Nursing in the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: protecting, saving, supporting and honouring nurses.

As the world tackles the largest public health event in more than a century, the COVID-19 pandemic, the true value of nursing is being seen by politicians and the public. But while nurses are being praised for the vital work they do, many are being put into high-risk situations, and some have died, because of a shortage of appropriate, high-quality personal protective equipment. The International Council of Nurses has called for governments to make the provision of such equipment their number one priority to prevent further loss of life among the nurses caring for the world's most vulnerable patients.

The Occupational Health Nurse and his/here role in the prevention of work-related diseases: results of an observational study.

BACKGROUND: In Italy, health in the workplace is still considered a field for physicians only. In contrast to Europe, the figure of the occupational health nurse is not yet present, due to the absences of contractual and university fields. The present study aimed to carry out a survey for understanding the usefulness of the introduction of the occupational health nurse in the field of prevention and protection of health at work. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The questionnaire was administered via an online survey to health professionals including Students (undergraduate and post-graduate levels) of Nursing Sciences and Midwives, Nurses, Physicians specialized in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, in Occupational Medicine and Legal Medicine. The questionnaire included 26 questions. The statistical analysis, conducted with SPSS software (release 25.0), has been articulated through the use of frequency tables and contingency tables. Differences in participants' responses were analyzed with the chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, where applicable, considering gender, marital status, presence of sons in families, age, macro-region, and professional activities as potential explanatory variables. RESULTS: After two general reminders, 232 individuals entered the survey, with an overall response rate of 65%. 42.2% of the participants were nurses, aged between 20 and 64 years. Around 70% were females. A low percentage (9.9%) is associated with respondents from northern Italy 53.0% from Center and 37.1% from southern Italy. The questionnaire included four major fields of occupational health nursing. The nursing role for companies (items 8, 12, 13, 14, and 17): the responders approve the introduction of the occupational health nurse in the companies for his/her competences on health promotion and work-related diseases prevention. Utility for companies (items 18, 19, 20 and 21): the usefulness brought by the occupational health nurse to companies is fully shared by the responders. Occupational Health Nurse's action field (items 16, 22, 23 and 24): the answer "yes" has the highest prevalence among the responders, followed by "I don't know". Education (items 25 and 26): Nurses, Physicians and Nursing Students think that the occupational health nurse must have an appropriate university training program, in particular, a master's first degree. Concerning the main focus of the study (opinion on which was the most suitable course of study for the occupational health nurse), 85 (36,6 %) participants answered, "First level Master degree", and 60 (25,9 %) "Advanced training course". CONCLUSIONS: This study wanted to highlight the opinion of professionals on the usefulness of this new nursing figure, projected into the world of occupational medicine. The OHN supports the Physician with his/her professionalism and autonomy in prevention and treatment of work-related diseases, as demonstrated and valued in the rest of Europe. The implementation of advanced courses on occupational nursing, and in particular specific post-graduate degrees, is needed.

Excessive daytime sleepiness in general hospital nurses: prevalence, correlates, and its association with adverse events.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and correlates of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in a population of hospital nurses in South China as well as the influence of EDS on the occurrence of adverse events. METHODS: A total of 1102 nurses working in a large medical center were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study (96.9% females, mean age 29.6 years). They all completed a self-reported questionnaire consisting of items on demographic variables, lifestyle factors, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and both work-related and sleep-related characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 1048 nurses gave a valid response (response rate 95.1%). Among them, 169 (16.1%) reported EDS as defined as an Epworth Sleepiness Scale ≥ 14. Depression (adjusted odds ratio = 2.24, 95% confidence interval 1.51-3.31), anxiety (1.65; 1.02-2.67), insomnia (2.29; 1.56-3.36), rotating shift work (1.98; 1.03-3.83), and low interest in work (1.74; 1.01-2.99) were all independent risk factors of the occurrence of EDS. EDS is associated with the occurrence of adverse events after controlling for confounding factors (adjusted OR 1.83, CI 1.26 to 2.67). CONCLUSIONS: EDS was common among this relatively young and healthy nurse population in south China. There were clear associations between EDS and depression, anxiety, insomnia, rotating shift work, and low work-related interest. Furthermore, EDS was an independent risk factor in the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) in our subjects.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious and life-threatening event. Educating workers and communities on exposure sources, symptoms, and prevention is an important role for occupational health nurses.

