Exploration of the occupational and personal dimensions impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic for nurses: A qualitative analysis of survey responses.

AIM: To explore the occupational and personal life dimensions that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic for registered nurses (RN) and licensed practical nurses (LPN). DESIGN: Qualitative interpretive description approach. METHODS: Between July and September 2020, a web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among RNs and LPNs in Quebec, Canada. Included in this survey was an open-ended question allowing nurses to describe the occupational and personal life dimensions that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the qualitative data from this open-ended question. Reporting followed the Standards For Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR). RESULTS: Of the 1860 survey respondents, 774 RNs and 43 LPNs responded to the open-ended question (total n = 819). For the occupational dimension, six themes were identified: impacts of infection control on work, change in daily work tasks, offloading and reorganization of care, deterioration of working conditions, increased stress at work and issues related to the profession. For the personal dimension, four themes were found: impacts on the family, dealing with changes about leisure and personal life, impacts on physical and psychological health. CONCLUSION: Knowing the dimensions affected by the COVID-19 pandemic could help to identifying appropriate interventions to support RNs and LPNs. IMPACT: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the occupational and personal lives RNs and LPNs working in the Quebec healthcare system. More specifically, Quebec's nurses experienced a major reorganization of care generated by important government decisions. Knowing how the pandemic affected different life dimensions will help in the development of support adapted to nurses' realities. Even in a pandemic context, improvements in the work environment or appropriate support could lead to an improved psychological health for nurses.

The importance of chronic pain education and awareness amongst occupational safety and health professionals.

Purpose: Occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals are often the point of contact for health and safety policies derived in the workplace, and the handling of incidents in their aftermath. As chronic pain affects 20% of people, many pain-awareness campaigns and educational activities target healthcare professionals. However, initiatives directed toward OSH professionals are also important to aid in prevention and rehabilitation efforts. The objective of this study was to describe knowledge and attitudes of OSH students with regard to chronic pain. Methods: A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted amongst a convenience sample of 88 students enrolled in the distance learning OSH undergraduate certificate program at the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (Quebec, Canada). Results: Although 30% of students were already employed within OSH or human resources and 40% reported intervening in cases involving chronic pain in their line of work, 56% of respondents had received no training on chronic pain and its treatment in the past five years. Only 14% chose to take the optional 45 hr course dedicated to pain within the program. OSH students also exhibited poorer knowledge and more negative attitudes toward people suffering from chronic pain when compared to other groups assessed in the province of Quebec, including healthcare professionals, chronic pain patients, and people not suffering from chronic pain (p≤0.0002). Half of the respondents (51.9%) were not aware that chronic pain affects 1 in 5 adults. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates a need for pain education within OSH training programs and through continuing education.

Quebec Serve and Protect Low Back Pain Study: What About Mental Quality of Life?

BACKGROUND: As of now, the impact of low back pain (LBP) and its chronic state, chronic low back pain (CLBP), on mental health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has never been investigated among police officers. The present investigation aims at studying this relationship using a biopsychosocial model. METHODS: Between May and October 2014, a Web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Quebec police officers (Quebec, Canada). Mental HRQOL was measured using the role emotional (RE) and the mental health (MH) domains of the SF-12v2 Health Survey. The impact of CLBP on mental HRQOL (as opposed to acute/subacute LBP or no LBP) was studied with a multivariate linear regression model. RESULTS: Of the 3,589 police officers who participated in the study, 1,013 (28.4%) reported CLBP. The mean age of respondents was 38.5 ± 8.7 years, and 32.0% were females. The RE (44.1/100) and MH (49.0/100) mean scores of the CLBP group were comparable with the scores found in populations suffering from cancer or heart diseases. Compared to officers without LBP, the presence of CLBP was significantly associated with lower RE (ß: -0.068; p = 0.003) and MH (ß: -0.062; p = 0.002) scores. These relationships were not found in the acute/subacute LBP group. CONCLUSION: Our results underscore how frequent CLBP is among police officers and how burdensome it is. Considering the importance of good physical and mental health for this occupational population, police organizations should be aware of this issue and contribute to the efforts toward CLBP prevention and management in the workplace.

Occupational and Ergonomic Factors Associated With Low Back Pain Among Car-patrol Police Officers: Findings From the Quebec Serve and Protect Low Back Pain Study.

OBJECTIVES: Low back pain (LBP) is frequent and burdensome among police officers, but occupational and ergonomic factors associated with LBP and its chronic symptoms have never been studied among these workers using a biopsychosocial model. This study aimed at exploring such factors associated with acute or subacute LBP and chronic low back pain (CLBP) among car-patrol police officers. METHODS: A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among car-patrol officers working in the province of Quebec (Canada). Factors associated with acute or subacute LBP and CLBP (as opposed to absence of LBP) were studied using a multivariate multinomial regression model. RESULTS: A total of 2208 car-patrol officers composed the study population. Statistically significant occupational/ergonomic determinant for higher prevalence of acute or subacute LBP was more frequent discomfort in the lower back when sitting in the patrol car as a driver (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.008; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.170-4.168). More frequent posttraumatic interventions was associated with lower prevalence of acute or subacute LBP (adjusted OR, 0.609; 95% CI, 0.410-0.907). Occupational and ergonomic factors associated with higher prevalence of CLBP were greater seniority (adjusted OR, 1.061; 95% CI, 1.007-1.118) and more frequent discomfort in the lower back when sitting in the patrol car as a driver (adjusted OR, 7.546; 95% CI, 5.257-10.831). DISCUSSION: Few occupational and ergonomic factors that police organizations could use to better tailor prevention were found to be associated with acute or subacute LBP and CLBP. This cross-sectional study is an efficient first investigation for screening hypotheses that should be confirmed in further cohort studies.

Quebec Serve and Protect Low Back Pain Study: A Web-based Cross-sectional Investigation of Prevalence and Functional Impact Among Police Officers.

STUDY DESIGN: Web-based cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and the burden of low back pain (LBP) and chronic low back pain (CLBP) among Quebec police officers. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Police officers have work-related factors associated with LBP, but chronicity and impacts of this condition have been little explored among this population. METHODS: Between May and October 2014, a web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among police officers working in the province of Quebec (Canada). Nine police organizations accepted to disseminate the email invitation to their members. The survey included the French-Canadian version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and other items regarding functional impact of LBP and associated treatments. RESULTS: A total of 3589 police officers completed the questionnaire. Mean age was 38.5 ±â€Š8.7 years, 32.0% were women, and 67.4% reported being car-patrol officers. A majority reported LBP symptoms in the past 12 months (67.7%) and 96.5% of them perceived that presence of LBP was totally/partially linked to their work in the police force. Prevalence of CLBP among all responders was 28.7%. Police officers reporting CLBP, as compared to those reporting acute or subacute LBP symptoms in the past 12 months, were more likely to report LBP-related reduction of work activities (64.4% vs. 45.7%; P < 0.001) and more working days lost in the past 12 months (average of 11.9 ±â€Š43.5 vs. 1.5 ±â€Š9.8; P < 0.001). A greater proportion also reported LBP-related health care visits in the past 12 months (86.2% vs. 64.2%; P < 0.001) and current use of pain medications/complementary alternative medicines (90.1% vs. 69.7%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: CLBP is a frequent and burdensome condition among Quebec police officers. Our results underline the importance for police organizations to promote CLBP prevention and to implement workplace management programs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.