Musculoskeletal disorders among female nurses in a rural Japanese hospital

Abstract The present research investigated the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) among a previously understudied group of Asian nursing professionals in a rural setting. A total of 305 female nurses (84% response rate) were recruited from a university teaching hospital in Yamanashi prefecture, central Japan. Data were gathered by means of a self-reporting questionnaire. Lower back pain (LBP) was the most commonly reported MSD, affecting 59% of all nurses. This was followed by MSD of the shoulder (46.6%), neck (27.9%), knees (16.4%) and upper leg (11.8%). Working in the surgical department was shown to increase the risk of any MSD 2.7 times when compared to nurses in the other departments (odds ratio 2.7, 95% confidence interval 1.2–6.7, P = 0.0202). Overall, our study shows that MSD are reasonably common among registered nurses in a rural Japanese hospital. These staff may also be at greater risk of suffering MSD than their city-based nursing counterparts and foreign colleagues, particularly with respect to LBP.     

Job satisfaction among Norwegian general practitioners

OBJECTIVE: To explore the level of job satisfaction among general practitioners (GPs) and to compare it with that of hospital doctors. DESIGN: Postal questionnaire among Norwegian doctors in 2002 and similar data from 1994 and 2000 for most of the respondents. MATERIAL: A total of 295 GPs out of 1174 doctors completed the questionnaire (73% response rate). Main outcome measures. Self-reported levels of job satisfaction according to the Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS). RESULTS: Norwegian GPs reported a high level of job satisfaction with a mean score on the JSS of 52.6 (10 is minimum and 70 maximum). The reported level of satisfaction was highest for their opportunities to use their abilities, cooperation with colleagues and fellow workers, variation in work, and freedom to choose own method of working. The GPs' level of job satisfaction remained stable in 1994, 2000, and 2004 in spite of major health reforms. GPs report a higher level of job satisfaction than hospital doctors. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of international discussions on unhappy doctors and doctors' discontent, Norwegian GPs do report a high and stable level of job satisfaction.     

Consumption of "performance-enhancing" products by general practitioners

The aim of this work was to test the hypothesis that doctors consume products to help them in their professional practice. A telephone survey was conducted over a 12-month period among 402 general practitioners in France (using a 'quota method'). The 202 respondents consisted of 49 women and 153 men, with a mean age of 45.6 +/- 5.6 years. Nineteen percent of these respondents said that they had taken products to help with stress (11% had used benzodiazepines), 24% had used products to help with fatigue, 33% had used tobacco, and 20% said that they had experimented with cannabis. Finally, 44% of the respondents said that they had used products to 'hold out' during their studies--especially those presently taking products to assist with stress. Two questions must therefore be raised: (i) what is the impact of this addiction on the types of products prescribed by these doctors? and (ii) what steps are taken to prevent doctors from using such products and becoming addicted in the first place?     

Job satisfaction among Arizona adult nurse practitioners

PURPOSE: A literature review for studies of job satisfaction among nurse practitioners (NPs) suggests that the true determinants of job satisfaction have not been discovered. The purpose of this study was to determine job satisfaction among adult health NPs (ANPs) practicing in Arizona. DATA SOURCES: The Misener nurse practitioner job satisfaction scale was mailed to 329 Arizona ANPs who were certified by the Arizona State Board of Nursing (47% response rate). CONCLUSIONS: The mean overall satisfaction score was 4.69 out of a possible score of 6.0 for very satisfied. Differences in employer type, gender, annual income, membership in professional nursing organization, or full-time versus part-time employment status did not result in significantly different scores on the job satisfaction scale in this group. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: A deep and sustained nursing shortage, the exodus of experienced nurses from the profession, and a projected shortage of primary care providers have generated interest among professional groups, private and government healthcare commissions, and the healthcare industry in determining what factors may influence an individual to choose and remain active in nursing practice. Researchers, educators, employers, and the healthcare industry must look beyond well-worn assumptions about job satisfaction to explore what the individual NP finds satisfying about his or her role.     

