Psychosocial working conditions, perceived patient safety and their association in emergency medical services workers in Germany - a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Emergency medical service (EMS) workers face challenging working conditions that are characterized by high stress and a susceptibility to making errors. The objectives of the present study were (a) to characterize the psychosocial working conditions of EMS workers, (b) to describe the perceived quality of patient care they provide and patient safety, and (c) to investigate for the first time among EMS workers associations of psychosocial working conditions with the quality of patient care and patient safety. METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, we carried out an online survey among 393 EMS workers who were members of a professional organization. Working conditions were measured by the Demand-Control-SupportQuestionnaire (DCSQ) and seven self-devised items covering key stressors. Participants reported how often they perceived work stress to affect the patient care they provided and we inquired to what extent they are concerned to have made a major medical error in the last three months. Additionally, we used parts of the Emergency Medical Services - Safety Inventory (EMS-SI) to assess various specific errors and adverse events. We ran descriptive analyses (objective a and b) and multivariable logistic regression (objective c). RESULTS: The most common stressors identified were communication problems (reported by 76.3%), legal insecurity (69.5%), and switching of colleagues (48.9%) or workplaces (44.5%). Overall, 74.0% reported at least one negative safety outcome based on the EMS-SI. Concerns to have made an important error and the perception that patient care is impaired by work stress and were also frequent (17.8% and 12.7%, respectively). Most psychosocial working conditions were associated with the perception that patient care is impaired due to work stress. CONCLUSIONS: Work stress in EMS staff is pronounced and negative safety outcomes or potential errors are perceived to occur frequently. Poor psychosocial working conditions were only consistently associated with perceived impairment of patient care due to work stress. It seems necessary to reduce communication problems and to optimize working processes especially at interfaces between emergency services and other institutions. Legal insecurity could be reduced by clarifying and defining responsibilities. Communication and familiarity between team colleagues could be fostered by more consistent composition of squads.

The changing dynamics of work from home and its association with sleep disturbance through work-family conflict during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: Work from home (WFH) can increase sleep disturbances. However, only few studies have examined the connection between WFH and sleep disturbance while considering work-family conflict (WFC) and the changes brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to examine the association between WFH and sleep disturbance, considering WFC, and assessed how this association changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We used data from the fifth and sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey. WFH workers and a control group were selected using propensity score matching. Conditional logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for sleep disturbance in the WFH and control groups. RESULTS: The workers working from home showed significantly higher ORs (95% CIs) for sleep disturbance before (4.26, 3.59-5.05) and during (1.52, 1.26-1.83) COVID-19 pandemic. When stratified by WFC, the association was significant only in the workers with WFC before COVID-19. However, the association was not significant during COVID-19 among the workers with WFC. CONCLUSIONS: WFH was significantly associated with sleep disturbance among workers before COVID-19, but this association was not observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering the significant role that WFC plays in this association, companies should provide a family-friendly WFH environment when adopting WFH practices.

Comparing GPs according to their model of practice: are multiprofessional group practices associated with more favourable working conditions?

In the generalized context of general practitioner shortages and transitions towards team-based primary care, we investigated how the different practising models relate to general practitioners' labour supply. More precisely, we analysed the association between practice models-solo, groups of general practitioners, and multiprofessional groups-and their reported labour supply and level of satisfaction with work-life balance. We used a French cross-sectional survey from 2018 that surveyed a representative national sample of 3,032 self-employed general practitioners about their working conditions. We found that the model of practice was significantly associated with differences in physician labour supply at the intensive margin and that group practice appeared to be positively associated with general practitioners' reported satisfaction with work-life balance. In terms of weekly working time, only practice in groups of general practitioners was associated with a significantly lower labour supply. However, general practitioners in groups-whether groups of general practitioners or multiprofessional groups-reported more annual leave and seemed more willing to diversify their activity by devoting more time to secondary activities, including salaried activities. Consistently, general practitioners working in groups were also more likely than solo practitioners to report being satisfied with their work-life balance. Although group practice, whether multiprofessionnal or not, seems to be well suited to meeting the new aspirations of general practitioners, those working in multiprofessional groups are associated with a higher level of weekly work supply, which might justify special attention from the public authorities.

