High infection prevention (IP) rates reported that COVID-19-related stressors worsened their mental and physical health, highlighting the need to address the systemic problems that lead to burnout and improve recruitment and retention. according to poll results reported yesterday in the American Journal of Infection Control.
In the first study of its kind, researchers from Ohio State University and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) sent a survey to a random sample of 6,000 APIC members on issues related to mental and physical wellbeing, behavior related to lifestyle and support for perceived well-being in the workplace during COVID-19.
Participants also answered questions on three questionnaires: Patient Health Questionnaire-2, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2, and Professional Quality of Life.
Most respondents (93.5%) were women, aged 35-64 (77.1%), white (86.8%), married or in a relationship (82.5%), in hold a university degree (41.2%) or master’s degree (42.3%), worked 9 to 10 hour shifts (58.2%), worked in hospitals (68.1%), were not smokers (92.1%) and light drinkers (69.3%).
In the midst of the pandemic, PIs have had to adapt to rapidly changing recommendations for infection prevention, shortage of personal protective equipment, increased hospital-acquired infections, and heavier workloads, the authors noted.
Only 17% report high quality of life
Of the 6,000 invited, 926 (15%) completed the survey. About two thirds indicated they were in good physical (68.9%) and mental (66.0%) health. But respondents reported low rates of sleeping at least 7 hours per night (34.1%), being physically active for at least 150 minutes per week (18.8%), and eating five or more servings of fruit and vegetables per day. (7.3%), along with high rates of depression (21.5%), anxiety (29.8%) and burnout (65%).
Only 16.9% of respondents said they have a high quality of life (QOL), while 74.0% said the pandemic worsened their mental health and 60% reported worsened physical health . A total of 37. On the same subject : California first to cover health care for all immigrants.4% reported increased alcohol consumption during the pandemic, along with worse sleep (77%), less physical activity (64.5%) and less fruit and vegetable intake (61, 1%).
Frontline and practicing PIs, administrators and directors were the most adversely affected by the pandemic in terms of physical health, while those in other roles were more likely to report meeting physical activity recommendations (odds ratio [OR ], 2.68). Higher percentages of frontline IPs and practitioners (74.1%) and administrators and directors (76.3%) also reported worse mental health than those in other roles (61.4%).
Those with greater support for perceived organizational well-being were more likely to sleep at least 7 hours per night, achieve recommended physical activity goals, and not smoke. Compared to IPs who claimed to have little or no organizational support, those whose employers advocated well-being “very or moderately” were 67% more likely to sleep 7 hours a night, 35% less to report worse sleep and 43% less likely to report a decrease in physical activity.
PIs with some workplace support had higher odds of good mental health (OR, 1.81) and absence of depression (OR, 1.51), anxiety (OR, 1.86), or burnout (OR, 1.77) than those with minimal support. PIs whose employers supported well-being very or moderately had significantly higher shares in all indicators of good health than those with minimal to poor support, with odds ratios from 1.94 for physical health to 9. .00 for a high professional QOL.
PIs who worked 9 to 11 hours or more a day were more likely to not get enough sleep and report a decline in physical and mental health than those who worked for 8 hours or less. Higher percentages of non-white IPs were less likely to report a decline in physical health (OR, 0.59) and were more likely to report being in good mental health (OR, 1.58), without depression or anxiety, low stress levels and high professional QOL.
IP recruitment, retention key to quality care
With a 25% vacancy rate for PIs and an expected 40% retiring in the next decade, recruiting and retaining highly skilled PIs is a priority for maintaining the quality and safety of healthcare, they have stated the researchers. This may interest you : The federal office focused on the impacts of the climate crisis on health has no permanent staff or funding.
“Considering that poor clinical wellbeing increases revenue, APIC must continue to uphold the importance of investing in yard wellbeing cultures that promote wellbeing through ’empowerment, risk taking, commitment, resilience, transparency and respect'” , they wrote .
The authors said healthcare organizations need to act now to better protect the health and safety of IPs, including by addressing systemic issues such as understaffing and long shifts leading to burnout and poor health, and by establishing or improving programs and screening. mental health.