Estudio descriptivo sobre las condiciones de trabajo y los trastornos musculo esqueléticos en el personal de enfermería (enfermeras y AAEE) de la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos y Neonatales en el Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid / Descriptive Study on the Working Conditions and Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Nursing Staff (Nurses and Auxiliary of Nursing) of the Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the University Clinical Hospital of Valladolid

Introducción: Los trastornos musculoesqueléticos (TME) son lesiones del aparato locomotor que pueden tener un origen laboral. Afectan principalmente a la espalda, cuello, hombros y extremidades superiores. Es uno de los problemas más importantes de salud en el trabajo con elevados costes económicos. Entre las profesiones sanitarias, la enfermería es la principal afectada, en relación con la manipulación de enfermos. Desde los servicios de prevención se ha objetivado un aumento de las consultas en relación con TME por parte del personal de enfermería de la UCI pediátrica que podría estar relacionado con el aumento de la demanda asistencial. Objetivo: Estimar la prevalencia de TME del personal de enfermería de la UCI Pediátrica y Neonatal (UCIP) del Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid (HCUV) durante el primer semestre del año 2016. Metodología: Estudio observacional transversal, en el que se registran los síntomas musculoesqueléticos referidos en los últimos 12 meses previos a la cumplimentación del cuestionario y se identifica la exposición a riesgos ergonómicos mediante la aplicación del método REBA por tareas. Resultados: Se obtuvieron datos de 17 trabajadoras con una edad entre 25 y 32 años. El 100% de trabajadoras ha presentado molestias musculoesqueléticas. La prevalencia de TME de cuello es del 94,1%, en hombros es de 64,7%, en zona dorso lumbar del 88,2%, en codo o antebrazo del 18,8% y en muñeca o manos del 18,8%. El análisis Inferencial en base a la edad, categoría ocupacional, puesto actual y variables ergonómicas no arroja relación significativamente estadística entre las variables. Sólo encontramos significación estadística entre las molestias musculoesqueléticas a nivel dorsal o lumbar y la antigüedad en el servicio de UCI (p=0,051). El método REBA estima que el 11,8% de las trabajadoras realizan tareas de riesgo «ALTO» y el 88,2% realizan tareas de riesgo «MEDIO». Conclusiones: Los resultados ponen de manifiesto que existe una alta prevalencia de TME en el personal de enfermería de la UCIP del HCUV, siendo el cuello y la zona dorsal o lumbar las más afectadas. No hemos podido encontrar una relación causal entre los TME y factores como la edad, categoría ocupacional, puesto actual y variables ergonómicas

Introduction: Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDS) are injuries in the locomotor system that may have an occupational origin. Back, neck, shoulders and the upper extremities are mainly affected, making it one of the major health issues on the workplace with high economic costs. Among health professions, nursing staff is the main affected, regarding the care of the sick. From the prevention services it has been observed an increase of the consultations in connection with musculoskeletal disorders by the nursing staff of the pediatric Intensive Care Unit that could be related to the increase in the demand for care. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of MSDS among the nursing staff of the Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the University Clinical Hospital of Valladolid (Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, HCUV). Methodology: A cross-sectional observational study, which analyzes the musculoskeletal symptoms referred in the last 12 months and identifies the exposure to ergonomic hazards applying the REBA method (Rapid Entire Body Assessment) depending on tasks. Results: Data was obtained from 17 women aged between 25 and 32 years. The 100% of female workers presented musculoskeletal discomfort. The prevalence of MSDS in neck is 94.1%, 64.7% in shoulders, and 88.2% in back lumbar region, 18.8% in the elbow or forearm and 18.8% in wrist or hands. The inferential analysis based on age, occupational category, current position and ergonomic variables does not reveal a statistically significant relationship between the variables. We only were able to find statistical significance between the musculoskeletal discomfort dorsal or lumbar level and length of service of Intensive Care Unit (p=0.051). The REBA method estimated that 11.8% of female workers perform tasks of «high-risk» and that the 88.2% perform tasks of «medium-risk». Conclusions: The results show that there is a high prevalence of MSDS in the nursing staff of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, being both the neck and the dorsal or lumbar area the most affected areas. We have not been able to find a causal relationship between MSDS and factors such as age, occupational category, current position and ergonomic variables

Occupational health nurses: interdisciplinary experience in occupational health. / Enfermeiros do trabalho: experiência interdisciplinar em saúde do trabalhador.

