Work - Volume 71, issue 4

Authors: Jacobs, Karen

Article Type: Editorial

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-223631

Citation: Work, vol. 71, no. 4, pp. 809-810, 2022

Authors: Faison, Tomeico

Article Type: Other

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-223632

Citation: Work, vol. 71, no. 4, pp. 811-813, 2022

Authors: Klugman, Madelyn | Patil, Sujata | Gany, Francesca | Blinder, Victoria

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the health and financial vulnerabilities of essential workers, especially among women. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to understand the workplace environment of essential workers. METHODS: We used data from a prospective cohort study of disparities in employment outcomes among women undergoing breast cancer treatment between 2010–2018 in New York City. We characterized participants as essential or non-essential based on self-reported occupation/industry and New York State executive orders issued during the pandemic. We compared job benefits and perceptions of workplace environment between groups. RESULTS: There were 563 …participants: 341 essential and 222 non-essential workers. Essential workers less frequently reported access to disability pay through work [n(%): 148 (58) versus 130 (73), p  < 0.01]. Essential workers in unions had greater availability of sick leave and disability pay than non-unionized essential workers (86% versus 53%, p  < 0.01, and 76% versus 46%, p  < 0.01, respectively). Health insurance differed by essential worker status (p  < 0.01): essential workers more frequently had public insurance (29% versus 18%). Surprisingly, in multivariable analyses controlling for age, race/ethnicity, income, education, chemotherapy receipt, and comfort with English, essential workers were less likely to say their employer had treated them unfairly (p  < 0.01). However, minorities were less likely to say their employer was accommodating (p  = 0.03) and more likely to say their employer had treated them unfairly (p  < 0.01) than Non-Latina Whites. CONCLUSIONS: We identified vulnerabilities in workplace protections, particularly among essential workers not in unions. Minority women more often had negative perceptions of their work environment, possibly reflecting employer bias. Show more

Keywords: Employment, frontline, benefits, disability, union, SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211095

Citation: Work, vol. 71, no. 4, pp. 815-823, 2022

Authors: Mohsin, Syed Fareed | Shah, Shahzad Ali | Agwan, Muhammad Atif Saleem | Ali, Saqib | Alsuwaydani, Ziyad Ahmad | AlSuwaydani, Saleh Ahmad

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has emerged as a global pandemic recognized by the World Health Organization. It has a significant impact on Saudi Arabia’s educational process, resulting in several universities suspending on-campus teaching, exams, and training. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on dental students’ examination, internship placement, and subsequent impact on preparedness and confidence. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted to gather data from dental interns in Saudi Arabia using a pre-tested online questionnaire. Convenient sampling was applied to collect data from 5th September to 15th September 2020. Data were …analyzed using SPSS version 23. Descriptive data were presented as frequency and percentages. The Chi-square test was used to evaluate the relationship between variables. RESULTS: Data of 409 dental interns from 8 dental schools reported that 209 (51%) participants’ exams were affected as the format was changed to online examination. 130 (31.8%) dental interns strongly agreed that assistance in hospitals during the outbreak of COVID-19 would complement their learning opportunities. Whereas 115(28.1%) respondents strongly agreed that dental schools’ measures to modify their curriculum were necessary. The impact of COVID-19 on dental intern preparedness discovered that the affected exams had a significant effect on final year students’ readiness to begin the internship (p  = 0.042). Considering students’ confidence in starting the training earlier than expected, the student course had a statistically significant impact on their confidence (p  = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The current study demonstrates that COVID-19 had disrupted dental interns’ preparedness towards clinical rotation and decreased their confidence performing in the clinical setup. Due to being unprepared and having low confidence, most dental interns were not ready to start working in the hospital on time. Show more