“Infection prevention experts have been instrumental in enabling healthcare facilities to provide safe care during the COVID-19 pandemic,” APIC President Linda Dickey, RN, MPH, who was not an author of the study. “The fact that so many exhibit symptoms of burnout is worrying and should prompt employers to adopt programs to promote well-being in order to retain these highly skilled professionals.”
Can people in quarantine eat fried foods?
WHO recommends limiting total fat intake to less than 30% of total energy intake, of which no more than 10% should come from saturated fat. To achieve this, opt for cooking methods that require less or no fat, such as steaming, grilling, or stir-frying instead of frying foods. See the article : How CCIDID-19 interventions have affected mental health and well-being, important indicators of health, and health inequality.. If necessary, use small amounts of unsaturated oils such as canola, olive, or sunflower oil to cook foods. Prefer foods that contain healthful sources of unsaturated fats, such as fish and nuts.
What not to eat during the COVID-19 pandemic? Avoid foods rich in salt and sugar. Limit the number of sodas and other high-sugar drinks. Instead of sweet snacks like cookies, cakes, and candy, choose fresh fruit.
Can COVID-19 spread through food?
The virus that causes COVID-19 is a virus that causes respiratory disease. Viruses such as norovirus and hepatitis A that can make people sick through contaminated food usually cause gastrointestinal or stomach illness. There is currently no evidence that food, food containers, or food packaging are associated with the transmission of COVID-19.
What are the best foods to eat during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Eat fruits, vegetables, legumes (lentils, beans, etc.), nuts and whole grains (such as oats, wheat, brown rice, potatoes and sweet potatoes), and animal-based foods (such as meat, fish, eggs, and milk).
What can I eat if I have no taste from COVID-19?
Some patients with smell and taste problems find that refrigerated or frozen foods taste better to them than hot or hot foods. If that’s true for you, try yogurt, smoothies, smoothies, egg salad, or frozen fruit.
What are the complications of COVID-19?
Complications can include pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multiple organ failure, septic shock, and death.
Which organ systems are most often affected by COVID-19? COVID-19 is a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 that can trigger what doctors call a respiratory tract infection. It can affect the upper respiratory tract (sinuses, nose and throat) or the lower respiratory tract (trachea and lungs).
Can getting COVID-19 lead to serious complications?
Although most people with COVID-19 have mild to moderate symptoms, the disease can cause serious medical complications and lead to death in some people. The elderly or people with existing chronic medical conditions are at a greater risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19.
How long are you contagious if you tested positive for COVID-19 ?
“A person with COVID-19 is considered infectious starting two days before they develop symptoms, or two days before the positive test date if they have no symptoms,” according to the CDC.
What if I have emergency warning signs for COVID-19?
Look for emergency warning signs * for COVID-19. If anyone shows any of these signs, seek emergency medical attention immediately: â € ¢ Trouble breathingâ € ¢ Persistent pain or pressure in the chestâ € ¢ New confusionâ € ¢ Inability to wake up or stay awakeâ € ¢ Pale, gray or blue- colored skin, lips or nail beds, depending on your skin tone
Are smokers more likely to develop severe disease with COVID-19?
Tobacco smoke is a known risk factor for many respiratory infections and increases the severity of respiratory diseases. A review of public health expert studies convened by WHO on April 29, 2020 found that smokers are more likely to develop serious illnesses with COVID-19, than non-smokers.
Do smokers suffer from worse symptoms than COVID-19? Early research indicates that, compared to non-smokers, having a history of smoking can substantially increase the chance of adverse health outcomes for COVID-19 patients, including being hospitalized in the ICU, requiring mechanical ventilation, and suffering serious consequences. for health.
How could smoking affect COVID-19?
COVID-19 is an infectious disease that primarily attacks the lungs. Smoking impairs lung function making it harder for the body to fight coronaviruses and other diseases.
Am I at risk for serious complications from COVID-19 if I smoke cigarettes?
Yes. The data shows that compared to non-smokers, cigarette smoking increases the risk of more serious COVID-19 illness, which could lead to hospitalization, the need for intensive care or even death.