The Impact on Working Conditions and Income Amongst Internists in Indonesia: Lesson Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Internists are at the forefront of providing care for COVID-19 patients. This situation adds more strain on already overburdened internists, particularly in Indonesia, where resources are scarce and unevenly distributed. The pandemic altered working conditions due to restrictions and regulatory changes. Multiple evidence exists for the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on physicians' well-being, but less is known about its impact on their work dynamics and livelihoods. This study provides some lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the changes in working conditions and earnings experienced by Indonesian internists. There were 3,115 and 1,772 participants in the first and second survey, respectively. After one year, the proportion of internists handling COVID-19 cases, including critical COVID-19 cases, increased; with fewer internists over 60 years old involved. Working hours, number of patients, and monthly earnings decreased for the majority of internists. The increased workload was experienced by most participants one year of the pandemic, predominantly reported by female internists. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a considerable impact on working conditions and income amongst internists in Indonesia. These findings may provide information to institutions in formulating strategies and tools to improve the working conditions and livelihoods of internists in Indonesia amidst the pandemic and potential public health emergencies in the future.

[Controversies in promoting young talent in orthopedics and trauma surgery]. / Kontroversen in der Nachwuchsförderung in der Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie.

BACKGROUND: The field of orthopedics and trauma surgery is facing a serious shortage of new talent due to the increasing average age of active surgeons and a growing need for staff. The appeal of these specialties is declining among medical students. SOLUTIONS: This trend could be reversed by introducing practice-oriented curricula, mentoring programs, and early integration into professional societies. The quality of surgical education, especially bedside teaching, needs to be improved, as it is often compromised by a lack of time and insufficient pedagogical training of the educators. The practical year (PY) is crucial to attract students to these specialties, but data indicate that the quality of training in orthopedics and trauma surgery is inferior compared to other fields. Professional societies could enhance junior development through targeted programs. Moreover, the problem of recruitment is compounded by imbalanced gender ratios and working conditions that do not align with modern family models or efficient surgical training. There needs to be a rethinking of work scheduling and task distribution in surgery to make the profession more attractive and to ensure the quality of training.

Doctors are striking for a pay-rise, but better conditions are needed to make them feel valued. Key insights from New Zealand.

Degradation of junior doctors pay has led to strikes in the UK. Improved pay is important, however to feel valued at work, doctors must have good conditions as well. The author describes how their experience working in New Zealand (NZ) highlighted several insights into how better working conditions make doctors feel more valued. Three factors are discussed which improve doctors daily experience. Firstly, the use of 'relief doctors', who cover inevitable absences caused by sickness or holiday, allow maintenance of proper staffing levels. Secondly, NZ doctors get 6 weeks of paid study leave to prepare for exams, whereas in UK this does not exist. Lastly, in NZ meals are provided whilst at work, this is not the case in the UK. NZ demonstrates appreciation for its doctors through real and tangible improvements to their working environment. In the UK, pay needs to be improved, but so do working conditions.

Enfermeiras da atenção primária à saúde: olhares para aspectos trabalhistas em municípios urbanos / Nurses in primary health care: looks at labor aspects in urban municipalities / Enfermeras de atención primaria de salud: mira a aspectos laborales en los municipios urbanos

Objetivo: Caracterizar os aspectos trabalhistas das enfermeiras da Atenção Primária à Saúde nos municípios de tipologia urbana do estado da Bahia. Métodos: Estudo descritivo através de abordagem quantitativa a partir de informações obtidas com 32 enfermeiras, no período entre novembro de 2020 a maio de 2021, nos três maiores municípios do estado da Bahia. Resultados: Enfermeiras em sua maioria possuem vínculo trabalhista do tipo estatutário, com carga horária de 40 horas, atua há mais de um ano em unidades de saúde de modelo da Estratégia Saúde da Família, com diferenças salariais entre os municípios. Conclusão: Identificar aspectos trabalhistas das enfermeiras é de suma relevância, pois trazem implicações para melhoria das políticas de pessoal na Atenção Primária à Saúde. (AU)

