly oral healthcare, and with superior education in elderly oral health. Elderly oral healthcare education and behavioral needs had partial mediating effects on the relationship between care workers’ awareness and practice of elderly oral healthcare. Conclusions: The current practices and challenges in care workers’ oral healthcare for the elderly will be analyzed, and recommendations and strategies for improving practices will be formulated.

북한 천리마 운동과 보건 의료 인력의 동원, 1956-1961

고요한,김옥주,정준호 한국과학사학회 2018 한국과학사학회지 Vol.40 No.3

In the late 1950s, the Chollima Movement began as a means to overcome economic constraints facing North Korea. From 1957 to 1960, with mass mobilization through the Chollima movement, North Korea managed to complete the first Five-year National Development Plan ahead of schedule, which was originally planned to be completed in 1961. From this experience, the Chollima Movement became a distinct ideology of North Korea. As stated in Article 13 of the Constitution (1972), the Chollima Movement was a broad ideology that applied not only to economic pro- duction but also to all social sectors. Before the Chollima Movement, the major role of healthcare workers was to maximize labor capacity. However, as healthcare workers were actively mobilized into industrial fields, their duty shifted from supporting labor to monitoring workers and active par- ticipation in the Chollima Movement. Also, close medical monitoring by healthcare workers allowed the Workers’ Party to intervene in industrial workers outside the factory. From 1959, healthcare workers became active participants in the Chollima Movement and Technical Innovation. This movement maximized the availability of healthcare resources that allowed the implementation of a socialized healthcare system in North Korea from 1961.

Association of Perceived Stress With Depression Among Vaccinated Healthcare Workers During the SARS-CoV-2 Variant Outbreak: The Mediating Role of Compassion Fatigue

Cai Xue,Li Guohong,Feng Haixia,Wang Xiaoyan,He Lijun,Luo Dan,Xu Cuirong,Huang Yingzi,Qiu Shanhu 대한신경정신의학회 2023 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.20 No.4

Objective Depression was common during coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, while the association of perceived stress with depression among vaccinated healthcare workers has not been investigated. This study aimed to address this issue.Methods We included a total of 898 fully vaccinated healthcare workers during the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Delta variant in Nanjing, 2021. Depression was ascertained by Patient Health Questionnaire-9, with a cut-off score of ≥5 indicative of mild-to-severe depression. Perceived stress, resilience, and compassion fatigue were assessed by Perceived Stress Scale-10, Resilience Scale-25, and Professional Quality of Life Scale version-5, respectively. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), along with subgroup and mediation analyses.Results The prevalence of mild-to-severe depression was 41.1% in vaccinated healthcare workers. The odd of mild-to-severe depression was increased with higher perceived stress. Compared with vaccinated healthcare workers with the lowest tertile of perceived stress, those with the highest tertile had increased odds of mild-to-severe depression by 120% (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.46 to 3.31) after multivariable-adjustment. However, perceived stress was not associated with mild-to-severe depression in vaccinated healthcare workers with strong resilience, but was in those with weak resilience (p_interaction=0.004). Further analysis showed that compassion fatigue mediated the relationship between perceived stress and mild-to-severe depression, with a mediating effect of 49.7%.Conclusion Perceived stress was related to an increased odd of mild-to-severe depression in vaccinated healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic, and this relationship might be explained by compassion fatigue.

Development of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 (SAVE-9) Scale for Assessing Work-related Stress and Anxiety in Healthcare Workers in Response to Viral Epidemics

Chung Seockhoon,Kim Hwa Jung,Ahn Myung Hee,Yeo Sungook,Lee Joohee,Kim Kyumin,Kang Solbi,Suh Sooyeon,Shin Yong-Wook 대한의학회 2021 Journal of Korean medical science Vol.36 No.47

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, has had a major psychological impact on healthcare workers. However, very few scales are available to specifically assess work-related stress and anxiety in healthcare workers responding to a viral epidemic. This study developed a new assessment tool, the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 (SAVE-9) and aimed to validate it among healthcare workers directly affected by COVID-19 in Korea. Methods: A total of 1,019 healthcare workers responded through anonymous questionnaires during April 20–30, 2020. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to explore the construct validity, and the reliability was assessed using internal consistency measures of Cronbach's alpha coefficients. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was conducted to define the most appropriate cut-off point of SAVE-9 using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7; ≥ 5). Second, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to establish convergent validity for the SAVE-9 questionnaire with GAD-7 and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Results: The nine-item scale had satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.795). It adopted a two-factor structure: 1) anxiety regarding viral epidemics and 2) work-related stress associated with viral epidemics. A cut-off score of 22 for the SAVE-9 ascertained levels of stress and anxiety in response to a viral epidemic in healthcare workers that warranted clinical attention. Correlations between the SAVE-9 and the other scales were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The results suggest that the SAVE-9 is a useful, reliable, and valid tool to evaluate stress and anxiety responses in healthcare workers during viral epidemics.