Keywords: COVID-19, preparedness, confidence, dental education

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205377

Citation: Work, vol. 71, no. 4, pp. 825-831, 2022

Authors: Anholon, Rosley | Rampasso, Izabela Simon | Dibbern, Thais | Serafim, Milena Pavan | Filho, Walter Leal | Quelhas, Osvaldo L.G.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Among these impacts, those related to the SDG 8 can be highlighted. Consequently, the literature has addressed aspects related to economic growth and decent work. OBJECTIVE: This article aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on decent work according to the literature. METHODS: For this, a bibliometric analysis was conducted. Data from Web of Science were collected, and VOSviewer software was used to perform the analysis. RESULTS: Regarding the results, four main clusters that govern the subject were identified. A first cluster …(identified in red) evidenced the consequences of the pandemic to the generation of informal work, increasing poverty and the impacts on gender issues. A second cluster (identified in blue) addresses mental health and stress issues, especially for nurses professionals who experience a situation in the COVID-19 pandemic. The green cluster focused on unemployment, precarious employment, and work conditions, which were highly related to coronavirus contagion. Finally, the yellow cluster evidenced the final consequences when there is a substantial public health problem. CONCLUSIONS: The results presented here can be helpful to researchers interested in the, as it allows a broad and condensed view of important information about a relevant topic for sustainable economic development. Show more

Keywords: Work conditions, decent work, SDGs, COVID-19

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-210966

Citation: Work, vol. 71, no. 4, pp. 833-841, 2022

Authors: Doğan, Aysel | Karasu, Fatma | Yilmaz, Leyla

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In order for nurses to provide the desired/expected care during the COVID-19 pandemic, the personal protective equipment (PPE) they use should not cause additional damage. OBJECTIVE: The current study examined the effect of nurses’ use of PPE on their vital signs during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The present study was executed in a public hospital located in Turkey between October 2020 and December 2020 with a total of 112 nurses, 54 of them were serving in COVID-19 clinics, and 58 of them were working in other clinics. The data of the study was collected by …using the introductory information form, the vital signs measurement, and the Visual Analogue Scale. The numbers, percentages, means, standard deviation, Chi-square, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The mean scores of SpO2, respiratory rate, body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure measurements of the nurses in the experimental group were compared before and after putting on the PPE. It was found that the difference between the two averages was statistically significant (p  < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It was found that the use of PPE for a long time causes a decrease in SpO2, increase in respiratory rate, pulse and blood pressure, as well as the aches in face, ear, nose and head. Show more

Keywords: COVID-19, nurses, PPE, vital signs, Turkey

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211232

Citation: Work, vol. 71, no. 4, pp. 843-850, 2022

Authors: Mariam, Quratulain | Ahmed, Naseer | Abbasi, Maria S. | Nadeem, Resham | Rizwan, Asma | Vohra, Fahim | Abduljabbar, Tariq | Abduljabbar, Adel

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Biomedical waste can potentially compromise the environment and public safety if not safely disposed. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess the understanding and safe practices of biomedical and dental waste amongst the dental practitioners and practical year students amid the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A structured and validated questionnaire consisting of 21 closed ended questions was used to collect data from dental practitioners and students working in hospitals and clinics. The questionnaire was distributed in paper and digital form amongst the participants. Descriptive analysis was performed for categorical and numerical variables. Spearman correlation test was used …to assess the relationship between awareness and waste disposal practices of dentists. A p -value of≤0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: More than three fourth of the participants were aware of proper dental waste disposal steps. One half was aware of the color-coded segregation of biomedical waste management. Two third of the participants were deploying safe biomedical waste practices. Nearly 68% subjects allocated separate labeled containers for disposal of COVID-19 suspected patient’s waste. Furthermore, 71.63% participants were practicing PCR test before aerosol procedures. While 88.65% participants believed that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the financial burden in terms of safe practices and dental waste management. CONCLUSION: The awareness and practices of the participants towards dental waste management was found to be moderate. Satisfactory COVID-19 prevention and transmission measures were observed amongst the participants. BMW management lessons should be included in the academic curriculum and training program needs to be adopted for mass awareness. Show more

Keywords: Biomedical waste, dental waste, dental care professionals, practical year students, COVID-19

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211099

Citation: Work, vol. 71, no. 4, pp. 851-858, 2022

Authors: Jahangiri, Mehdi | Choobineh, Alireza | Malakoutikhah, Mahdi | Hassanipour, Soheil | Zare, Asma