Objective: To characterize the labor aspects of Primary Health Care nurses in urban municipalities of the state of Bahia. Methods: A descriptive study through a quantitative approach based on information obtained from 32 nurses, in the period between November 2020 and May 2021, in the 3 largest municipalities of the state of Bahia. Results: Most of the nurses have a statutory employment contract, work 40-hour shifts, and have been working for more than 1 year in health care units that follow the Family Health Strategy model, with wage differences among the municipalities. Conclusion: Identifying labor aspects of nurses is of utmost relevance, since they bring implications for improving personnel policies in Primary Health Care. (AU)

Objetivo: Caracterizar los aspectos laborales de las enfermeras de Atención Primaria de Salud en los municipios urbanos del estado de Bahia. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo a través de un enfoque cuantitativo basado en la información obtenida de 32 enfermeras, en el período comprendido entre noviembre de 2020 y mayo de 2021, en los tres mayores municipios del estado de Bahia. Resultados: La mayoría de las enfermeras tienen un contrato de trabajo legal, trabajan 40 horas y llevan más de 1 año en unidades sanitarias del modelo de la Estrategia de Salud Familiar, con diferencias salariales entre municipios. Conclusión: La identificación de los aspectos laborales de las enfermeras es de máxima relevancia, ya que aportan implicaciones para la mejora de las políticas de personal en Atención Primaria. (AU)

Condições de trabalho de enfermeiros da atenção primária à saúde nas capitais da região sudeste do Brasil / Working conditions of primary health care nurses in the capitals of the southeastern of Brazil / Condiciones de trabajo de las enfermeras de atención primaria de salud en las capitales de la región sureste de Brasil

Introdução: As condições de trabalho de enfermeiros que atuam na Atenção Primária à Saúde se relacionam a questões de ordem interpessoal, política, organizacional e de infraestrutura. Objetivo: analisar a categoria "condições de trabalho" oriunda da pesquisa "Práticas de Enfermagem na Atenção Primária à Saúde: estudo nacional de métodos mistos", com foco nas capitais da região Sudeste do Brasil. Métodos: estudo qualitativo que analisou 108 entrevistas de enfermeiros residentes em Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo e Vitória, realizadas entre novembro de 2020 e setembro de 2021. Os dados foram submetidos à análise temática, com apoio do software MAXQDA®. Resultados: os participantes eram majoritariamente do sexo feminino (88,0%), idade média de 42 anos, cor ou raça parda e tempo de atuação em atenção primária superior a 12 anos. Há uma diversidade temática quanto às condições de trabalho referidas por enfermeiros, destacando-se positivamente relacionamentos interpessoais. Infraestrutura das unidades de saúde e a fragilidade dos vínculos empregatícios foram referidos como dificultadores do trabalho na APS. Conclusão: Há uma diversidade de fatores que se relacionam com as condições de trabalho dos enfermeiros, sendo necessário intervenções sobre aquelas que trazem prejuízos, como o excesso de atribuições e infraestrutura das unidades de saúde. (AU)

Background: The working conditions of nurses working in Primary Health Care are related to interpersonal, political, organizational and infrastructure issues. Objective: to analyze the category "working conditions" from the research "Nursing Practices in Primary Health Care: a national study of mixed methods", focusing on the capitals of the Southeast region of Brazil. Methods: qualitative study that analyzed 108 interviews with nurses residing in Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Vitória, carried out between November 2020 and September 2021. Data were subjected to thematic analysis, with the support of the MAXQDA® software. Results: the participants were mostly female (88.0%), mean age of 42 years, brown color or race, and working in primary care for more than 12 years. There is a thematic diversity regarding the working conditions mentioned by nurses, with positive emphasis on interpersonal relationships. Infrastructure of the health units and the fragility of employment relationships were mentioned as obstacles to work in PHC. Conclusion: There are a variety of factors that are related to the working conditions of nurses, requiring interventions on those that bring harm, such as excess attributions and infrastructure of health units. (AU)

