Self-reported outcomes of a randomized trial comparing three community health worker interventions for diabetes prevention among Cambodian Americans with depression

ObjectiveCambodian Americans have complex, interrelated and persistent medical and mental health problems stemming from genocide and the social determinants of health. We examined changes in multiple domains of self-reported health outcomes from a diabetes prevention trial. Methods: Cambodian Americans with depression and high risk for diabetes (n = 188) were randomized to one of three community health worker interventions: lifestyle vs lifestyle plus medication therapy management vs social services. Assessments were at baseline, 12- and 15-months. Results: The typical participant was 55 years old, female, earned below $20,000 annually, and had 7 years of education. About one-third were taking antidepressant medication and over half had elevated depressive symptoms. Relative to social services, lifestyle and lifestyle plus medication therapy management were both similarly effective at increasing diabetes knowledge, nutrition habits, sleep quality and decreasing pain; 2) lifestyle alone was superior to social services for self-reported health; and, 3) all three groups showed improved anxiety and insomnia. There were no effects on physical activity or physical functioning. Conclusion: Community health worker interventions have multiple benefits beyond delaying diabetes. Practice Implications: Health promotion programs that are designed and delivered appropriately can impact even hard to reach and hard to treat groups.     

Factors and considerations for establishing and improving seasonal influenza vaccination of health workers: Report from a WHO meeting,January 16–17, Berlin,Germany

Health workers represent an important target group for seasonal influenza vaccination because of their increased risk of infection as well as the risk of transmitting infection to vulnerable patients in the health care setting. Moreover, seasonal vaccination of health workers contributes to pandemic preparedness. However, many countries, especially in Africa and Asia, do not have policies for health worker influenza vaccination. In countries where such policies exist, vaccination coverage is often low. The World Health Organization (WHO) is developing a manual to guide the introduction of seasonal influenza vaccination of health workers. An Independent External Advisory Group (IEAG) that is advising WHO on the content of the manual met to discuss issues that are relevant and often unique to health worker vaccination. This meeting report summarizes the main issues that were discussed and the outcomes of the discussion. The issues include policy considerations, including the evidence in support of health worker vaccination; categorization and prioritization of health workers; the choice of vaccination strategy; its integration into broader health worker vaccination and occupational health policies; planning and management of vaccination, particularly the approaches for communication and demand generation; and the challenges with monitoring and evaluation of health worker vaccination, especially in low and middle-income countries.     

Interdependent Citizens: The Ethics of Care in Pandemic Recovery

The crisis of Covid-19 has forced us to notice two things: our human interdependence and American society's tolerance for what Nancy Krieger has called “inequalities embodied in health inequities,” reflected in data on Covid-19 mortality and geographies. Care is integral to our recovery from this catastrophe and to the development of sustainable public health policies and practices that promote societal resilience and reduce the vulnerabilities of our citizens. Drawing on the insights of Joan Tronto and Eva Feder Kittay, we argue that the ethics of care offers a critical alternative to utilitarian and deontological approaches and provides a street-ready framework for integration into public health deliberations to anchor public policy and investments concerning the recovery and future well-being of America's citizens and society.     

Protective equipment-related pressure ulcers in healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review

AimThis systematic review was carried out to examine pressure ulcers in healthcare staff due to the use of protective equipment during COVID-19 pandemic and the precautions taken to prevent these injuries.MethodRelevant studies were retrospectively searched. Seven English keywords identified from MESH were used while searching. The search was carried out in five international databases by trying various combinations of these words during February 15–25, 2021. This systematic review was updated by rescanning databases on December 20, 2021 and a total of 611 studies were attained.Results17 studies which met the study inclusion criteria, which were conducted mostly through online survey method in different study designs and which included a total of 24,889 healthcare professionals were examined. The incidence of PPE-related pressure ulcers was found to be between 30% and 92.8%. Grade I pressure ulcers were the most common (44.1%–82%). The incidence of skin problems except PPE-related pressure ulcers such as itching, redness and dry skin was found to be between 42.8–88.1%. Risk factors that frequently played a role in the development of PPE-related pressure ulcers and other skin problems were longer use of PPE and sweating. PPE-related pressure ulcers and other skin problems were more frequent over the nose (nasal bone/nasal bridge), ears, forehead and cheeks. PPE-related itching, redness and dry skin mostly occurred. Several dressing applications were found to be effective in the prevention of PPE-related pressure ulcers and other skin problems that might develop especially on the facial region.ConclusionPPE-related pressure ulcers and other skin problems were found to be higher among healthcare professionals. Data regarding the sealing of dressing applications against viral transmission in the prevention of PPE-related pressure ulcers and other skin problems are limited. It is estimated that future studies will be performed to prevent device-related pressure ulcers in healthcare workers. It is suggested that there is a need to conduct studies with larger samples where expert researchers make observations for pressure ulcers in order to determine the prevalence and incidence of PPE-related pressure ulcers.     

