Síntomas de ansiedad y depresión en personal de salud que trabaja con enfermos de COVID-19 / Anxiety and depression symptoms in health personnel who work with COVID-19 patients

El personal de salud pública que se enfrenta a la COVID-19, está expuesto a múltiples riesgos entre ellos los trastornos psicológicos. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la presencia de síntomas asociados a ansiedad y depresión en personal de salud que trabaja con enfermos de la COVID-19. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal en el que participaron 61 profesionales y técnicos de atención sanitaria, que trabajaban directamente con pacientes con COVID-19, a los cuales se les consultó acerca de la presencia de síntomas asociados a la depresión y ansiedad, sus principales preocupaciones y el tiempo de trabajo continuo para evitar la aparición de síntomas psicológicos. El 64,1% de los participantes relató nerviosismo y 59,2% cansancio, para el 90,16% la principal preocupación fue el fallecimiento del paciente y el 60,66% de los participantes indicó que el período ideal, de atención continua de pacientes COVID-19, para evitar la aparición de síntomas psicológicos era de 7 días. Nuestros resultados sugieren que es necesario elaborar estrategias de trabajo para disminuir la aparición de síntomas asociados al deterioro de la salud mental de los profesionales de la salud que atienden pacientes COVID-19

Public health personnel facing COVID-19 are exposed to multiple risks including psychological disorders. The goal of this study was to determine the presence of symptoms associated with anxiety and depression in health personnel working with COVID-19 patients. A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 61 health care professionals and technicians was conducted, working directly with COVID-19 patients, who were consulted about the presence of symptoms associated with depression and anxiety, their main concerns and ongoing working time to avoid the onset of psychological symptoms. 64.1% of participants reported nervousness and 59.2% tiredness, for 90.16% the main concern was the patient's death and 60.66% of participants indicated that the ideal period, of continuous care of COVID-19 patients, to prevent the onset of psychological symptoms was 7 days. Our results suggest that work strategies need to be developed to decrease the onset of symptoms associated with deteriorating mental health of health professionals caring for COVID-19 patients

An evaluation of the professional, social and demographic profile and quality of life of physicians working at the Prehospital Emergency Medical System (SAMU) in Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To describe the profile of physicians working at the Prehospital Emergency Medical System (SAMU) in Brazil and to evaluate their quality of life. METHODS: Both a semi-structured questionnaire with 57 questions and the SF-36 questionnaire were sent to research departments within SAMU in the Brazilian state capitals, the Federal District and inland towns in Brazil. RESULTS: Of a total of 902 physicians, including 644 (71.4%) males, 533 (59.1%) were between 30 and 45 years of age and 562 (62.4%) worked in a state capital. Regarding education level, 45.1% had graduated less than five years before and only 43% were specialists recognized by the Brazilian Medical Association. Regarding training, 95% did not report any specific training for their work at SAMU. The main weaknesses identified were psychiatric care and surgical emergencies in 57.2 and 42.9% of cases, respectively; traumatic pediatric emergencies, 48.9%; and medical emergencies, 42.9%. As for procedure-related skills, the physicians reported difficulties in pediatric advanced support (62.4%), airway surgical access (45.6%), pericardiocentesis (64.4%) and thoracentesis (29.9%). Difficulties in using an artificial ventilator (43.3%) and in transcutaneous pacing (42.2%) were also reported. Higher percentages of young physicians, aged 25-30 years (26.7 vs 19.0%; p<0.01), worked exclusively in prehospital care (18.0 vs 7.7%; p<0.001), with workloads >48 h per week (12.8 vs 8.6%; p<0.001), and were non-specialists with the shortest length of service (<1 year) at SAMU (30.1 vs 18.2%; p<0.001) who were hired without having to pass public service exams* (i.e., for a temporary job) (61.8 vs 46.2%; p<0.001). Regarding quality of life, the pain domain yielded the worst result among physicians at SAMU. CONCLUSIONS: The doctors in this sample were young and within a few years of graduation, and they had no specific training in prehospital emergencies. Deficiencies ...

