UNASSIGNED: Frontline healthcare workers are at higher risk for COVID-19 infection and due to lack of availability of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), lack of knowledge and good practices results in more deaths each year due to occupational accidents and diseases.
UNASSIGNED: The aim of the study was to assess the awareness of personal safety, the association between the level of awareness with selected socio-demographic variables and to identify the correlation between knowledge and practice of personal safety.
UNASSIGNED: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was conducted among 106 Frontline Healthcare workers who have worked in the COVID ward. The study was conducted between 7 August 2022 and June 2023. A convenient sampling technique was used for sample selection. A validated self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the awareness of personal safety. Descriptive statistics (mean, SD frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics (χ2 and Spearman\'s correlation rank) were used for the data analysis.
UNASSIGNED: Among the respondents, there were 38 doctors and 68 nurses. The majority of the respondents had a moderate level of knowledge (79.2%) and practice (52.8%) with a mean score of 13.52±2.10 and 14.51± 2.35, respectively. Doctors have slightly higher levels of knowledge (14.01±1.62) and practice (14.57±2.07) as compared to Nurses (13.19±2.27, 14.48±2.5), respectively. Knowledge was found to be associated with the education level and age of the respondents, and practice has a significant association with training/demonstration with a P value of less than 0.05. Knowledge and practice were found to have a partial positive correlation (r value of 0.27).
UNASSIGNED: This study concluded that those having higher levels of education had good levels of knowledge and those who have attended formal or informal training or demonstrations regarding personal safety had good practices regarding personal safety.

•Urgent plea for global collaboration as Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever ravages Pakistan\'s healthcare system.•Crisis deepens with 41 confirmed cases, 15 fatalities, and a call to fortify healthcare infrastructure.•Government measures in Balochistan deemed a prelude; urgent actions and long-term strategies imperative.•Strategic recommendations unveiled for a holistic approach: from healthcare infrastructure to rapid response teams.

Healthcare is presently experiencing a global workforce crisis, marked by the inability of hospitals to retain qualified healthcare workers. Indeed, poor working conditions and staff shortages have contributed to structural collapse and placed a heavy toll on healthcare workers\' (HCWs) well-being, with many suffering from stress, exhaustion, demoralization, and burnout. An additional factor driving qualified HCWs away is the repeated experience of moral distress, or the inability to act according to internally held moral values and perceived ethical obligations due to internal and external constraints. Despite general awareness of this crisis, we currently lack an organized understanding of how stress leads to poor health, wellbeing, and performance in healthcare workers. To address this critical issue, we first review the literature on moral distress, stress, and health in HCWs. Second, we summarize the biobehavioral pathways linking occupational and interpersonal stressors to health in this population, focusing on neuroendocrine, immune, genetic, and epigenetic processes. Third, we propose a novel Psychoneuroimmunological Model of Moral Distress and Health in HCWs based on this literature. Finally, we discuss evidence-based individual- and system-level interventions for preventing stress and promoting resilience at work. Throughout this review, we underscore that stress levels in HCWs are a major public health concern, and that a combination of system-level and individual-level interventions are necessary to address preventable health care harm and foster resilience in this population, including new health policies, mental health initiatives, and additional translational research.

Little is known about the experiences of frontline professionals in Kazakhstan. Although studies of frontline workers have been conducted worldwide, it is imperative that caution should be exercised when extrapolating findings from disparate societies and generalizing them to Central Asian countries. As such, the purpose of this study was to explore and describe the firsthand experiences, perceptions, and knowledge gained from the experience of Kazakh frontline physicians and nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. An exploratory-descriptive qualitative (EDQ) study was conducted over the course of a year in COVID-19 hospitals in Kazakhstan, with physicians (n = 23) and nurses (n = 7). Each participant was interviewed three times between May 2021 and May 2022. Braun and Clarke\'s six-step method was used for the thematic analysis. Three overarching themes and subthemes were identified: (1) Longitudinal Journey (\"Nobody knew, nobody understood, nobody was ready\"; \"It\'s just life\"); (2) Facets of Professionalism (\"In my lifetime this is something unique\"; \"Who else if not us\"; \"We survived the war and the enemy\"); and (3) Facets of Resilience (\"God\'s providence\"; \"A good word heals too\"). In light of the lack of research that has previously been conducted in Kazakhstan, the results of this study offer important new insight into the experiences of medical professionals during the COVID-19 epidemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated a significant mental health crisis among frontline healthcare workers (FHCWs), with increased reports of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, insomnia, and suicidal thoughts. This letter to the editor responds to a recent study on the psychological burden among FHCWs in Mexico and presents complementary findings from Taiwan. We found that fear of COVID-19, trust in information, and resilience were significant factors contributing to mental health outcomes, including insomnia and suicidal thoughts, among outpatients, healthcare workers, and the general population during the pandemic. These findings suggest that mental health interventions for healthcare workers should consider these factors and include strategies for clear communication, stress management, and resilience building. Particular attention should be given to nurses and residents/fellows who seem to be bearing a disproportionate share of the psychological burden. Ultimately, understanding these contributing factors can guide the development of targeted interventions to support the mental well-being of FHCWs during the pandemic.