Introducción: Las condiciones de trabajo de los enfermeros que actúan en la Atención Primaria de Salud están relacionadas con cuestiones interpersonales, políticas, organizativas y de infraestructura. Objetivo: analizar la categoría "condiciones de trabajo" de la investigación "Prácticas de Enfermería en la Atención Primaria de Salud: un estudio nacional de métodos mixtos", con foco en las capitales de la región Sudeste de Brasil. Métodos: estudio cualitativo que analizó 108 entrevistas con enfermeros residentes en Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo y Vitória, realizadas entre noviembre de 2020 y septiembre de 2021. Los datos fueron sometidos a análisis temático, con el apoyo del software MAXQDA®. Resultados: los participantes eran mayoritariamente del sexo femenino (88,0%), edad media de 42 años, color moreno o raza, y actuaban en la atención primaria hace más de 12 años. Hay diversidad temática en cuanto a las condiciones de trabajo mencionadas por los enfermeros, con énfasis positivo en las relaciones interpersonales. La infraestructura de las unidades de salud y la fragilidad de las relaciones laborales fueron mencionadas como obstáculos para el trabajo en la APS. Conclusión: Hay una variedad de factores que se relacionan con las condiciones de trabajo de los enfermeros, requiriendo intervenciones sobre aquellos que traen perjuicio, como el exceso de atribuciones e infraestructura de las unidades de salud. (AU)

Processo de trabalho das enfermeiras da atenção primária à saúde frente à pandemia por covid-19 / Nurses' work process of primary health care in the face of the covid-19 pandemic / Proceso de trabajo de las enfermeras de la atención primaria de salud ante la pandemia del covid-19

Objetivo: Analisar o processo de trabalho das enfermeiras da Atenção Primária à Saúde frente à pandemia de COVID-19. Métodos: Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, descritiva e exploratória. A coleta de dados ocorreu de abril a maio de 2021, por meio de entrevista semiestruturada com 09 enfermeiras. Os dados foram analisados por meio de análise temática, e interpretados à luz da literatura pertinente. Resultados: Evidenciou-se o medo de faltar Equipamentos de Proteção Individual e recusa de atendimentos na falta destes. Utilizou-se a teleconsulta como meio de assistência de enfermagem, que mostrou limitações, como: invasão de privacidade das enfermeiras, extensão da jornada de trabalho e sobrecarga. Priorizou-se o atendimento à saúde da mulher e da criança. E ainda, notou-se o esforço no acolhimento aos casos suspeitos e agudos de COVID-19. Verificou-se a sobrecarga de trabalho e acúmulo de funções. Entretanto, lições foram adquiridas como a valorização de medidas de proteção, como a higiene das mãos. Conclusão: Infere-se a necessidade de criação e validação de novos protocolos que fortaleçam a assistência de enfermagem, bem como a importância de estimular as políticas de saúde para controle das Infecções Relacionadas à Assistência à Saúde. (AU)

Objective: To analyze the work process of Primary Health Care nurses in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory research. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and interpreted in light of the relevant literature. Results: The fear of lacking personal protective equipment was evidenced and the refusal of care in the absence of these. Teleconsultation was used as a means of nursing care, which showed limitations such as invasion of nurses' privacy, extension of the workday and overload. The health care of women and children was prioritized. Also, there was an effort to host suspected and acute cases of COVID-19. There was work overload and accumulation of functions. However, lessons were learned, such as valuing protective measures such as hand hygiene. Conclusion: The need to create and validate new protocols that strengthen nursing care is inferred, as well as the importance of stimulating health policies to control Health-Related Infections. (AU)

Objetivo: Analizar el proceso de trabajo de las enfermeras de Atención Primaria de Salud frente a la pandemia de COVID-19. Métodos: Se trata de una investigación cualitativa, descriptiva y exploratoria. Los datos se analizaron mediante un análisis temático y se interpretaron a la luz de la bibliografía pertinente. Resultados: Se evidenció el miedo a la falta de equipo de protección personal y la negativa de atención en ausencia de estos. La teleconsulta fue utilizada como medio de atención de enfermería, que mostró limitaciones como la invasión de la privacidad de los enfermeros, la duración de la jornada laboral y la sobrecarga. Se priorizó la atención de la salud de las mujeres y los niños. Además, hubo un esfuerzo para albergar casos sospechosos y agudos de COVID-19. Había sobrecarga de trabajo y acumulación de funciones. Sin embargo, se aprendieron lecciones, como la valoración de medidas de protección como la higiene de manos. Conclusión: Se infiere la necesidad de crear y validar nuevos protocolos que fortalezcan los cuidados de enfermería, así como la importancia de estimular políticas de salud para el control de las Infecciones Relacionadas con la Salud. (AU)

