Fitness for work in health care workers from the prospective of ethics, science and good practices

Fitness for work (FFW) is the final task of both risk assessment and health surveillance, aimed at protecting workers' health and working capacity. There are numerous specific concerns regarding health care workers. In particular: i) the frequent difficulty in determining at pre-employment/pre-placement examinations the specific task that the individual worker will perform; ii) the prevalence of female workers and the contemporary presence of numerous occupational risk factors that are a potential cause of harmful effects on women's reproductive health; iii) the progressive aging of the staff especially nurses; iv) the risk to third parties, with particular reference to the issues of biological risk and substance abuse, also in relation to shift work, fatigue and occupational stress; v) the increasing number of immigrant workers among support staff In such cases the occupational physician, respecting both ethical principles and regulations and with an appropriate balance between scientific evidence and the precautionary principle, should express a FFW judgment that allows both the adaptation of work to the worker and vice versa, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH). Proper FFW judgment also permits the expected benefits to be achieved, not only for the workers but also for employers, companies and society.     

Health promotion in different medical settings: women's health, community health and private practice

This paper describes the health promotion role of doctors in two medical practice settings: women's and community health centres, and fee-for-service practice. It proposes the establishment of divisions of primary health care in Australia which would be multi-disciplinary and focus on community-wide health issues. The paper is based on data from an interview survey of medical practitioners who had worked in metropolitan Adelaide women's and community health centres and from a questionnaire survey of GPs in private practice. The types of health promotion activity by the doctors in the different settings are discussed. It is concluded that private practice GPs are involved primarily in providing health education advice to individual patients. Doctors within women's and community health centres are more likely to report involvement in group health promotion activity and broader community development initiatives. The study concludes that health promotion which focuses on the health of the local community is best conducted within multi-disciplinary health centres. GPs in private practice are limited by the structure of their setting (particularly the fee-for-service basis and reliance on a single discipline) to health promotion which focuses on the needs of individual patients.     

Teamwork in health care. Lessons from the literature and from good practice around the world

It is becoming more difficult to provide health care that meets the needs of patients within tight budget constraints. This article suggests that one way forward is to channel the energies of people more constructively to work as teams. Some definitions are shown for teams and teamwork, and four benefits suggested of effective teamwork: learning and development, resource management, task performance and communications. In each of these four areas, examples are given from the international world of health care of how teamwork can be achieved. Finally, it is concluded that teamwork can be difficult, but that it is worth pursuing.     

Community health workers "101" for primary care providers and other stakeholders in health care systems

Today's ambulatory care providers face numerous challenges as they try to practice efficient, patient-centered medicine. This article explains how community health workers (CHWs) can be engaged to address many patient- and system-related barriers currently experienced in ambulatory care practices. Community health workers are frontline public health workers who serve as a trusted bridge between community members and health care providers. Among their varied roles, CHWs can educate and support patients in managing their risk factors and diseases and link these patients to needed resources. As shown in this overview (CHW 101), including CHWs as members of multidisciplinary care teams has the potential to strengthen both current and emerging models of health care delivery.     

Evaluation of social work practice in health care settings

The purpose of this article is to encourage social workers in health care settings to evaluate the effectiveness of their practice. Recent studies of intervention outcome in health care settings are reviewed on four dimensions. Because most of these utilize large group designs and social workers in direct practice rarely conduct this type of research, single-system designs are proposed as a complementary and feasible approach to evaluation. Issues in the use of single-system designs within health care settings and a case example will be discussed.     

Practical and affordable measures for the protection of health care workers from tuberculosis in low-income countries.

With the global upsurge in tuberculosis (TB), fueled by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic, and the increase in multidrug-resistant TB, the condition has become a serious occupational hazard for health care workers worldwide. Much of the current understanding about nosocomial TB transmission stems from the USA; however, little is known about the risk of such transmission in low-income countries. The focus of this review is on sub-Saharan Africa, since this is the region with the highest TB incidence, the highest HIV incidence, the worst epidemic of HIV-related TB, and where the risk to health care workers is probably greatest. Measures used in industralized countries to control nosocomial TB transmission (ventilation systems, isolation rooms, personal protective equipment) are beyond the resources of low-income countries. Protecting health care workers in these settings involves practical measures relating to diagnosis and treatment of infectious cases; appropriate environmental control; and relevant personal protection and surveillance of health care workers. Research needs to be carried out to examine the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of measures such as voluntary HIV-testing of health care workers (to enable known HIV-positive health care workers to avoid high-risk settings) and isoniazid preventive therapy for workers in high-risk settings. More resources are also needed to ensure full implementation of currently recommended measures to decrease the risk of nosocomial and laboratory-acquired TB.     

Health and performance factors in health care shift workers

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of shift work on health care workers. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study assessed health and performance markers of 188 day and night shift nonphysician health care workers. RESULTS: Night-shift workers were more likely to report difficulty with routine orders, lower energy levels, unpredictable work schedules, and sleep disturbance but no difference with injuries or motor vehicle crashes. A classification of day shift, night shift without unpredictable schedule or sleep problems, and night shift with unpredictable schedule or sleep problems revealed a trend of increased difficulty with routine orders, suggesting a "dose response effect." CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest an association with night shift health care workers and adverse health and performance markers. A "higher-risk" subgroup may benefit from targeted interventions to reduce potential adverse effects from shift work and improve health care delivery.     