OBJECTIVE:: to analyze the relationship of occupational health nurses with the other members of the Specialized Service in Safety Engineering and Occupational Medicine (SESMT) and characterize joint actions of these professionals in occupational health. METHOD:: qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive study with 34 professionals of seven companies from the South Macroregion of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Interviews and observations were conducted for content analysis of Bardin. RESULTS:: the SESMTs are multidisciplinary and intersectoral workers. Nurses have working relations of an interpersonal, technical/legal, and management of logistics/organizational nature, influenced by the technical division of work and by the division in the work environment of the staff, which distances areas, generates conflicts, and fragments the actions of the service. CONCLUSION:: SESMT faces challenges to develop a work befitting their legal objectives, once staff and companies need to understand the importance of interdisciplinarity for the success of actions on the workers' health and safety.

Social representations of biosecurity in nursing: occupational health and preventive care. / Representações sociais da Enfermagem sobre biossegurança: saúde ocupacional e o cuidar prevencionista.

OBJECTIVE:: to understand the biosecurity social representations by primary care nursing professionals and analyze how they articulate with quality of care. METHODS:: exploratory and qualitative research based on social representation theory. The study participants were 36 nursing workers from primary health care in a state capital in the Northeast region of Brazil. The data were analyzed by descending hierarchical classification. RESULTS:: five classes were obtained: occupational accidents suffered by professionals; occupational exposure to biological agents; biosecurity management in primary health care; the importance of personal protective equipment; and infection control and biosecurity. CONCLUSION:: the different positions taken by the professionals seem to be based on a field of social representations related to the concept of biosecurity, namely exposure to accidents and risks to which they are exposed. However, occupational accidents are reported as inherent to the practice.

Representações sociais da Enfermagem sobre biossegurança: saúde ocupacional e o cuidar prevencionista / Representaciones sociales de la Enfermería sobre bioseguridad: salud laboral y los cuidados preventivos / Social representations of biosecurity in nursing: occupational health and preventive care

RESUMO Objetivo: apreender as representações sociais da biossegurança por profissionais de Enfermagem na Atenção Primária e analisar como elas se articulam com a qualidade da assistência prestada. Métodos: pesquisa exploratória, qualitativa, fundamentada na Teoria das Representações Sociais. Os participantes da pesquisa foram 36 trabalhadores de Enfermagem de Unidades Básicas de Saúde de uma capital da Região Nordeste do Brasil. Os dados foram analisados pela Classificação Hierárquica Descendente. Resultados: foram obtidas cinco classes: acidentes ocupacionais sofridos pelos profissionais; exposição ocupacional a agentes biológicos; gestão da biossegurança em Atenção Primária; importância do equipamento de proteção individual, e biossegurança e controle de infecção. Conclusão: as diferentes tomadas de posições dos profissionais parecem se ancorar em um campo das representações sociais ligado a questões relacionadas ao conceito de biossegurança, à exposição a acidentes e riscos aos quais estão expostos. No entanto, o acidente ocupacional é reportado como inerente à prática.

RESUMEN Objetivo: comprender las representaciones sociales de bioseguridad en profesionales de Enfermería en Atención Primaria y analizar cómo se articulan con la calidad de la atención brindada. Métodos: investigación exploratoria, cualitativa, fundamentada en Teoría de las Representaciones Sociales. Participaron del estudio 36 trabajadores de Enfermería de Unidades Básicas de Salud de una capital del Noreste brasileño. Datos analizados por Clasificación Jerárquica Descendente. Resultados: se obtuvieron cinco clases: accidentes laborales sufridos por profesionales; exposición laboral a agentes biológicos; gestión de bioseguridad en Atención Primaria; importancia de equipos de protección individual; y bioseguridad y control de infecciones. Conclusión: las diferentes tomas de posición de los profesionales parecen anclarse en un campo de las representaciones sociales vinculado a asuntos relacionados al concepto de bioseguridad, a la exposición al accidente y riesgos a los cuales están expuestos. No obstante, el accidente laboral es considerado inherente a la práctica.

