medical staff

AbstractDuring wars, hospitals, medical staff, and civilians are protected by International Humanitarian Law (IHL). However, this importance is not observed in some instances. We examined the killing of medical staff and attacks on medical facilities during the Gaza war. In this scoping review, we gathered data from primary and secondary sources, such as newspapers, peer-reviewed journals, open-source platforms, social networks, and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) websites from October 27, 2023 to May 21, 2024. Additionally, we collected data from some organizations, such as Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), the World Health Organization (WHO), Palestine Ministry of Health, World Bank, and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).According to different reports, between 400 to 800 incidents of violence against the healthcare services were documented in Gaza from the start of the war on October 27, 2023 until May 21, 2024. These incidents include obstruction of access to medical facilities, attack on ambulances, damage to hospital buildings, and targeting of medical staff and healthcare volunteers. Although the WHO issued warnings to stop the violence against medical staff and health facilities, these efforts were unsuccessful.The results revealed that unprecedented tragedies are occurring in Gaza, where medical facilities and staff are being targeted and killed. However, the response of international organizations appears to be passive and not appropriate to the extent of the war crimes. Moving forward, the international community should consider developing more effective solutions to address criminal behavior within the healthcare sector.

Abortion has been accompanied by challenges in various legal systems and religious doctrines, with different countries adopting varying criminal policies regarding it. Regardless of the legal systems’ perspectives on the permissibility of abortion, the issue of criminal and civil liability of medical staff in cases of abortion remains significant. While various provisions have been set forth in the Islamic penal code (IPC) and the law on protection of family and youth in Iran, the concept of negligence has received less attention in this field. The aim of this research was to examine the responsibility of medical staff in cases of neglect that result in abortion.

The present study was conducted using an analytical-descriptive method and relied on library sources. Additionally, information was gathered through documentary research involving the study of laws and reputable jurisprudential sources.

Based on the research findings, different rulings exist regarding negligence, with possible implications of intentional crime attributed to medical staff in certain cases.

According to the investigations conducted, the legal system in Iran, among others, considers medical staff liable for punishment even in instances of mere negligence. Furthermore, upon meeting certain conditions, such as the presence of a duty and a causal relationship, medical staff will be held responsible for negligence resulting in abortion.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused almost unimaginable damage to the lives, health, and economies of many countries. Alongside health and behavioral control measures, vaccination has been considered the most successful method to control the COVID-19 epidemic. Although vaccination is an effective way to reduce and eliminate diseases, its effectiveness depends on the willingness of the population to receive the vaccine. The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions of medical staff on COVID-19 vaccination through qualitative content analysis.

This study aims to explore the perceptions of medical staff on COVID-19 vaccination through qualitative content analysis.

A qualitative study employing a content analysis approach was conducted at Khoy city hospitals in Iran. The researchers explored the perceptions of 16 medical staff members who were among the first group to receive the vaccine in 2021 - 2022. Health staff of various ages, genders, and professions including doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, laboratory staff, and radiologists were included in the research. Sampling was purposeful, and data collection utilized face-to-face semi-structured individual interviews. Data analysis followed the method of “conventional qualitative content analysis.”

Data analysis revealed three main categories and seven sub-categories as follows: “Conflicting feelings” (confidence or doubt, hope or worry, complications and benefits), “continuing to fight against COVID-19” (responding to social/professional responsibility, encouraging people to accept the vaccine), and “getting rid of COVID-19” (return to normal life, reduction of mortality).

The medical staff expressed a desire to receive the COVID-19 vaccine to continue fighting the disease and eliminate it, but they also had conflicting feelings about receiving it. The perceptions of healthcare workers about healthcare issues serve as a reliable source of knowledge for the public and play a crucial role in deciding whether to accept or reject critical health interventions. Therefore, health policymakers dealing with epidemic diseases should prioritize creating scientific and psychological support for acceptance among healthcare workers, who serve as a reference for the public.

Data on the prevalence of sick building syndrome (SBS) and its components in medical staff working at the Semnan University of Medical Sciences are limited.

The present study investigated the prevalence of SBS and its related factors in the medical staff in Semnan, Iran.

A cross-sectional study was done on 300 medical staff in Kausar Hospital in Semnan, Iran, in 2020. A standard questionnaire was used to obtain information about SBS and indoor air quality. In order to measure environmental factors, random sampling was taken from different parts of the hospital, including building inspection, dust samples, and indoor and outdoor air measurements. The condition of physical factors, including temperature, humidity, and ventilation, was checked using relevant devices. The NIOSH 0800 method was used to measure the biological status of the working spaces in terms of fungal and bacterial contamination. Data analyses were performed using SPSS 26.