Some of the lowest COVID-19 community vaccination rates in America are found in Louisiana. This study investigated: (1) barriers that Louisiana pharmacists encountered during the pandemic; and (2) the effect of pharmacists\' role and identity confidence on willingness to enforce vaccine mandates, and COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Fifty-four community pharmacists from nine regions of Louisiana participated in the study. Pharmacists completed questionnaires about: personal demographics, patient population, vaccination encouragement, COVID-19 concerns, and vaccination administration rates. The importance of feeling like a trusted voice in the community, as well as professional perception and self-assurance, were measured using Likert scale questions. During focus groups, participants discussed experiences with the COVID-19 vaccination rollout and vaccination-related obstacles. As the pandemic progressed, pharmacists reported being overworked, understaffed, and overburdened with new responsibilities. In regions with lower vaccination rates, pharmacists were less likely to feel at ease enforcing vaccine mandates. Independent pharmacists were less comfortable enforcing vaccine mandates than chain pharmacists but had more positive perceptions of their role and identity. This study contributes to further understanding of pharmacy workflow obstacles and pharmacists\' perceptions of their professional roles and identities in the community.

Introduction Frontline healthcare workers (FLHCWs) have been persuaded to work this coronavirus disease (COVID) pandemic way in and out but the pandemic has not subsided. The persistence of symptoms after COVID infection, especially chest symptoms like early fatigue with breathlessness, has been documented very well. However, FLHCWs have repeatedly caught the COVID infection and have been working in traumatic and helpless situations since the pandemic started. Post-COVID infection, quality of life (QOL) and sleep are greatly affected, regardless of the time elapsed since discharge or recovery. The continuous assessment of COVID-infected persons for post-COVID sequelae is an important and effective step to reduce complications. Materials and methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted for a period of one year at R.L. Jalappa Hospital and Research Center, Kolar, and SNR District Hospital, Kolar, which were designated COVID care centers. FLHCWs working in these centers who had contracted COVID infection at least once, who were more than 18 years and less than 30 years, and who had experience of less than five years irrespective of their vaccination status were included in the study. FLHCWs with COVID-related health illnesses, which needed ICU admission and prolonged hospital admission, were excluded. To assess QOL, the WHO Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire was used. To assess sleepiness, the Epworth daytime sleepiness scale was used. The study was started after the institutional ethical committee\'s clearance was obtained. Results A total of 201 healthcare workers (HCWs) completed the survey. Of the participants, 119 (59.2%) were male, 107 (53.2%) were junior residents, 134 (66.7%) were unmarried, and 171 (85.1%) said they followed regular shifts. Male HCWs had higher scores in the psychological, social relationship, and environmental domains of QoL. Consultants had higher scores in all domains of QoL. Married HCWs had higher scores in the physical, psychological, and social relationship domains of QoL. Out of 201 FLHCWs, 67 (33.3%) had moderate excessive daytime sleep, and 25 (12.4%) had severe excessive daytime sleep. Few factors like gender, occupation, duration of work in the hospital, and regular shifts were statistically significant factors associated with daytime sleepiness. Conclusion The present study has shown that even after the COVID vaccination doses received by the HCWs, sleep and Qol have still been impaired among infected younger healthcare staff. Acceptable and righteous efforts must be made by the institutions for proper policymaking to manage such infectious outbreaks in the future.

Globally, the high prevalence of burnout in healthcare workers (HCWs) is of the utmost concern. Burnout is a state of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and a decreased sense of personal accomplishment. While the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) exacerbated the burnout prevalence among HCWs, limited studies have explored this phenomenon using qualitative methodologies in the Eastern Cape Province and South Africa generally. This study explored how frontline healthcare workers experienced burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mthatha Regional Hospital.
Ten face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with non-specialized medical doctors and nurses who directly cared for COVID-19-infected patients during the pandemic in Mthatha Regional Hospital (MRH). In-depth interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were managed through NVIVO 12 software before being thematically analyzed using Colaizzi\'s analysis method.
Four main themes emerged from the analysis. These themes were burnout manifestation (emotional strain, detachment and irritability, uncertainty-induced fear, and anxiety, physical exhaustion, yet, low job accomplishment, dread and professional responsibility), precursors of burnout (occupational exposure to high mortality, staff shortages, elongated high patient volume and workload, disease uncertainties and consistent feeling of grief), alleviating factors of burnout (time off work, psychologist intervention, periods of low infection rate and additional staff), and the last theme was every cloud has a silver lining (improved infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, learning to be more empathetic, the passion remains and confidence grows).
The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a rapid change in the work environment of healthcare workers who are the backbone of efficient healthcare services, thereby rendering them vulnerable to increased burnout risks. This study provides strategic information for policymakers and managers on developing and strengthening welfare policies to promote and protect frontline health workers\' well-being and work functioning.