Percepção dos enfermeiros sobre condições de trabalho na atenção primária durante a pandemia de sars-cov-2 / Nurses perception of working conditions in primary care during the sars cov-2 pandemic / Percepción de las enfermeras sobre las condiciones de trabajo en atención primaria durante la pandemia por sars-cov-2

Objetivo: Analisar a percepção do enfermeiro acerca das condições de trabalho no contexto da Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) durante a pandemia de SARS-CoV-2. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, transversal, de abordagem qualitativa, recorte de um estudo multicêntrico e de abrangência nacional. Os dados apresentados neste estudo correspondem aos obtidos no estado do Rio Grande do Norte, onde foram entrevistados 45 enfermeiros da APS no período de dezembro de 2020 a abril de 2021. Após as entrevistas, as narrativas gravadas foram transcritas e analisadas através da Análise de Conteúdo de Bardin. Resultados: A partir da fala dos enfermeiros, evidenciou-se que a utilização de Equipamentos de Proteção Individual, a organização e desenvolvimento de novos protocolos e fluxos assistenciais trouxeram sofrimento psíquico aos profissionais, tanto pelas condições de trabalho inadequadas, quanto pela proximidade com o sofrimento de pacientes e o medo de contágio. Conclusão: Mesmo com tantas dificuldades, os enfermeiros lotados na atenção primária à saúde tiveram que reconstruir suas práticas na perspectiva de garantir, dentro dos limites impostos pela situação adversa, a melhor assistência possível, mostrando a força e resiliência das equipes da APS nos mais diversos contextos. (AU)

Objective: To analyze the perception of nurses about working conditions in the context of PHC during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study with a qualitative approach, part of a multicenter study with a national scope. The data presented in this study correspond to those obtained in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, in which 45 nurses from primary health care were interviewed from December 2020 to April 2021. After the interviews, the recorded narratives were transcribed and analyzed through the Bardin's Content Analysis. Results: The collective discourse showed that the use of Personal Protective Equipment, the organization and development of new protocols and care flows brought psychic suffering to professionals, both due to inadequate working conditions and the proximity to the suffering of patients and the fear of Contagion. Conclusion: Even with so many difficulties, nurses working in primary health care had to rebuild their practices in order to guarantee, within the limits imposed by the adverse situation, the best possible assistance, showing the strength and resilience of PHC teams in the most diverse contexts. (AU)

Objetivo: Analizar la percepción de los enfermeros sobre las condiciones de trabajo en el contexto de la APS durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Métodos: Se trata de un estudio descriptivo transversal con enfoque cualitativo, parte de un estudio multicéntrico de alcance nacional. Los datos presentados en este estudio corresponden a los obtenidos en el estado de Rio Grande do Norte, en el que fueron entrevistados 45 enfermeros de atención primaria de salud entre diciembre de 2020 y abril de 2021. Después de las entrevistas, las narraciones grabadas fueron transcritas y analizadas a través de la escala de Bardin. Análisis de contenido. Resultados: El discurso colectivo mostró que el uso de Equipos de Protección Individual, la organización y desarrollo de nuevos protocolos y flujos de atención trajeron sufrimiento psíquico a los profesionales, tanto por las inadecuadas condiciones de trabajo como por la proximidad al sufrimiento de los pacientes y el miedo al Contagio. Conclusión: Incluso con tantas dificultades, los enfermeros que actúan en la atención primaria de salud tuvieron que reconstruir sus prácticas para garantizar, dentro de los límites impuestos por la situación adversa, la mejor asistencia posible, mostrando la fortaleza y resiliencia de los equipos de APS en los más diversos contextos. (AU)