中国医务人员职业暴露与防护工作的调查分析

目的了解医务人员职业暴露与防护工作现状,为制定职业暴露防护措施提供依据。方法采用分层抽样方法于2016年4月6日—5月6日向全国13个省份158所不同级别医院发放调查问卷进行调查,分别调查各所医院开展职业暴露监测首年、2010年及2015年的职业暴露与防护管理及监测情况。结果81.65%（129/158）的医院医务人员职业暴露管理工作由医院感染管理部门负责;98.73%（156/158）的医院制定了相关规章制度;77.22%（122/158）的医院存在医务人员职业暴露漏报现象。共发生职业暴露事件11 116例,调查首年发生1 542例,2010年发生2 474例,2015年发生7 100例。锐器伤在各类职业暴露类型中占96.76%;职业暴露人员职业分布中,护理人员占53.90%;职业暴露人员科室来源主要为普通病房、手术室、重症监护病房等;引起医务人员职业暴露器具主要为注射器、头皮钢针、手术缝针等;静脉注射、针头丢入利器盒、手术缝针等是引起医务人员职业暴露的高危操作;在职业暴露源阳性分布中,以乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）为主,占58.69%。结论我国医务人员面临职业暴露的风险大,危害重,形势严峻,应通过政府立法、推广应用安全器具、规范医务人员操作行为、正确使用个人防护用品、强化医务人员教育与培训、建立健全职业暴露报告、评估和随访机制等措施,以切实减少职业暴露的发生。     

Audit of immunization policy and practice of health care workers within National Health Service Trusts in England and Wales.

The purpose of this study was to identify the variation in occupational health immunization policies and practice within NHS Trusts throughout England and Wales. Questionnaires were sent to 440 NHS Trusts and 279 were returned (a response rate of 63%). The results were compared with current Department of Health Guidelines. They highlighted the fact that NHS Trusts do not adopt a consistent approach to immunization practice and that these policies often do not reflect Department of Health Guidance. Of those responding, 249 (89%) stated that they would like additional guidance on immunization practice within the NHS workplace. The production of updated, evidence-based guidelines for immunization practice, may help to ensure that a more consistent approach is taken throughout the NHS. This would benefit both the Trusts and their employees who at present may be confused by being given different advice when moving between Trusts.     

Health surveillance of health care workers suffering from neurological, psychiatric or behavioural disorders

INTRODUCTION: Health care workers (HCWs) suffering from psychiatric or neurological disorders, alcohol or drug addiction, may pose a risk for the health and safety of patients. The occupational health specialist charged of medical surveillance of hospital workers (the so-called "Competent Physician") often needs to recognize functional impairment in HCWs. CASE REPORT: Cases of impairment in HCWs are reported, and management criteria are discussed, in order to define effective strategies to deal with the problem. DISCUSSION: Alcoholism and other drug addictions are the most common causes of impairment, followed by emotional impairment, neurological and other physical disabilities. The primary responsibility of protecting the public, should be achieved while at the same time maintaining HCWs at work whenever possible. CONCLUSION: Critical key-points are identified, and suggestions for management of functionally impaired HCWs are given.     

Cultural differences in health beliefs: implications for social work practice in health care settings.

Individuals of diverse ethnic backgrounds often have beliefs about health, disease and treatment which vary significantly from American scientific medical practice. Cultural and subcultural health beliefs also vary among blacks, Hispanics and Asians. Individual differences within cultural groups may be influenced by length of time in the United States, age and social economic status. Social work activities which can improve health care services to ethnic minorities are identified.     

基层口腔医务人员职业暴露防护现况调查

目的探讨基层口腔医务人员职业暴露情况,制定有效的干预措施。方法应用分层随机整群方法抽取商丘市县级以下口腔医疗机构临床一线工作人员385名进行统一问卷调查,调查内容包括一般情况、口腔职业暴露的相关知识、防护行为,防护管理措施。结果 374名基层口腔医护人员职业暴露基础知识认知,知晓率在20.9%⁷2.7%,平均得分(5.1±1.1)分;职业暴露防护行为认知,知晓率在9.4%72.7%,平均得分(5.1±1.1)分;职业暴露防护行为认知,知晓率在9.4%⁹8.4%,平均得分(6.7±1.2)分;职业暴露防护行为不同职称间比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);手机一人一用一灭菌,县、乡两级医院与口腔诊所比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);医师在使用手机前后踩脚闸情况,县级医院与口腔诊所比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);手机采样监控乡级医院与口腔诊所之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论基层口腔医务人员职业暴露相关知识严重缺乏,职业暴露的防护行为不规范,基层医院口腔职业暴露安全防护措施管理存在问题,应加强基层口腔医务人员的持续培训,对诊疗过程中的防护行为进行规范、督导,建立基层医院安全防护机制。     

Sources of strain between physicians and social workers: implications for social workers in health care settings

This paper analyzes the sources of strain between the professions of medicine and social work. The two professions are compared in relation to (1) the organization and socialization process of professional training; (2) perspectives on patient care, illness and role of the health care professional; (3) attitudes toward knowledge and data; (4) attitudes toward and preparation for team-work; (5) perspectives on the role of the patient; (6) perceptions of social work's function.