ABSTRACT Objective: to understand the biosecurity social representations by primary care nursing professionals and analyze how they articulate with quality of care. Methods: exploratory and qualitative research based on social representation theory. The study participants were 36 nursing workers from primary health care in a state capital in the Northeast region of Brazil. The data were analyzed by descending hierarchical classification. Results: five classes were obtained: occupational accidents suffered by professionals; occupational exposure to biological agents; biosecurity management in primary health care; the importance of personal protective equipment; and infection control and biosecurity. Conclusion: the different positions taken by the professionals seem to be based on a field of social representations related to the concept of biosecurity, namely exposure to accidents and risks to which they are exposed. However, occupational accidents are reported as inherent to the practice.

Enfermeiros do trabalho: experiência interdisciplinar em saúde do trabalhador / Enfermeros del trabajo: experiencia interdisciplinaria en salud ocupacional / Occupational health nurses: interdisciplinary experience in occupational health

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar a relação profissional dos enfermeiros do trabalho com os demais integrantes do Serviço Especializado em Engenharia de Segurança e em Medicina do Trabalho (SESMT) e caracterizar ações conjuntas desses profissionais em saúde do trabalhador. Método: qualitativo, exploratório e descritivo, com 34 profissionais de sete empresas da Macrorregião Sul, Rio Grande do Sul. Realizadas entrevistas e observações para Análise de Conteúdo de Bardin. Resultados: os SESMTs são multiprofissionais e intersetoriais. Os enfermeiros possuem relações de trabalho de natureza interpessoal, técnica/jurídica, de gestão e logística/organizacional, influenciadas pela divisão tanto técnica do trabalho quanto do próprio ambiente de trabalho da equipe, o que distancia áreas, gera conflitos e fragmenta as ações do serviço. Conclusão: há desafios para que o SESMT desenvolva um trabalho condizente com os seus objetivos legais, uma vez que equipe e empresas precisam compreender a importância da interdisciplinaridade para o sucesso das ações na atenção à saúde e segurança do trabalhador.

RESUMEN Objetivo: analizar la relación profesional de los enfermeros del trabajo con otros miembros del Servicio Especializado en Ingeniería de Seguridad y Medicina del Trabajo (SESMT) y caracterizar las acciones conjuntas de estos profesionales de la salud ocupacional. Método: estudio cualitativo, exploratorio y descriptivo con 34 profesionales de siete empresas de la Macro Región Sur, estado de Rio Grande do Sul. Se realizaron entrevistas y observaciones para análisis de contenido de Bardin. Resultados: los SESMT son multidisciplinarios e intersectoriales. Los enfermeros tienen relaciones de trabajo de naturaleza interpersonal, técnica/legal, de gestión y logística/organizacional influenciados por la divisióntécnica del trabajo y el propio entorno de trabajo en equipo, lo quecrea distanciaentre las zonas,conflictos y fragmenta las acciones del servicio. Conclusión: existen desafíos para el SESMT desarrollar un trabajo consistente con sus objetivos legales, pues el personal y las empresas necesitan entender la importancia de la interdisciplinariedad para el éxito de las acciones de atención de salud y seguridad del trabajador.

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the relationship of occupational health nurses with the other members of the Specialized Service in Safety Engineering and Occupational Medicine (SESMT) and characterize joint actions of these professionals in occupational health. Method: qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive study with 34 professionals of seven companies from the South Macroregion of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Interviews and observations were conducted for content analysis of Bardin. Results: the SESMTs are multidisciplinary and intersectoral workers. Nurses have working relations of an interpersonal, technical/legal, and management of logistics/organizational nature, influenced by the technical division of work and by the division in the work environment of the staff, which distances areas, generates conflicts, and fragments the actions of the service. Conclusion: SESMT faces challenges to develop a work befitting their legal objectives, once staff and companies need to understand the importance of interdisciplinarity for the success of actions on the workers' health and safety.