Psychosocial working conditions and mental health among medical assistants in Germany: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Medical assistants (MA) constitute one of the largest professions in outpatient health care in Germany. The psychosocial working conditions of health care staff are generally believed to be challenging and to thereby increase the risk of poor mental health. A review of MA's psychosocial working conditions and mental health is lacking, however. We aimed to systematically identify and summarize existing research on psychosocial working conditions and mental health of MA by addressing (1) Which methods, concepts, and instruments have been used to capture the psychosocial working conditions and mental health among MA in Germany? (2) What findings are available? and (3) What are the research gaps? METHODS: We systematically searched Medline, Scopus, CCMed and Google Scholar. Using the Population Concept Context (PCC)-framework, we applied the following eligibility criteria: (a) Language: English or German, (b) publication between 2002-2022, (c) original study, (d) study population: mainly MA (i.e., ≥ 50% of the study population), (e) concept: psychosocial working conditions and/or mental health, and (f) context: Germany. Two reviewers extracted data independently, results were compared for accuracy and completeness. RESULTS: Eight hundred twenty-seven sources were identified. We included 30 publications (19 quantitative, 10 qualitative, and one mixed methods study). Quantitative studies consistently reported high job satisfaction among MA. Quantitative and mixed methods studies frequently reported aspects related to job control as favorable working conditions, and aspects related to job rewards as moderate to unfavorable. Qualitative studies reported low job control in specific work areas, high demands in terms of workload, time pressure and job intensity, and a desire for greater recognition. Social interactions seemed to be important resources for MA. Few studies (n = 8) captured mental health, these reported inconspicuous mean values but high prevalences of anxiety, burnout, depression, and stress among MA. Studies suggested poorer psychosocial working conditions and mental health among MA during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative studies tend to suggest more favorable psychosocial working conditions among MA than qualitative studies. We suggest mixed methods to reconcile this alleged inconsistency. Future research should examine discrepancies between job satisfaction and unfavorable working conditions and if psychosocial working conditions and mental health remain changed after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nurses' organizational climate of perceived organizational support and its relationships with psychosocial working conditions and psychological contracts: A longitudinal questionnaire study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the longitudinal relationships between nurses' organizational climate of perceived organizational support (POS-climate) and their psychosocial working conditions and psychological contracts. METHODS: A two-wave longitudinal cohort questionnaire study was carried out among registered nurses employed within six hospitals in two regions in Sweden (n = 711). Two cross-lagged panel models were tested after ensuring scalar factorial invariance of the measurement models. The first model investigated longitudinal relationships between psychosocial working conditions and the POS-climate, while the second model investigated such relationships between the psychological contracts and the POS-climate. RESULTS: The results indicated that influence at work and an ideology-infused psychological contract had positive effects on the nurses' POS-climate. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the importance of providing nurses with such influence, and of a shared ideology within the entire health-care organization, centered on the ethical values of the health-care professions.

Dealing with the doctor shortage: a qualitative study exploring French general practitioners' lived experiences, difficulties, and adaptive behaviours.

CONTEXT: The shortage of general practitioners (GPs) is a growing concern in Europe, especially in France. This problem is likely to continue until the end of the 2020s. OBJECTIVES: To study the GPs' perceptions of access to care in medically underserved areas (i.e. with low physician density), its consequences on their working conditions, and how they cope with the resulting difficulties. METHODS: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted between May and August 2021 of 29 GPs practising in areas of southeastern France with a low physician density or at risk of a doctor shortage. Purposive sampling was used to include profiles of diverse physicians and diverse rural and urban areas. The interviews, conducted with an interview guide, were transcribed and analysed thematically. RESULTS: The participants described a serious degradation of access to care in their areas. These issues also concerned urban areas, where they were, according to the participants, underrecognized. The participants' workloads were rising, at a rate often perceived as unsustainable: many participants, including the youngest group, reported they were exhausted. Their principal source of dissatisfaction was their impression that they could not do their work correctly. Participants reported that these difficulties required them to improvise and adapt without any official or formal method to keep their practice manageable. CONCLUSION: These GPs were worried about the future of their profession and their patients. They expected strong measures by public policymakers and officials, but paradoxically seemed to have little interest in the solutions these officials are promoting.

