The Impact of Job Stress, Role Ambiguity and Work-Life Imbalance on Turnover Intention during COVID-19: A Case Study of Frontline Health Workers in Saudi Arabia.

The main objective of the present study is to examine the impact of job stress, role ambiguity, work-life imbalance and burnout on employee turnover intention. Moreover, the mediating role of burnout between job stress, role ambiguity, work-life imbalance and turnover intention is also examined. The data collection for this quantitative research was conducted through the "Questionnaire" technique. The questionnaire was developed based on previously established questions available in the literature. The data were collected using simple random sampling from the healthcare workers of KSA. From the distributed questionnaire, 73.5% of the usable questionnaires were returned. This study used SPSS and PLS for the analysis of the data to highlight the most significant variables that impact the employees' turnover intentions among KSA health workers. The findings show that job burnout is clearly related to turnover intentions and is positively affected by both role stress and role ambiguity. Moreover, a statistically positive association is found between work-life imbalance and burnout among the healthcare workers in KSA. Furthermore, the mediating role of burnout is also confirmed in this study. The study also indicates that role ambiguity and role stress due to COVID-19 may create burnout among employees, which may lead to turnover intention among healthcare workers. There is a lack of research on the assessment of the impact of the novel COVID-19-related job stress, role ambiguity and work-life imbalance on the medical staff's turnover intentions in hospitals. This study fills the gap of the limited studies conducted regarding the identification of the factors that can create turnover intention among healthcare workers of KSA by providing empirical evidence from a Gulf country, Saudi Arabia. This study provides managerial implications for hospital management and health policymakers to develop a strategy to retain the employees. Furthermore, healthcare administrators need to pay close attention to front line workers' turnover intentions as these medical heroes are the vital part of our society who assist patients to receive their initial treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ellagic acid reduces murine schistosomiasis mansoni immunopathology via up-regulation of IL-10 and down-modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines production.

CONTEXT: The main immunopathology in schistosomiasis mansoni consists of a granulomatous inflammatory and fibrosing reaction in the liver and intestine against tissue trapped parasite eggs, which is mediated by CD4(+ )T cells. Ellagic acid (EA), a natural phenolic compound found in fruits and nuts, has potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential effect of EA in the treatment of murine schistosomiasis mansoni and its induced immunopathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were infected, each with 40 Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) cercariae and treated with EA at a total dose of 600 mg/kg body weight. At week eight of infection, mice were sacrificed; worm and egg burden were estimated; hepatic granuloma volume and collagen fibers deposition were evaluated; splenocytes were prepared and cultured in the presence of S. mansoni antigens. RESULTS: EA treatment did not show any significant effect on worm or egg burden. However, hepatic granuloma volume and collagen fibers deposition were largely reduced with EA treatment. EA treatment augmented specific IL-10 production in response to S. mansoni antigenic stimulation. However, specific IL-1ß, IL-4, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17A, TNF-α and IFN-γ production were significantly reduced with ex vivo and in vivo EA treatment. Serum IgM and IgG levels significantly increased, whereas specific IgA and IgE levels did not significantly change with EA treatment. CONCLUSION: EA treatment modulates cellular and humoral immune responses of infected mice and leads to a significant reduction of liver pathology in acute murine schistosomiasis mansoni.