Occupational Health & Safety

This report provides a draft framework which outlines action steps a country may take in formulating tuberculosis (TB) occupational safety strategies to encompass the needs of prevention and treatment of TB disease among health care workers. [adapted from summary]

This study examines a population of community health workers in Karen State, eastern Myanmar to explore the manifestations of health providers’ psychological distress in a low-resource conflict environment.

This study investigated the factors related to burnout among Chinese doctors in order to improve the health of doctors and the quality of healthcare services in China. [adapted from abstract]

This article aimed o analyse possible differences in biological stress markers, psycho-social working conditions, health, and well-being between nurses working in two different departments. [from abstract]

This paper explores the literature and issues associated with violence
in the health sector. It assesses the scope, definition and global context of workplace violence, information and reporting of violence, existing evidence of the prevalence of violence, the origins of violence, the impact of violence, and prevention and interventions to minimize workplace violence in the health sector. The final section highlights some of the gaps in research and practice. [adapted from introduction]

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of self-reported occupational exposure to HIV among health care workers and explore factors that influence the practice of managing occupational exposure to HIV by health care workers in Tanzania. [from abstract]

This cross-sectional study evaluated the effect of three influenza vaccination promotional strategies on medical students’ intention to get vaccinated and associated factors. It also concludes that given previous vaccination is a factor associated with the intention to get vaccinated, education on vaccination of health care workers should begin while they are students. [adapted from abstract]

The main objective of this study was to document the prevalence and disease spectrum of latex allergy, a common occupational disease among healthcare workers who use latex gloves, at Mankweng Hospital, Limpopo Province, South Africa. [adapted from author]

The main objective of this study is to assess the extent of unsafe injection equipment reuse by health workers and potential for blood-borne virus transmission in Cameroon. [from abstract]

This study aimed to determine the frequency of occupational exposure to HIV, the circumstances and predisposing factors, the high-risk groups, the extent to which exposures are reported and the post-exposure prophylaxis utilized by health-care workers and students in a Ugandan hospital. [from abstract]

This study evaluated two workplace initiatives providing medical services, including HIV care; and a support group for HIV-positive staff to determine the uptake and outcome of HIV testing and counselling among health staff and their dependents; uptake and outcomes of antiretroviral therapy among health staff; and membership and activities of the support group. [adapted from abstract]

This study was conducted to assess the knowledge, practice and factors associated to HIV post-exposure prophylaxis use among health workers of governmental health institutions in the Jimma zone. [from abstract]

The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence and impact of bullying behaviours between staff in the National Health Service (NHS) workplace, and to explore the barriers to reporting bullying. [from abstract]

This report analyses the main patterns of violence that were identified from information collected from 921 violent incidents affecting health-care during armed conflict and other emergencies in 22 countries involving the use or threat of violence against health-care personnel, the wounded and the sick, health-care facilities and medical vehicles. [adapted from summary]

HIV/AIDS infection of workers in health care facilities has become a major health problem. The aim of the study was to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of health care workers towards post exposure prophylaxis for HIV. [adapted from abstract]

This study examined the role of blood based interferon-gamma release assays versus the tuberculin skin test for health workers exposed to tuberculosis. [adapted from abstract]

The concurrent tuberculosis (TB) and HIV epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa place all healthcare workers at increased risk of exposure to TB. This study explores personal experiences, attitudes and perceptions of medical doctors following treatment for TB within the healthcare system. [from abstract]

Failure to communicate openly and accurately to members of the healthcare team can result in medical error. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of nursing characteristics and environmental values on communication in the acute care setting. [from abstract]

This article evaluated the prevalence and associated factors of burnout among nurses in a Nigerian general hospital. [from abstract]

Needlestick injuries frequently occur among healthcare workers, introducing high risk of bloodborne pathogen infection for surgeons, assistants, and nurses. This systematic review aims to explore the impact of both educational training and safeguard interventions to reduce needlestick injuries. [from abstract]

The study examines the relationship between work hours and self rated health in two national samples of hospital doctors. [from abstract]

Increased demand for nurses means that the organisations that provide employee-friendly policies will gain a competitive edge in attracting and retaining a quality nursing workforce. This publication provides guidance on the issues affecting work-life balance to influence employers and policy-makers on workplace policies. [adapte from author]

The purpose of the study was to survey experiences of occupational stress and perceived work environment among nurses working on acute psychiatric wards in Finland. In addition, nurses’ use and attitudes towards information technology were analyzed. [from abstract]

This study investigated inter-relationships between emotional intelligence (EI), work stress and burnout in a group of nurses in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. The moderating effect of EI in the stress–burnout relationship and group differences (nurses working in different wards) in burnout were also investigated. [from abstract]

This study aimed to identify the main sources of stress for students of nursing and the evolution of the stressors when training in nursing competences. [from abstract]

Moral distress is associated with job dissatisfaction, turnover and early retirement. The objective of this study was to identify individual and job characteristics associated with moral distress in nursing staff. [from abstract]

The purpose of this study was to investigate anxiety symptoms and the associated factors in Chinese nurses working in public city hospitals. [from abstract]

This article analyzes a project to develop and implement tailored work-oriented interventions to improve health, well-being, and performance of health care personnel. [adapted from abstract]

The aim of this study was to discover the use of voluntary counseling and testing among health professionals in Ethiopia using the theory of planned behavior to determine which factors play a significant role in healthworker use. [adapted from author]

The authors aimed to identify the barriers and enablers to physician hand hygiene compliance, and then to develop and pilot a theory-based knowledge translation intervention to increase physicians’ compliance with best hand hygiene practice. [from abstract]