[Experiences of Stigmatization Among Professional Caregivers in the Context of Covid-19 - a Qualitative Study]. / Stigmatisierungserfahrungen bei beruflich Pflegenden im Kontext von Covid-19 ­ eine Qualitative Studie.

OBJECTIVE: Healthcare workers seem to be more affected by stigma due to the Covid-19 pandemic compared to other occupational groups. However, there is very little research on this topic. The aims of the present study were to investigate pandemic-related stigmatization experiences among nursing and medical staff in Germany and determine the type and effects of stigmatization as well as appropriate prevention and intervention measures. METHODS: The interviews were conducted by a semi-structured interview guide and evaluated using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Sixteen nurses participated in the interviews. Sources of stigmatization were friends and acquaintances, family members, executives, colleagues, patients and their relatives, strangers and public media. Some of the interviewed persons reported self-stigmatization. A common cause of stigma in the private environment was the fear of infection. In the context of the work, illness-related absence was also named as one of the causes of stigma. The interviewees reported about distancing and avoiding contact, as well as allegations they were faced with. As a result, they suffered from negative feelings and partially from psychosomatic complaints. Some interviewees tried to avoid stigmatization by concealing their own profession or place of work. Help was offered in private and professional context in form of conversations and encouragement. CONCLUSION: Stigmatization of healthcare professionals during the pandemic has hardly been explored in Germany. There is a particular need for research to quantify the extent, manifestations and effects of work-related stigmatization and to develop suitable preventive measures at workplace and outside of work.

[Workload and health of workers with a migrant background]. / Arbeitsbelastung und Gesundheit von Erwerbstätigen mit Migrationshintergrund.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Diversity is increasing, including among workers. Traditional approaches in occupational safety and health are no longer sufficient to meet the emerging challenges in the workplace. Currently, knowledge about specific needs of workers with a migrant background is insufficient to develop suitable interventions under participatory methods. The aim of this work is to gain knowledge about diversity in the workplace and discuss considerations for suitable prevention and health promotion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Research in reports, analyses of the German Socio-Economic Panel, as well as a review of the literature in relevant databases served to collate current findings about health indicators, stress and strain, structural conditions, and occupational prevention and health promotion. RESULTS: Differentiated results about health in the workplace and stress and strain could be identified. In particular, workers with a migrant background are more often exposed to physical stress and harsh environmental conditions. Furthermore, structural conditions are worse for these workers, e.g. due to lower employment rates, as well as enhanced atypical employment among the target group. CONCLUSION: Plausible explanations for the reported differences are discussed and useful implications are given. However, the overall lack of data and challenges in data collection must be considered.

[Necessities and needs of intervention for workplace health promotion in residential elderly care?]. / Bedarfslagen und Interventionsnotwendigkeiten für die betriebliche Gesundheitsförderung in der stationären Altenpflege.

The current demographic change coincides with an increasing demand for elderly care nursing services as well as a decrease of available nursing personnel. Against this background, efforts should be made to sustain the health and work motivation of the current workforce. In order to adequately design interventions, one needs an appropriate overview of subjective stress and health-related experiences of target groups as well as insight into influencing factors and organisational conditions. The study at hand analyses corresponding relations on the basis of a scientific survey conducted in six residential nursing homes and one institution for assisted accommodation. Survey results show that burnout is the most meaningful health indicator, while the strongest predictor for burnout turned out to be a conflicting relation between work and private life. There were significant differences between groups of staff concerning subjective perceptions of health. Based on these results, the authors argue for an organisational concept of health promotion.

Future Challenges for Work-Related Health Promotion in Europe: A Data-Based Theoretical Reflection.

This contribution is a theoretical reflection based on statistical and empirical data as well as concepts proposed by other authors or institutions. Based on the thesis that the respective social developments equally influence and limit the orientation and design of workplace health promotion, this article deals with the challenges that arise from the contemporary social, political and economic developments for a needs-oriented and effective workplace health promotion. On the basis of a historical review of the lines of development in workplace health promotion, beginning with the Ottawa Charter in 1986, the field of tension in which work-related health promotion approaches generally operate is first outlined. Based on the results of a keyword search in relevant European statistics databases and specialized databases on the topics of demographic change, labor migration and digitalization and flexibilization of work, current development trends in the world of work are traced, priority desiderata for a future design of health promotion are derived from these, and their chances of realization are reflected upon. On the basis of the data collected, it becomes clear that today's world of work is characterized by multidimensional diversification processes, which are accompanied by the risk of worsening social inequalities. The conclusion is that future concepts of workplace health promotion must be more universal than previous approaches, which are often limited to the focus of individual behavioral prevention. The attempt to promote workplace health promotion with economic benefit arguments also runs the risk of reinforcing social inequality. The task of effective workplace health promotion, conversely, must be to initiate critical reflection on current priorities.

Stigmatization from Work-Related COVID-19 Exposure: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Stigmatization from work-related COVID-19 exposure has not been investigated in detail yet. Therefore, we systematically searched three databases: Medline, Embase, and PsychInfo (until October 2020), and performed a grey literature search (until February 2021). We identified 46 suitable articles from 24 quantitative and 11 qualitative studies, 6 systematic reviews, 3 study protocols and 1 intervention. The assessment of stigmatization varied widely, ranging from a single-item question to a 22-item questionnaire. Studies mostly considered perceived self-stigma (27 of 35 original studies) in healthcare workers (HCWs) or hospital-related jobs (29 of 35). All articles reported on stigmatization as a result of work-related COVID-19 exposure. However, most quantitative studies were characterized by convenience sampling (17 of 24), and all studies-also those with an adequate sampling design-were considered of low methodological quality. Therefore, it is not possible to determine prevalence of stigmatization in defined occupational groups. Nevertheless, the work-related stigmatization of occupational groups with or without suspected contact to COVID-19 is a relevant problem and increases the risk for depression (odds ratio (OR) = 1.74; 95% confidence interval CI 1.29-2.36) and anxiety (OR = 1.75; 95% CI 1.29-2.37). For promoting workers' health, anti-stigma strategies and support should be implemented in the workplace.

Accidents in the context of study among university students--a multicentre cross-sectional study in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Knowledge about prevalence and patterns of accidents among university students is scarce. The aims of the present health survey were to assess the general prevalence of accidents among university students, to describe the specific kinds of accidents, and to analyse associated factors. A multicentre cross-sectional health survey was conducted at 12 universities and 4 universities of applied sciences in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany. The response rate was 88%. The self-administered questionnaire covered multiple areas of health, behaviours and a specific module for accidents. In total, 252 (8.8%) out of 2855 students (aged 17-26 years) had experienced an accident in the context of their studies. Contusions, compressions and strains constituted more than 50% of all kinds of injuries, while fractures, irritations, burns or acid burns were reported less frequently. The cumulative risk of experiencing an accident was increasing linearly with the study duration, indicating an absence of a specific vulnerable period. Nearly 60% of all accidents took place during study-related sports activities, and about a quarter of all accidents occurred on the way to or from university. Only few accidents occurred on university floors, in lecture rooms or on stairways. Further studies are needed to assess more in depth the causes of accidents and the situation immediately preceding the event before making specific recommendations for prevention.