Mortality among patients admitted to intensive care units during weekday day shifts compared with "off" hours

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether mortality rates among intensive care unit (ICU) patients differ according to the time of ICU admission, we compared the death rates for patients admitted during weekday day shifts and off hours (from 6:30 pm to 8:29 am the next day for night shifts, from Saturday 1:00 pm to Monday 8:29 am for weekends, and from 8:30 am to 8:29 am the following morning for public holidays). METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of data collected prospectively from 23 ICUs located in the Paris metropolitan region, France. Between January 2000 and December 2003, 51,643 patients were admitted to these ICUs. Patients were grouped according to their day and time of admission and compared using univariable and multivariable analyses. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of the 51,643 patients admitted to ICUs, 33,857 (65.6%) were admitted during off hours. These latter patients were less critically ill than those admitted during day shifts, had fewer failed organs, required fewer support procedures, and their crude in-hospital mortality was lower (20.7 vs. 24.5%, p < .0001). After adjustment for initial disease severity, in-hospital mortality was not higher for off-hours admissions than weekday day admissions and even remained slightly lower (adjusted odds ratio, 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.87-0.98). CONCLUSIONS: Admission during off hours is common. In our ICUs, off-hours admissions were not associated with higher mortality and might even be associated with a lower death rate.     

Psychological empowerment and structural empowerment among nurse practitioners

Abstract
Purpose: Empowering workplaces provide practitioners with access to information, support, resources, and opportunities to learn and grow. Empowerment is also a psychological process, which occurs when one has a sense of motivation in relation to the workplace environment. There is no previous research on the relationship of psychological empowerment and structural empowerment in nurse practitioner (NP) practice.
Data Sources: Structural empowerment was measured using the conditions of work effectiveness questionnaire-II (CWEQ-II), and psychological empowerment was measured using Spreitzer's psychological empowerment scale. The sample consisted of 74 NPs in the state of Connecticut. The correlational scores for the instruments were derived with n = 72 as two subjects had extreme scores on multiple variables and were excluded. There were significant correlations between psychological and structural empowerment for total scores, and within 10 of these tools' subscales.
Conclusions: The NPs who participated in this study scored high on perceptions of structural empowerment and psychological empowerment. The results of the psychological empowerment instrument indicated that the NPs value their work and find meaning in what they do.
Implications for Practice: The relationships between psychological empowerment and structural empowerment have been linked to work effectiveness, quality patient care, cost-effectiveness, and retention. Study results support an implication that it is of critical importance for the organization or practice setting to facilitate both psychological and structural empowerment to the NP to ensure successful practice.     

Measuring practice patterns among acute care nurse practitioners

OBJECTIVE: This initiative was designed to develop a reliable instrument to measure the activities of acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs). A sound, standardized method for measuring ACNP productivity will assist nursing leaders and administrators to demonstrate the effectiveness and productivity of ACNPs in and across institutions and systems. BACKGROUND DATA: Current research on ACNPs uses many different methodologies and research designs, and fails to provide standard definitions to measure practice patterns, making it difficult to generalize across settings. METHODS: Advisory groups from 2 New York academic health science centers developed a survey that covered the demographic, educational, and employment characteristics of ACNPs, and a 20-item classification of advanced practice nursing activities. Sixty-one ACNPs completed surveys, a 58% response rate. RESULTS: The survey found strong similarities at both institutions. ACNPs spend most of their time in 5 activities involving direct care and 4 activities within indirect care. Strong Cronbach alphas confirmed that the instrument was reliable. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: The availability of a reliable instrument for measuring ACNP practice patterns provides administrators with a powerful tool to demonstrate the contributions of their ACNPs. In addition, a standardized method for data collection can contribute to healthcare workforce policy discussions.     

Sick-listing habits among general practitioners in a Swedish county

OBJECTIVE: To describe sick-listing habits in general practice, how common it is and for how long and for what diagnoses it is granted. DESIGN: Medical audit study. SETTING: Primary health care. SUBJECTS: 53 general practitioners (GPs) registering all cases during a 2-week period when sick-listing was considered. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percentage of GP consultations that involved sick-listing, number of days of certified sick-leave, percentage of partial sick-listing, GP sex differences. RESULTS: 9% of all consultations included a consideration about sick-listing, and in only 6% of these instances was a certificate not issued. The median length of the certified sickness period was 14 days. Musculoskeletal problems were by far the most common diagnosis. Female patients were more often partially sick-listed than males. Female GPs sick-listed a larger proportion of their patients than male GPs. Risk factors for long certification periods were in fact associated with long certification periods. Even in cases where the GP would not recommend sick-listing a certificate was issued in 87%. CONCLUSIONS: Patients appear to have a strong influence on sick-listing practice, and there are important sex differences among GPs in this practice.     

The comparison of pinch strength among female typists and female non-typists

Background

Typing is a common activity involving repetitive motion that can increase the risk of work-related injuries. To the best of our knowledge, the effect of typing on the pinch strength has not been investigated so far.