The mean age of the participants was 32.23 ± 5.34 years, of whom 81% were women. The prevalence of SBS was 65%, with the highest prevalence in the emergency ward (18%), followed by internal (16%), intensive care unit (13%), and cardiac care unit (12%). Sleep disorder (65%), tiredness (59%), feeling heavy (47%), headache (46%) and stress (45%) were the most common components of the SBS. There was a statistically significant relationship between the presence of harmful environmental factors, including noise, static electricity, unpleasant smell, and infection, and the prevalence of SBS (all P-values < 0.05).

Considering the high prevalence of SBS in hospital employees, re-engineering the hospital environment and improving the air quality and ventilation systems may be useful in preventing SBS.

The crisis of COVID-19 has greatly impacted the mental health of healthcare workers, and neglecting it can cause burnout syndrome among them. This study investigates job burnout and its association with the general health among healthcare professionals (HCPs) during the coronavirus pandemic.

In this descriptive study in 2022, 400 employees of Kermanshah hospitals were selected using the convenience sampling method and Cochran's formula. The online questionnaire had 3 parts. The first was demographic information, the second was Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and the third was a 28-question general health questionnaire. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistical and analytical tests, including the chi-square test, linear regression, and correlation at a significance level of less than 0.05 using SPSS software, version 19.

All the job burnout components had a strong correlation with general health items Emotional Exhaustion (r=-0.509, p<0.01), Reduced Personal Accomplishment (r=-0.514, p<0.01), and Depersonalization (r=-0.614, p<0.01)). Among all the components of job burnout, depersonalization could predict 38.6% of general health changes in employees working in the hospitals of Kermanshah City.

Healthcare professionals in Kermanshah hospitals have experienced a lot of job burnout during the pandemic of Covid-19, and this problem was related to their general health status.

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the necessity for empathy among medical staff; however, personnel have encountered certain challenges. Therefore, this study was undertaken to assess the positive and negative emotions and the perception of empathy among medical staff at hospitals affiliated with Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, focusing on companions of patients who succumbed to COVID-19.

This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study involved 402 companions or companions of patients who passed away due to COVID-19 between 2020 and 2022 in Shahrekord city. The study utilized the Jefferson Scale of Empathy and scales for positive and negative emotions. Data analysis was performed using an independent t-test, analysis of variance, and Scheffe’s test at a significance level of 0.05, employing SPSS 26 software.

A total of 402 companions or companions of deceased patients, comprising 64.9% men and 35.1% women, participated in the study, of whom 81.3% had a first-degree family relationship with the deceased. The average age of the participants was 45.01±10.11 years. The perception level of the doctors’ empathy averaged 12.77±7.27, which was low compared to the total score of 35. The levels of positive and negative emotions were 30.61±8.86 and 29.52±9.53, respectively, which were lower than the total score of 50 in each case.

The perception of empathy from medical staff is below the average level. However, the positive and negative affect levels among companions are at an average level.

Using anti-septic and personal protective equipment (PPE) may cause contact dermatitis (CD) in hospital staff. During COVID-19, the team used PPE and hand washing more frequently. This study investigated the prevalence of CD and its related factors among hospital staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Overall, 360 participants were selected by proportion sampling from an Isfahan Universityaffiliated hospital (Alzahra hospital) between 2019 and 2021. A checklist about demographic and workplace variables, skin signs, and symptoms was distributed to samples. We assessed associations between the frequencies of the worksite and cleaning product exposures and a symptom-based definition of CD among current hospital workers.

The prevalence of hand dermatitis in participants and their mean age were 84% and 35.7 ± 8.6 years, respectively. In addition, the most reported symptoms were itching (147, 40%) and redness of the hand (141, 39%). Using gloves, especially latex and vinyl gloves, had a significant association with the incidence of CD (P < 0.03). The frequency and time of hand washing had no significant relationship with dermatitis (P > 0.05).

Setting up preventive actions and managing this condition are better to be influential among the policies of hospital managers given the high prevalence of CD among hospital workers.

In late 2019, a new virus spread in China that led to an acute respiratory disease by lung involvement. The virus spread over time and affected many countries, including Iran. Hospital staff are also at high risk of being infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

The present study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of IgG class antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers and to compare the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ward staff with other hospital wards.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on medical staff at Gerash University of Medical Sciences. After sampling the participants in this study, the production of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies was evaluated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Demographic and other necessary information about patients were also recorded.