泌尿外科医务人员感染新型冠状病毒的路径及其影响

目的分析泌尿外科医务人员感染新型冠状病毒的路径、途径、诊断与治疗及其心理反应,为泌尿外科从业者突发公共卫生事件中预防感染提供参考。方法以武汉大学中南医院泌尿外科感染新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)的3名医生和3名护士为调查对象,采用专用问卷及访谈相结合的方法,从感染路径、感染途径、可能的感染因素、首发症状、确诊后的诊断与治疗、感染后心理情绪的变化等方面进行研究。结果全部纳入6位被感染的医护人员,直接或间接被1例患新型冠状病毒肺炎的血尿患者所感染。主要的感染因素为对该病的不知情导致意识及防护不足所致。最主要的症状为发热。确诊后均得到了及时、有效的诊断和治疗,使用最多的药物为抗病毒药盐酸阿比朵尔。确诊后被感染人员的心理压力和情绪均发生了很大的变化,引起变化的首位原因为对自身疾病的担忧。均建议医院从应急方案和工作流程、开展全员培训、医务人员防护、关注医务人员健康这4个方面进行改善。结论泌尿外科属于低风险的感染科室,需进一步加强应对突发性传染性疾病的培训及提升相关的意识,特别是在传染性疾病高峰时节应做好相关防护。     

Job hazards and respiratory symptoms in Hispanic female domestic cleaners

Abstract

The occupational hazards and respiratory symptoms of domestic cleaners in USA are largely unknown. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 56 Hispanic female domestic cleaner on their health status and frequency of cleaning products used and tasks performed. While women used multi-use products (60.0%) and toilet bowl cleaners (51.8%) most days of the week, many (39.3%) reported not using personal protective equipment while cleaning. Itchy/watery eyes (61.8%) and itchy nose (56.4%) were the most frequently reported symptoms. A history of physician-diagnosed asthma was reported by 14.3% while 33.9% had symptoms of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). In conclusion, this vulnerable population has high prevalence of physician-diagnosis asthma and BHR symptoms and is potentially exposed to myriad occupational hazards. Further research exploring associations between products use, cleaning tasks and respiratory symptoms is warranted.     

上海市长宁区外来务工人员艾滋病知识知晓情况和对艾滋病患者态度调查

目的 了解长宁区外来务工人员对艾滋病知识知晓情况和对艾滋病患者的态度,为有效地在城市外来务工人员中开展艾滋病健康教育提供依据。方法 随机抽取长宁区一个建筑工地,所有务工人员作为调查对象。采用匿名自填的方式,进行问卷调查,内容包括社会人口学特征、艾滋病防治核心知识、对艾滋病患者的态度以及国家有关政策的了解。结果 艾滋病核心知识总体知晓率为61.40%,知晓程度较高的人群为男性(OR=2.92,95%CI:1.73~4.93)、“有配偶/性伴”(OR=3.19,95%CI:2.08~4.90)、“四川户籍”(与“浙江户籍”相比,OR=2.03,95%CI:1.14~3.59),知晓程度较低的人群为“31~岁”年龄组(与“51~岁”年龄组相比,OR=0.47,95%CI:0.23~0.97)、文化程度为“小学及以下”和“初中”的人群(与“高中及以上”文化程度相比,OR_{小学及以下}=0.50,95%CI:0.27~0.91;OR_初中=0.36,95%CI:0.21~0.61)。对艾滋病的经性、血液、共用针具和母婴主要传播途径知晓率较高,分别为81.16%,88.02%,80.35%和68.49%;对“蚊虫叮咬”、“共用牙刷、剃须刀”,“一起吃饭”和“共用游泳池、浴缸”等与日常生活关系密切的非传播途径存在一定误区,回答正确率分别为30.81%,51.05%,59.77%和43.95%。对艾滋病患者的歧视现象普遍存在,55.70%的对象不愿意和艾滋病患者继续交往,62.33%的对象对艾滋病患者感到恐惧,不同知识知晓程度对患者的歧视程度不同(P＜0.05)。结论 外来务工人员对艾滋病防治知识的知晓程度较低,尤其对日常生活接触的非传播途径;对艾滋病患者存在一定程度的歧视。应结合外来务工人员特点,开展针对性宣传,提高知晓率,降低歧视。