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Surgeon’s hands are exposed to a range of chemical and physical stressors that influence the integrity of gloves. Thus, glove perforation facilitates pathogen transmission through the holes. Numerous studies have shown that glove perforation is of great importance, but there is still no complete consensus. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the safety conditions of surgical gloves based on the incidence of glove perforation among surgical teams. METHODS: A literature review was conducted by searching PubMed, Embase, Scopus, ISI, and ProQuest databases. The incidence of glove perforation was reviewed in eight categories. A total of …580 articles were found in the initial search. RESULTS: 109 articles containing 130 datasets were analyzed. The overall incidence of glove perforation was 14.44 %. Surgeons had the highest incidence of glove perforation (23.09 %). An increase in the duration of surgery increased the odds of perforation. It was found that 68.58% of the glove perforations were not identified by practitioners. CONCLUSION: Despite major advances in the design of surgical gloves, the issue of safety and integrity of gloves has not improved. Due to the high incidence of surgical glove perforations, most of which had not been identified, it is imperative to consider strategies to minimize the incidence of perforation. The results of the present study can be used to integrate information related to the rate of perforation of surgical gloves in different surgeries. Show more

Keywords: Surgical glove, perforation, safety, glove integrity, meta-analysis, review

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-210286

Citation: Work, vol. 71, no. 4, pp. 859-869, 2022

Authors: Taheri, Shirin | Razeghi, Mohsen | Choobineh, Alireza | Kazemi, Reza | Rasipisheh, Pegah | Vali, Mouhebat

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Existing studies on the impact of background music in the workplace have reported varying results, from improving production and performance to being known as an annoying factor. Given the lack of evidence of the background music influence on the cognitive factors in the work place in previous studies and the lack of study on the effect of background music on skill performance when gender and personality type is considered, research in this area seems necessary. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study is to investigate the influence of background music on cognitive and skill performance in the …work place with regard to gender and personality type. METHODS: This study was conducted with the participation of 52 students (26 males and 26 females) aged between 18–30 years old. Sustained attention, working memory, fine finger and gross manual dexterity skills and personality type were assessed. Participants were randomly tested once when being exposed to classical instrumental music and once again when faced with complete silence RESULTS: Playing background music improved students working memory but had no significant effect on sustained attention. Music also improved skill performance.Overall, memory performance and fine finger dexterity were found significantly better in extroverts when compared to introverts during playing background music. CONCLUSION: Background music improves working memory and speeds up performance in skill tasks, however the role of personality type in influencing background music on cognitive and skill performance needs further investigation. Show more

Keywords: Cognition, motor skills, personality, music, technology, cognition

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-213631

Citation: Work, vol. 71, no. 4, pp. 871-879, 2022

Authors: Jakobsen, Markus D. | Vinstrup, Jonas | Andersen, Lars L.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: High physical exertion during healthcare work is a documented risk factor for musculoskeletal pain, long term sickness absence and disability pension. Understanding the underlying factors of physical exertion is important to make the necessary preventive efforts in the working environment. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates factors associated with high physical exertion during healthcare work. METHODS: A total of 2047 Danish health care workers replied to a questionnaire about work and health. Associations (odds ratios; OR) of physical exertion (outcome variable) with the number of patients and self-reliant patients, frequency and type of assistive device use, BMI, …leisure time activity, smoking, and age were modelled using mutually adjusted binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Factors associated with high physical exertion (OR and 95% CI) were high frequency of daily patient transfers 1.35 (1.23 – 1.48), less self-reliant patients 0.74 (0.62 – 0.89), less frequent use of necessary assistive devices 1.82 (1.50 – 2.21), as well as more frequent use of sliding pieces 1.23 (1.04 – 1.46), wheelchairs 1.23 (1.02 – 1.49), bed adjustments 0.88 (0.77 – 1.00) and intelligent beds 0.83 (0.71 – 0.95) during patient transfer. Age and lifestyle factors (BMI, smoking, and leisure time physical activity) were not associated with high physical exertion. CONCLUSIONS: The character of patient transfer specific healthcare work is associated with increased odds for high physical exertion whereas life-style factors are not. Thus, proper use of specific assistive devices and avoiding uneven distribution of difficult patients through appropriate planning may be protective strategies for lowering physical exertion during healthcare work. Show more

Keywords: Musculoskeletal pain, ergonomics, occupational, nursing, assistive devices

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-213647

Citation: Work, vol. 71, no. 4, pp. 881-888, 2022