Percepção da qualidade de vida em portadores de distúrbios osteomusculares relacionados ao trabalho / Percepción de la calidad de vida en portadores de trastornos musculoesqueléticos (tme) relacionados al trabajo / Perception of quality of life in patients with work-related musculoskeletal disorders

RESUMO Os Distúrbios Osteomusculares Relacionados ao Trabalho (DORT) são doenças crônicas causadas pelo trabalho extenuante, sem pausas, com posturas incorretas e movimentos repetitivos. Estudos mostram que portadores de doenças crônicas tendem a ter uma baixa qualidade de vida. Sendo assim, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar a percepção da qualidade de vida de portadores de DORT no Estado de Sergipe, Brasil. A amostra foi composta por 17 trabalhadores aludidos nos Centros de Referência em Saúde do Trabalhador do referido estado, no ano de 2013, os quais foram voluntários e responderam a um roteiro de entrevista elaborada pelos autores da pesquisa, e gravadas em áudio. Os resultados foram categorizados e descritos através da análise de conteúdo, o que permitiu a observação de que todos os aspectos de qualidade de vida demonstraram-se negativos. Considera-se que os trabalhadores avaliados nesta pesquisa possuem uma percepção negativa da qualidade de vida, o que influencia, também negativamente, no processo saúde e doença dos indivíduos.

RESUMEN Los Trastornos Musculoesqueléticos (TME) Relacionados al Trabajo son enfermedades crónicas, causadas por el trabajo extenuante, sin pausas, con posturas incorrectas y movimientos repetitivos. Estudios muestran que portadores de enfermedades crónicas suelen tener una baja calidad de vida. Así siendo, el objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar la percepción de la calidad de vida de portadores de TME en el Estado de Sergipe, Brasil. La muestra fue compuesta por 17 trabajadores referenciados en los Centros de Referencia en Salud del Trabajador del estado citado, en el año de 2013, que fueron voluntarios y respondieron a un guión de entrevistas elaboradas por los autores de la investigación, y grabadas en audio. Los resultados fueron categorizados y descriptos a través del análisis de contenido, lo que permitió la observación de que todos los aspectos de calidad de vida se demostraron negativos. Se considera que los trabajadores, evaluados en esta investigación, poseen una percepción negativa de la calidad de vida, y que, estos aspectos influyeron, también negativamente, en el proceso salud y enfermedad de los individuos.

ABSTRACT Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) are chronic diseases caused by strenuous work without breaks and with incorrect postures and repetitive movements. Studies show that patients with chronic diseases tend to have a lower quality of life. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the perception of quality of life in people with WMSDs in Sergipe. The sample consisted of 17 employees referenced at Worker's Health Reference Centers in that state, in 2013, who volunteered and completed a set of interviews conducted and audio recorded by the research authors. Results were categorized and described through Bardin's content analysis and allowed the observation that all aspects of quality of life were negative. It is considered that the Sergipe workers assessed in this research have a negative perception of quality of life and that these aspects have an influence, also negative, on an individual's health-illness process.

Low Back Pain in Student Nurses: Literature Review and Prospective Cohort Study.

There is consensus that registered nurses worldwide have a high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, particularly of the back. Patient handling activities such as lifting present the highest risk of injury, activities that begin in nursing school. A literature review identified 21 studies of back pain in nursing students, indicating a wide range of prevalence rates. A prospective cohort study of nursing students in a United States baccalaureate program followed 119 students who completed the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire upon beginning the 16 month upper division major and then a year later. There was no statistically significant change in low back pain prevalence over time. While nursing students have intermittent and brief exposure to patient handling activities, nursing schools must nevertheless protect them before they enter the high risk profession of nursing by teaching evidence-based safe patient handling techniques, empowering students to refuse unsafe manual lifts, and ensuring that the clinical settings with which they affiliate have adequate mechanical equipment available.

Caregiver Fatigue: Implications for Patient and Staff Safety, Part 1.

OBJECTIVE: This article describes the profound impact of fatigue and the process by which 1 academic medical center assessed fatigue levels, and associated factors, among nursing personnel in their effort to develop a comprehensive fatigue management program. BACKGROUND: To adequately perform amid high patient acuity and in today's fast paced healthcare environment, nurses must be attentive and react quickly and appropriately with clear judgment and reasoning-abilities that can be greatly impaired by fatigue. Nursing leaders are instrumental in systematically addressing work-related fatigue and implementing processes designed to prevent fatigue and overwork; however, baseline measures are necessary if the efficacy of these initiatives is to be assessed. METHODS: The 15-item Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion/Recovery scale was used to assess current fatigue levels among nursing staff at a university medical center. Demographic and schedule-related questions were used to examine the characteristics of the population and identify any associated factors. RESULTS: Work-related fatigue is prevalent among all nursing staff, but differences were noted based on the respondent's position, age, and typical work shift. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing administrators and shared governance councils can address the factors contributing to work-related fatigue and negatively impacting nursing personnel's ability to rest and recuperate. Nurse leader involvement is needed to develop comprehensive fatigue reduction strategies.