보건의료계열 종사자와 대학생의 생명윤리의식과 인공지능기술에 대한 인식

김진동(Kim JinDong) 학습자중심교과교육학회 2019 학습자중심교과교육연구 Vol.19 No.12

의료 및 건강 분야는 어느 영역보다 윤리적 판단이 중요한 분야이고, 보건의료 종사자들은 생명윤리의식과 인공지능기술에 대한 고민이 필요한 시점에 직면했다. 본연구에서는 2018년 5월부터 10월까지 보건의료계열 종사자와 대학생을 대상으로 생명의료윤리 의식과 인공지능기술 인식을 비교 분석하고, 상관관계를 파악하여 보건 의료인의 생명의료윤리 의식이 인공지능기술의 도입에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 하였다. 그 결과, 보건의료계열 종사자와 대학생은 현재 의료분야의 인공지능 적용 가능성, 인공지능이 미칠 긍정적 영향의 가능성, 인공지능에 대한 선제대응의 필요성을 모두 높게 인지하고 있었다. 그렇지만 보건의료계열 종사자와 대학생의 생명윤리의 식과 인공지능에 대한 인식 간의 상관성에서는 다소 다른 결과가 나타났다. 인공지능의 긍정적 영향, 단순 업무의 대체가 가장 높은 유의적 음의 상관관계가 있는 것으로 나타났고, 생명윤리의식과 인공지능의 부정적 영향 문항에서 가장 높은 유의적인 양의 상관관계가 나타났다. 이러한 결과를 종합해볼 때 보건의료분야의 종사자나 대학 생은 인공지능기술이 향후 우리 사회에 미칠 영향이 매우 클 것으로 판단하지만 생명윤리적 입장에서 바라보면, 인공지능기술의 도입에 많은 의문과 우려를 가지고 있다고 볼 수 있다. 이에 본 논문에서는 인공지능 기술의 도입과 함께 임상 현장에서 발생할 수 있는 윤리적인 갈등에 대응하여 올바른 윤리적인 선택을 할 수 있는 의사 결정 능력을 갖출 수 있도록 하는 것이 필요하며, 이것을 위한 체계적인 교육 시스템과 전담 기구 구축이 필요하다고 판단된다. The field of medical treatment and health is regarded as the most significant one when it comes to the ethical judgement. Therefore, healthcare workers are required to thoroughly contemplate awareness on biomedical ethics and the technology of artificial intelligence. In 2018 starting May to October, this study is to investigate its influence on the introduction of artificial intelligence by comparing and analyzing awareness on biomedical ethics among healthcare workers and college students majoring in healthcare and identifying correlation between their biomedical ethics and awareness of artificial intelligence. The result of this survey indicates that both groups highly perceive the applicable possibility of artificial intelligence to the current medical field, the plausibly positive influence of artificial intelligence and pre-corresponded necessity. On the other hand, the relatively different result is deduced in correlationship between awareness on biomedical ethics and awareness of artificial intelligence among healthcare workers and college students majoring in healthcare. There s significantly negative correlation in an area such as the affirmative influence on artificial intelligence and its replacement of simple work and there s significantly positive correlation in an area such as biomedical awareness and its negative influence on artificial intelligence. In other words, healthcare workers and college students majoring in healthcare approve the crucial influence of artificial intelligence on our future society but disapprove its introduction based on many doubts and concerns of biomedical ethics. As a result, this thesis suggests that there should be further study on ways to cultivate abilities to make right and moral decisions when facing ethical conflicts caused by the introduction of artificial intelligence for healthcare workers and to develop systematic infrastructures of education and institutions exclusively for that

Interventions on Well-being, Occupational Health, and Aging of Healthcare Workers: A Scoping Review of Systematic Reviews

Fadel Marc,Roquelaure Yves,Descatha Alexis 한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원 2023 Safety and health at work Vol.14 No.1

Introduction: With recent higher awareness of the necessity of improving healthcare workers’ wellbeing, we aimed to overview systematic reviews dealing with interventions on well-being, occupational health, and aging of healthcare workers. Methods: From three databases (PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science), a scoping review of systematic reviews was carried out to determine current knowledge on interventions focused on the well-being or aging of healthcare workers. Only systematic reviews were considered, with appropriate extraction and quality evaluation. Results: Of the total of 445 references identified, 10 systematic reviews were included, mostly published since 2019. Nurses were the most frequent targets of interventions, and mental health was the main outcome described. The overall level of quality was also heterogenous, with high to low-quality reviews. Conclusions: Workers’ mental health well-being was the major outcome targeted by intervention, with varying level of evidence. Further studies are needed with integrative approaches on global health and life course perspectives, with a focus on the plurality of settings, worker types, and women.