Cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between psychological violence and teacher burnout.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between psychological violence (PV) and burnout after two years of follow-up. METHODS: This is a longitudinal study involving 430 public school teachers from a city in southern Brazil. PV was defined as insults by students, humiliation or embarrassment by colleagues or superiors or threats by any member of the school. Burnout was measured using the emotional exhaustion (EE) and depersonalization (DP) subscales of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey. Analyses were performed using structural equation models in R. RESULTS: Younger age (ß = - .167) and poor/fair relationship with students (ß = .275) had a direct effect on PV. Temporary employment (ß = - .111) and poor/fair perception of the number of students in the classroom (ß = .124) had a direct effect on EE. Cross-sectionally, PV showed a direct effect at both T0 and T1 on EE (T0: ß = .435; T1: ß = .334) and on DP (T0: ß = .332; T1: ß = .325). Longitudinally, PV at T0 did not have a significant direct effect on burnout at T1. However, indirect effects of PV on EE (ß = .459) and DP (ß = .428) at T1 were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of PV on burnout occurs in a short period of time. However, the long-term effect should be considered because there is a cumulative burden of exposure to violence over time.

Predictors of in-hospital COVID-19 mortality: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis exploring differences by age, sex and health conditions.

OBJECTIVE: Risk factors for in-hospital mortality in confirmed COVID-19 patients have been summarized in numerous meta-analyses, but it is still unclear whether they vary according to the age, sex and health conditions of the studied populations. This study explored these variables as potential mortality predictors. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted by searching the MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases of studies available through July 27, 2020. The pooled risk was estimated with the odds ratio (p-OR) or effect size (p-ES) obtained through random-effects meta-analyses. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were applied to explore differences by age, sex and health conditions. The MOOSE guidelines were strictly followed. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 60 studies, with a total of 51,225 patients (12,458 [24.3%] deaths) from hospitals in 13 countries. A higher in-hospital mortality risk was found for dyspnoea (p-OR = 2.5), smoking (p-OR = 1.6) and several comorbidities (p-OR range: 1.8 to 4.7) and laboratory parameters (p-ES range: 0.3 to -2.6). Age was the main source of heterogeneity, followed by sex and health condition. The following predictors were more markedly associated with mortality in studies with patients with a mean age ≤60 years: dyspnoea (p-OR = 4.3), smoking (p-OR = 2.8), kidney disease (p-OR = 3.8), hypertension (p-OR = 3.7), malignancy (p-OR = 3.7), diabetes (p-OR = 3.2), pulmonary disease (p-OR = 3.1), decreased platelet count (p-ES = -1.7), decreased haemoglobin concentration (p-ES = -0.6), increased creatinine (p-ES = 2.4), increased interleukin-6 (p-ES = 2.4) and increased cardiac troponin I (p-ES = 0.7). On the other hand, in addition to comorbidities, the most important mortality predictors in studies with older patients were albumin (p-ES = -3.1), total bilirubin (p-ES = 0.7), AST (p-ES = 1.8), ALT (p-ES = 0.4), urea nitrogen (p-ES), C-reactive protein (p-ES = 2.7), LDH (p-ES = 2.4) and ferritin (p-ES = 1.7). Obesity was associated with increased mortality only in studies with fewer chronic or critical patients (p-OR = 1.8). CONCLUSION: The prognostic effect of clinical conditions on COVID-19 mortality vary substantially according to the mean age of patients. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020176595.

[Factors associated with poor sleep quality in the Brazilian population ≥ 40 years of age: VIGICARDIO Study]. / Factores asociados a mala calidad de sueño en población brasilera a partir de los 40 años de edad: estudio VIGICARDIO.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of poor sleep quality in men and women ≥ 40 years old from the VIGICARDIO Study was determined, and sociodemographic, health, lifestyle and social capital factors associated with poor sleep quality were identified. METHODS: A population-based study conducted in 2011 among 1,058 non-institutionalised individuals randomly selected from Cambé, Paraná State, Brazil. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between sleep quality and sociodemographic, health, lifestyle and social capital factors in men and women. RESULTS: The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 34% in men and 44% in women. Having bad/regular self-rated health status was a factor associated with poor sleep quality in men (OR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.17-2.72) and women (OR: 2.43; 95% CI: 1.68-3.53). Being obese (OR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.13-2.46), having depression (OR: 2.09; 95% CI: 1.41-3.13) and presenting temporal orientation difficulties (OR: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.08-3.52) were associated factors in women. Difficulty to understand what is explained (OR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.16-4.09) and alcohol abuse (OR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.21-2.83) were associated factors in men. CONCLUSION: Factors affecting sleep quality are different for men and for women. These factors should be taken into consideration when devising activities that promote good sleep quality, with a view to improving their effectiveness.

Road injury-related mortality in a medium-sized Brazilian city after some preventive interventions.

OBJECTIVE: Some measures have been put into practice in Brazil over the last few years, to reduce the mortality due to road traffic-related injuries. The present study had the aim of evaluating the trends and characteristics of mortality due to this cause among the inhabitants of a medium-sized Brazilian city that has good-quality mortality data. METHOD: This was a time series study carried out using consolidated data from the Ministry of Health, covering 1994 to 2005. RESULTS: The results indicate that the obligatory use of seat belts in urban areas (starting in September 1995), implementation of speed control radar at some strategic points (end of 1995 and 1996), and introduction of prehospital attention for victims of road traffic events (starting in June 1996) had a small impact on mortality among victims of road traffic injuries, which continued at a high rate (more than 35 per 100,000 population). In 1999, the year after a new national road traffic code had been implemented, a larger reduction in mortality levels was observed (to 27.2 per 100,000). However, this downward trend was not maintained over subsequent years, with mortality levels continuing to be around 23 to 29 per 100,000 population. Pedestrians, motorcyclists, elderly people, and men were the victims at highest risk of death. CONCLUSION: This study shows that, despite the general reduction in mortality rate after the new road traffic code was introduced, this trend was not maintained over subsequent years. This shows the need for new strategies aimed at reducing road traffic deaths in towns, particularly among pedestrians and motorcyclists.