Ebola Virus Disease.

Nurses are the largest group of health care providers and, therefore, are often at the forefront of epidemics: responding, treating, educating, and coordinating care as needed. But what happens when nurses are afraid of contracting an illness and decide to leave the workplace? The fear due to Ebola was in part caused by conflicting information around the proper use of personal protective equipment and need for quarantine. The nursing response to as well as the role occupational health nurses can play in diffusing the fear of contracting contemporary infectious diseases are discussed.

Nurses' Perceptions on Ebola Care in the United States, Part 2: A Qualitative Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined qualitative comments from an online survey of nurses' perceptions regarding care of persons under investigation and patients with confirmed Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the United States. BACKGROUND: Additional insight into nurses' perceptions regarding EVD was warranted. METHODS: Survey design used convenience sampling of RNs, licensed practical nurses, and nurse technicians, who responded to 8 open-ended survey questions. RESULTS: Most respondents (618/966 [64.0%]) provided comments. The top 5 of the 13 primary themes were lack of preparedness/readiness; training, education, and improved communications needed; fear of EVD transmission; lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection prevention; and nurses not treated professionally. CONCLUSIONS: Noting multiple concerns, most respondents reported that EVD care could be most safely provided when all parties involved are prepared and when nurses are educated and trained in evidence-driven practices with appropriate PPE and infection control procedures.

Absenteísmo por enfermidade em profissionais de enfermagem / Research absenteeism due to illness among nursing professionals / Absentismo por enfermedad en profesionales de enfermería

Estudo transversal que objetivou caracterizar o absenteísmo por enfermidade em profissionais de enfermagem. A amostra foi de 299 profissionais de um hospital universitário do Sul do Brasil, com coleta de dados no Sistema de Informações Gerenciais e em arquivos do serviço de Medicina ocupacional da instituição, referente ao ano de 2012. A análise dos dados foi estatística descritiva. Foram 220 (73,57%) profissionais que se afastaram por doença, totalizando 642 atestados e 6.230 dias de afastamento. Destes, 50 (22,7%) foram de enfermeiros, 79 (36%) de técnicos de enfermagem e 91 (41,3%) de auxiliares de enfermagem. As enfermidades mais prevalentes foram: doenças respiratórias nos enfermeiros e doenças do sistema osteomuscular e tecido conjuntivo nos técnicos e auxiliares de enfermagem. É alta a prevalência de absenteísmo por doença na enfermagem, o que demanda repensar a organização do trabalho para preservar a saúde dos trabalhadores e diminuir os afastamentos.

Cross-sectional study that aimed to characterize absence due to illness among nursing professionals. The sample consisted of 299 professionals from a university hospital in South of Brazil. Data collection used the Management Information System and archives of occupational health service of the institution, during 2012. Data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics. Two hundred and twenty nursing professionals (73.57%) were absent due to illness, totaling 642 sick absences and 6,230 non-working days. Among those nursing professionals, 50 (22.7%) were nurses, 79 (36%) were nursing technicians, and 91 (41.3%) were nursing aids. The most frequent illnesses were: respiratory diseases for nurses, musculoskeletal system and connective tissue diseases among technicians and nursing aids. The prevalence of absenteeism due to illness among nursing staff is high, which requires rethinking the work organization to preserve the health of workers and reduce absenteeism.

Estudio transversal con el objetivo de caracterizar el absentismo por enfermedad en profesionales de enfermería. La muestra consistió en 299 profesionales de un hospital universitario del sur de Brasil, con datos del Sistema de Información de Gestión y de archivos de servicios de salud ocupacional de la institución, en el ano 2012. El análisis de datos fue la estadística descriptiva. Doscientos veinte (73,57%) sujetos presentaron absentismo por enfermedad, totalizando 642 certificados y 6.230 días de ausencia. De ese total 50 (22,7%) ocurrieron entre enfermeros, 79 (36%) entre técnicos y 91(41,3%) entre auxiliares de enfermería. Las enfermedades más frecuentes fueron: enfermedades respiratorias entre enfermeros y del sistema músculo-esquelético y enfermedades del tejido conectivo entre técnicos y auxiliares de enfermería. La prevalencia de absentismo por enfermedad entre el personal de enfermería es alta, lo cual requiere un replanteamiento en la organización laboral para preservar la salud de los trabajadores y disminuir las ausencias.