Parental stress and working situation during the COVID-19 shutdown - Effects on children's skill development.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines whether parental emotional distress during the first pandemic-related school shutdown in 2020 in Germany affected the development of primary school students' mathematical skills and investigates changes in parents' working conditions as triggers of cascading stress processes. BACKGROUND: The Family Stress Model (FSM) explains the mechanisms that mediate between families' structural conditions and children's developmental outcomes. Foundational works for this approach focus on historic events that instigate rapid structural changes which, in turn, undermine families' economic situation. The economic losses trigger stress processes. Research on the COVID-19 pandemic reports heightened levels of parental stress and negative impacts on children's cognitive and socioemotional development. This study examines the role of parental emotional distress during the COVID-19 shutdown on children's cognitive development. Expanding on the classical FSM, we hypothesize that changes in parents' working situation, rather than economic changes, may have triggered family stress processes during the shutdown, as federal support largely cushioned economic cutbacks in Germany. METHOD: For the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS), interviews were conducted with parents, and primary school students in Starting Cohort 1 were tested after the first shutdown in 2020. The database provides rich information from survey waves prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing a longitudinal analysis of a sample of 1512 primary school students with ordinary least squares regression. RESULTS: Parents' emotional distress during the pandemic had a robust negative effect on students' mathematical skills, even when controlling for prior parenting stress. Changes in parents' working conditions also had an effect on children's test scores, and the negative effect of working from home on the test scores was mediated by parents' emotional distress. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic was a historic event which, at least in Germany, challenged the mental health of many parents and, in turn, impaired the skill development of primary school students. We introduce the role of changes in working conditions as triggers of such processes.

An occupational mechanical job exposure index based on five Norwegian nationwide surveys of living conditions on work environment.

OBJECTIVES: Nordic register data are not collected for research purposes, and various dimensions of working conditions are typically missing in register-based research. One way to address the issue of missing information on the work environment in register data is to utilize a job exposure matrix (JEM). The purpose of this paper is to document and provide access to a Mechanical Job Exposure Matrix (JEM) and a validated Occupational Mechanical Job Exposure Index based on the constructed JEM, allowing researchers to utilize the index in register-based research. The JEM and the Occupational Mechanical Job Exposure Index were created using data from five nationwide Surveys of Living Conditions on work environment conducted in Norway in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016, and 2019, encompassing a total of 43,977 respondents. The index can be merged to register data using occupational codes (STYRK-98) and gender, which is information collected by the registries. The ultimate aim of constructing the index was to create a comprehensive measure of mechanical job exposures for use in future analyses of Norwegian register data. DATA DESCRIPTION: This paper provides the scripts documenting the construction of the Mechanical Job Exposure Matrix (JEM) and the Occupational Mechanical Job Exposure Index, as well as a data file including the matrix and the index. A script for merging the matrix and index to register data is also provided.

Reconsidering Pharmacy: We Need to Turn Career Regret into Career Options.

Declining interest in pharmacy as a career is a growing concern. This commentary investigates the factors contributing to career regret among pharmacy graduates, based on data from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy National Graduating Student Survey. We identify 3 key contributing factors: workplace environment, professional identity formation, and marketing of the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. We argue that students observe, in many work environments, a lack of autonomy, repetitive tasks, and unfulfilling work. This leads to diminished job satisfaction and disillusionment. Additionally, marketing tactics and curricular structures can inadvertently contribute to career regret. We propose potential interventions, emphasizing the need for improved working conditions, more versatile roles in pharmacy, and enhanced career development services within colleges/schools of pharmacy. Additional research is needed to fully understand career regret and the steps that academic institutions can proactively take to mitigate career dissatisfaction among their graduates.

Work characteristics, job satisfaction and intention to leave: a cross-sectional survey of advanced nurse practitioners.

BACKGROUND: Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) are highly skilled health care professionals with the potential to play a major role in improving the quality and accessibility of health care services. However, there is emerging evidence of disquiet among nurse practitioners who often work in suboptimal work environments. Therefore, it is important to understand the elements that contribute to ANPs' job satisfaction and retention in healthcare services. AIM: To examine the effects of commitment to the workplace, work engagement, and influence at work on job satisfaction and intention to leave of ANPs. METHODS: A total of 153 ANP's on the advanced practice section of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland register completed a web survey between July and August 2020. Independent variables (commitment to the workplace, work engagement, and influence at work) were measured using the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between dependent and independent variables. RESULTS: Participants who reported higher levels of influence at work and higher levels of commitment to the workplace were also satisfied in their job (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.09, p = 0.025), (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.06-1.14, p < 0.001) respectively. Additionally, ANPs with higher levels of commitment to work were significantly less likely to leave their role (OR 0.94, 95% CI .92-.96, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Healthcare organisations can improve job satisfaction and decrease intention to leave by creating environments in which ANPs are supported by their colleagues and supervisors, and facilitate their practice to the full extent of their capabilities.

Understanding moral distress in home-care nursing: An interview study.