Características del empleo y bienestar subjetivo en médicos de la Región Metropolitana / Characteristics of employment and wellbeing among physicians working in Santiago, Chile

Background: Profound changes have been observed in medical practice during the last thirty years. This may be understood as a result of the influence of economic variables in health services management, among other probable causes. At the same time, doctors' work has been diversified, and a tendency to work in several paid jobs simultaneously has been observed. Aim: To describe the characteristics of employment in a representative sample of Chilean physicians. Material and Methods: A probabilistic sample of 414 physicians residing in Metropolitan Santiago answered a survey about their number and type of jobs and completed the BIS UMED questionnaire that measures the subjective wellbeing of physicians. Results: Forty percent of surveyed physicians had three or more jobs (36.3% of men and 47.5% of women). There was a significant inverse association between the number of jobs, general wellbeing and facing medicine from a new perspective. Conclusions: The number of jobs is inversely related to the general wellbeing of physicians.

Avaliação da qualidade da atenção primária pelos profissionais de saúde: comparação entre diferentes tipos de serviços / Quality assessment of primary care by health professionals: a comparison of different types of services

Em Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, a rede pública de Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) inclui as Unidades Básicas de Saúde tradicionais (UBS), a Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF), o Centro Saúde Escola Murialdo (CSEM) e o Serviço de Saúde Comunitária (SSC) do Grupo Hospitalar Conceição. O objetivo deste estudo é comparar a qualidade da atenção à saúde do adulto entre esses diferentes tipos de serviços. A qualidade da atenção foi medida por meio de entrevistas sobre a experiência de médicos e enfermeiros com os serviços (n = 340), utilizando-se, para isso, o Primary Care Assessment Tool. O Escore Geral de APS atribuído à ESF, ao CSEM e ao SSC foi significativamente maior do que o atribuído às UBS. O SSC apresentou também Escore Geral de APS significativamente maior do que o atribuído à ESF e ao CSEM. No modelo multivariável, ter "especialidade na área de APS" e referir "oferta de educação continuada" mostraram-se associados com a prevalência de alto Escore Geral. Dessa forma, a ampliação da cobertura da ESF e o investimento na formação profissional são estratégias para qualificar a APS no município.

In Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, public primary healthcare (PHC) is provided by traditional Basic Health Units (BHU), the Family Health Strategy (FHS), the Murialdo Health Center (MHC), and the Community Health Service (CHS) of Grupo Hospitalar Conceição. This study compares the quality of adult healthcare among these different types of services. Quality of care was measured by interviews focusing on the experience of physicians and nurses in the services (n = 340), using the Primary Care Assessment Tool. Overall scores for the FHS, MHC, and CHS were significantly higher than for the BHU. The CHS also showed a significantly higher overall score compared to the FHS and MHC. In the multivariate analysis, the variables "specialized training in PHC" and "continuing education" were associated with high overall score. Thus, expansion of FHS coverage and investment in professional training are important potential strategies for improving PHC in Porto Alegre.

Tabaquismo en los médicos uruguayos (2011) / Tobacco use in Uruguayan physicians (2011)

El objetivo del presente trabajo es señalar que las políticas de control del tabaco tienen efecto sobre la prevalencia de tabaquismo en general y en los médicos en particular. Pero, además, qué efecto tiene el papel de los médicos en modificar la prevalencia. Para eso se mide la prevalencia de tabaquismo y aspectos vinculados en los médicos, y se los compara con los de la población en general. Finalmente se examina la acción sobre el tabaquismo desarrollada por los médicos hacia sus pacientes

Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage among surgical personnel in National Ribat University Teaching Hospital-Khartoum-Sudan

Staphylococcus aureus [S. aureus] is one of the most common causes of both community and hospital acquired bacterial infection. There is strong correlation between S aureus nasal carriage and disease progress. Nasal carriage is high among health care workers. Inappropriate usage of antibiotic may lead to emergence of resistant strains which has serious consequences. The objective of this study is to reveal the frequency of S aureus nasal carriage and its drug resistance among surgical personnel in National Ribat Teaching Hospital Khartoum Sudan. This is a hospital-based case study. Nasal smears were taken from medical workers in the surgical department and operational theater at National Ribat Teaching Hospital in Khartoum State, Sudan. Samples were processed, cultured, then susceptibility tests were performed using Bauer-Kirby disc diffusion methods following recommendations of National Committee for Laboratory Standards [NCCLS]. Results were analyzed and discussed. Sixty three samples were taken. Thirty were males. Growth was achieved in only eight [12.6%]. Majority showed resistance to penicillin. However, alls strain were sensitive to amoxicillin/calvunalic acid, vancomycin and oxacillin. This study gives an early alarm on the problems related to S. aureus colonization rate and its drug resistance. Nevertheless, the small number of our study group is a bit fall