Síndrome metabólico en población laboral canaria (Estudio prospectivo en una Unidad Básica de Salud de Medicina del Trabajo) / Metabolic syndrome in canarian working population (prospective study by an occupational medicine basic health unit)

Se conoce al Síndrome metabólico (SM) como el conjunto de eventos clínico-patológicos complejos con una multicausalidad: genética, social, cultural, económica y laboral en el individuo. Según datos mundiales la prevalencia de SM oscila entre el 20-40 % de la población. En España, centrándonos en población laboral, ronda el 7,8 %- 12,1 % (de media 1/10 trabajadores). Sin embargo, la Medicina del Trabajo se ha mantenido al margen, ya que el SM no tiene una relación causa-efecto para ser considerada enfermedad profesional y/o enfermedad relacionada con el trabajo, por lo que no es tema de investigación en el campo laboral. Sin embargo, la paradoja se da cuando establecido el síndrome y sus consecuencias son los servicios médicos dentro de la Unidad Básica de Salud (UBS) de Medicina del Trabajo los que han de evaluar la aptitud del trabajador en las tareas habituales que realiza. Tanto la resistencia a la insulina como la obesidad, factores fisiopatológicos del SM, parten de una serie de factores de riesgo siendo la prevención primaria la acción más económica, barata, asequible y sostenible para detectar estos factores. En el estudio que presentamos de una muestra de 134 trabajadores sanos que han realizado reconocimiento médico periódico en una UBS de la Sociedad Prevención (SP) de FREMAP (actualmente PREMAP Seguridad y Salud), se obtuvo una prevalencia global del 18 % (24 trabajadores) siguiendo la definición de SM según los criterios NCEP-ATP III (Panel de Expertos para la Detección, Evaluación y Tratamiento de la Hipercolesterolemia en adultos) modificado en 2005. A partir de los resultados obtenidos, los médicos del trabajo cuentan con numerosas herramientas de uso diario para diagnosticar, controlar y prevenir las consecuencias del SM para los trabajadores y en definitiva, para la población general. Es más, según la Ley de Prevención de Riesgos Laborales (LPRL) no sólo se persigue la ordenación de obligaciones y responsabilidades de los sujetos relacionados con el hecho laboral, sino que se pretende fomentar una nueva cultura en el campo de la prevención (AU)

Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is known to be a set of complex clinical pathological events with multiple causes: genetic, social, cultural, economic and occupational issues. According to global data MS prevalence ranges from 20 to 40% of the population. In Spanish occupational population, this figure reaches 7.8 to 12.1% (average 1/10 workers). Nevertheless, Occupational Medicine has been sidelined due to the fact that MS has no causal relationship and is not considered an occupational disease and / or work related illness, therefore it is not a research topic for work related issues. However, the paradox appears when once MS and its consequences are diagnosed, it is up to the medical services within the Occupational Medicine Basic Health Unit (BHU) to advise on the employee’s suitability to perform usual tasks. MS pathophysiological factors, insulin resistance and obesity, come from a series of risk factors. Therefore, primary prevention is the most economical, affordable, effective and sustainable action to detect these factors. In this investigation, we show a 134 healthy workers’ sample who have had periodical medical examinations by the Basic Health Unit (BHU) of a Prevention Service (PS) (at present PREMAP, Seguridad y Salud). An overall prevalence of 18% (24 workers) was obtained according to the definition of MS by the NCEP-ATP III (Panel of Experts for detection, evaluation and treatment of High Cholesterol in Adults amended in 2005).According to the results obtained, Occupational Medicine has numerous everyday tools to diagnose, monitor and prevent the consequences of Metabolic Syndrome in workers and ultimately in general population. Moreover, according the Law of Prevention of Occupational Risks (LPOR) seeks not only the management of duties and responsibilities if subjects in regards to work issues, aiming also to promote a new culture in the field of prevention (AU)