BACKGROUND: Moral distress is a far-reaching problem for nurses in different settings as it threatens their health. AIM: This study examined which situations lead to moral distress in home-care nursing, how and with which consequences home-care nurses experience moral distress, and how they cope with morally stressful situations and the resulting moral distress. RESEARCH DESIGN: A qualitative interview study with reflexive thematic analysis was used. PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 home-care nurses in Germany. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: The study was approved by the Data Protection Office and Ethics Committee of the German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. FINDINGS: Twenty (14 female and 6 male) home-care nurses were interviewed between April and August 2023 at their chosen location. The situations leading to moral distress were inadequate care of the person in need of care, not being able to protect one's health, extended responsibility for the entire care arrangement, work-privacy conflicts, and conflicts between the understanding of care or professional ethics and the performance and billing system. The nurses experienced moral distress as they worked alone and provided care in the patient's territory. Short- and long-term strains with destructive cognitions, negative emotions, physical symptoms, and health consequences were reported. They faced challenges in coping with moral distress on institutional and individual levels. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of tension between the service and billing system and the understanding of these nurses' care services, moral distress is unavoidable. Alternative forms of organization and billing modalities, such as payment by time and the expansion and refinancing of service, should be implemented. The latter relates to systematic case and ethics meetings. Further, a transfer of medical activities, such as the prescription of wound material to registered nurses, could prevent morally stressful situations and improve patients' quality of care.

Association Between Flexible Work Arrangement and Sleep Problems Among Paid Workers: Using 6th Korean Working Conditions Survey.

Background: As social distancing persists and interest in work-life balance grows, more companies are adopting flexible work policies. While there have been studies on sleep disorders associated with different types of work, such as shift work, research exploring the relationship between flexible work schedules and sleep disorders is still limited, particularly among Korean workers. Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of the 6th Korean Working Conditions Survey, focusing on 31,243 paid workers out of a total of 50,538 participants. We defined flexible workers as those who set their own working hours. Sleep disorders were divided into three categories: 'difficulty falling asleep,' 'frequent waking during sleep,' and 'waking up feeling exhausted and fatigued.' Using scores derived from three specific symptoms, the Minimal Insomnia Symptoms Scale (MISS) was calculated to assess the prevalence of insomnia. We used chi-square tests to analyze demographic and job-related differences. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to identify any relationship between flexible work schedules and sleep disorders. Results: Significant differences were found between flexible and non-flexible workers regarding age, income level, education level, and job type. Flexible workers reported sleep-related symptoms significantly more often. The odds ratio for insomnia was 1.40 (95% CI 1.21-1.61). For males, the odds ratio was 1.68 (1.36-2.08). Conclusion: This study establishes a correlation between flexible work schedules and sleep disorders among Korean salaried workers. Potential causes could include changes in circadian rhythm, increased work demands, and extended working hours. To precisely determine causality and associated diseases, further research is required.

Investigation of Working Conditions and Health Status in Platform Workers in the Republic of Korea.

Background: The present study aimed to analyze several aspects of the working conditions and health status of platform workers in the Republic of Korea, such as ergonomic and emotional hazards. We also compared the health status of the platform workers with that of the general population. Methods: A total of 1,000 platform workers participated in this survey from August 7 to August 17, 2022. The participants included 400 designated drivers, 400 food-delivery drivers, and 200 housekeeping managers. A face-to-face survey with a structured questionnaire was conducted by researchers who had received specific instructions. The focus of the survey extended to the work environment, encompassing factors such as workplace violence, as well as physical, chemical, and ergonomic hazards. Health-related data for the previous year were also collected, covering a range of issues such as hearing problems, skin problems, musculoskeletal symptoms, headaches, injuries, mental health issues, and digestive problems. Subsequently, we compared the health symptom data of the responders with those of the general population in the Republic of Korea. Results: Platform workers, including designated drivers, food-delivery drivers, and housekeeping managers, existed in the blind spot of social insurance, facing frequent exposure to physical and chemical hazards, ergonomic risk factors, and direct or indirect violence. The prevalence of health problems, including musculoskeletal symptoms, general fatigue, and depressive symptoms, in each occupational group was statistically higher than that in the general population after standardization for age and gender. Conclusion: The results revealed unfavorable working environment and inferior occupational health of platform workers compared with those of the general population.