The aim of this study was to determine the sociodemographic characteristics that affect job stress and job satisfaction in 454 healthcare workers (physicians, nurses, midwives, technicians, and other healthcare personnel) working with COVID-19 patients in primary healthcare institutions in Turkey with a cross-sectional, web-based survey between 9 and 30 August 2021. The survey included a personal information form, a standard job stress scale, and the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire. The levels of job stress and job satisfaction did not differ between male and female respondents. Singles reported lower job stress and higher job satisfaction than the married respondents. Job stress did not differ between departments, but respondents on the front line who worked in a COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) (at any point and/or at the time of the study) or the emergency department reported lower job satisfaction than those working in other departments. Similarly, while stress did not differ by educational status, satisfaction of respondents with bachelor\'s or master\'s degree was lower than that of the rest. Our findings also suggest that working in a COVID-19 ICU and age are significant predictors of higher stress, whereas lower education, working in a COVID-19 ICU, and being married are good predictors of lower satisfaction. Further research should include other sociodemographic variables that may affect stress and satisfaction at work, and similar studies should follow up to see what was left in the wake of the pandemic.
Cilj je ovoga presječnog ispitivanja bio utvrditi sociodemografske karakteristike koje utječu na profesionalni stres i zadovoljstvo u 454 zaposlenika (liječnika, medicinskih sestara, bolničara, primalja, tehničara i drugih) u ustanovama primarne zdravstvene skrbi u Turskoj tijekom pandemije bolesti COVID-19. Ispitanici su od 9. do 30. kolovoza 2021. odgovarali na online upitnik, koji se sastojao od osobnih podataka, standardne ljestvice za ocjenu profesionalnoga stresa i od Minnesotskoga upitnika o zadovoljstvu. Razine profesionalnoga stresa i zadovoljstva nisu se razlikovale među spolovima. Ispitanici koji nisu u braku iskazali su niži stres i višu razinu zadovoljstva od onih u braku. U pogledu profesionalnoga stresa nije uočena razlika između odjela, ali su ispitanici na prvoj crti izloženosti, tj. oni koji su ikad radili ili rade s pacijentima oboljelima od bolesti COVID-19 na odjelu intenzivne njege (u trenutku ispunjavanja upitnika) odnosno na odjelu hitne pomoći, iskazali slabije zadovoljstvo poslom od ispitanika koji su radili na drugim odjelima. Isto tako nije bilo razlika u razinama stresa između ispitanika prema obrazovnom statusu, ali su ispitanici s najvišim obrazovanjem (bakalaureat, magisterij i više) iskazali slabije zadovoljstvo poslom od ostalih. Kad je o pretkazateljima stresa riječ, najznačajniji su rad na COVID-odjelu intenzivne njege i dob koji su, uz brak, također najznačajniji pretkazatelji nezadovoljstva poslom. Buduća bi istraživanja trebala obuhvatiti i druge sociodemografske varijable koje mogu utjecati na profesionalni stres i zadovoljstvo, a valjalo bi i nastaviti pratiti te parametre kako bi se vidjele promjene nakon proglašenja prestanka pandemije.

BACKGROUND: While COVID-19 affects every walk of human life, it especially implicates healthcare workers at the forefront of the pandemic due to their vulnerable involvement in providing first-line treatment. This study presents the lived experiences of frontline healthcare workers serving in Indonesia\'s COVID-19-designated hospital, one of the severely afflicted healthcare settings wherein resource challenges, public health crisis, and political constraints intersect as policy conundrums.
METHODS: Using a qualitative exploratory-descriptive approach, this study drew on thirteen in-depth, semi-structured interviews with frontline healthcare workers who have experiences providing first-line COVID-19 patient care in the COVID-19 hospital. The data analysis commenced with the verbatim transcription of the interview data, which was then subjected to a systematic thematic analysis employing hermeneutic phenomenological principles.
RESULTS: The exploration of the participants\' accounts reveals eight interconnected themes: facing resource scarcity and resignation; experiencing service-induced burnout due to occupational workload; encountering fears of being infected and infecting others; engaging in positivity through social connectedness; having dilemmas over healthcare rationing; developing negative emotions during patient interactions; coping through spirituality and religiosity; and embodying a life of service.
CONCLUSIONS: Managing healthcare in resource-limited, crisis settings presents multifaceted challenges that exceed mere structural modifications, requiring prioritized public health investment to ensure optimal patient care. Therefore, healthcare policy development and implementation should equally emphasize the well-being of frontline healthcare workers to foster sustainable healthcare delivery and achieve improved patient outcomes.