Out of 323 staff participating in this study, 130 (40.24%) were in inpatient wards [of which 26 (20%) were in the COVID-19 ward], 55 (17.02%) were in paraclinical wards, and 138 (42.72%) were in administrative wards. A total of 44 (13.6%) patients had anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of antibodies between the three groups, but a significantly higher prevalence of antibodies was observed in the COVID-19 ward subgroup with 6 (23%) positive antibody tests, compared to other wards (P-value = 0.023).

Due to the higher prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in staff working in the COVID-19 ward than in other wards, more attention should be paid to health protocols and also emphasis on completing vaccination and monitoring the safety level of staff working in the COVID-19 ward.

An increasing number of studies have been conducted on the prevalence of COVID-19 to develop strategies to combat the disease. However, less attention has been paid to the mental health of medical professionals.

To investigate whether a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course in Tibet could improve the mental health of medical personnel during the COVID-19 epidemic.

One hundred and eighteen medical staff were randomly selected from July 2022 to September 2022. After baseline enrolment, the control group (n=59) received baseline healthcare services, while the intervention group (n=59) received a 2-month positive intervention MBSR course in addition to baseline healthcare services. After the intervention, the intervention group underwent a final assessment, and the control group was subjected to MBSR for 2 months. The Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-Consciousness Scale (SCS), and the Chinese version of the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS) were used to measure the emotional well-being of medical personnel.

The intervention group had significantly lower CPSS and SDS scores at the end of the MBSR course (P<0.01), and SCS scores were significantly increased during M2 (P=0.009), compared to M0. In the control group, the scores of SDS (P=0.223), SCS (P=0.112), and CPSS (P=0.131) in M2 were not significantly different from those in M0. The intervention and control groups showed statistically significant differences in CPSS scores (P=0.013), SDS scores (P=0.001), and SCS scores (P=0.029) at the end of the MBSR session.

It can be concluded that MBSR sessions can effectively alleviate negative emotions triggered by work stress and depression and improve self-compassion during an epidemic. It is recommended to participate in a scientific MBSR course to improve emotional well-being to some extent.

It is widely accepted that musculoskeletal injuries, especially in the lumbar region, are among the most common complaints of people working in emergency medical services (EMS). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) and its associated factors in the field staff of prehospital EMS in northern Iran.

This cross-sectional descriptive correlational study was conducted in 2019 on 156 men selected by convenience sampling from the population of field staff of prehospital emergency medical centers in Gilan, Iran. The participants completed a questionnaire of demographic information and the numerical rating scale. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software, version 24 using unvaried logistic regression at 5%, and multiple logistic regression at 10% significance level.

Of all the participants, 69.9% (n=109) had LBP. The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that workers with a higher number of calls per shift (90% CI, 1.01%-1.32%, OR=1.15, P=0.088), low income (P=0.016), history of underlying diseases (90% CI, 1.40%-54.12%, OR=8.71, P=0.051), level of education with bachelor’s degree or higher (P=0.077) were more likely to have LBP. 

The prevalence of LBP in the field staff of prehospital EMS was remarkably high. The most important factors that predispose these workers to LBP were the number of calls per shift, income level, history of underlying diseases, and bachelor’s degree or higher level of education. The findings can be used to develop guidelines for reducing the prevalence of LBP among the field staff of prehospital EMS.

The medical staff working on the front-line battle against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are more exposed to mental health risks than the general population. Resilience is the ability to withstand challenging situations and help people defend their mental health against stressors. The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Yalom and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on medical staff resilience in COVID-19 centers.

The research method was quasi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group. The statistical population includes all 600 medical staff of Hamedan City, Iran, caring for patients with COVID-19 in 2021. Based on the average variance of resilience obtained in previous studies, 45 people were selected by convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (each 15) and one control group (n=15). The experimental groups were divided into Yalom and ACT group psychotherapy, and all three groups responded to the Connor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC) before and after the intervention. The obtained data were analyzed by analysis of covariance in SPSS software, version 25.

Yalom group psychotherapy and ACT group therapy had different effects on the participants’ resilience and are statistically significant since the F statistics (106.722) was significant (P=0.001 and P=0.05, respectively). Based on the results, Yalom group psychotherapy has a better rate of improvement than ACT.

Considering the significant efficacy of Yalom group psychotherapy and its relative ease of implementation compared to ACT, it is possible to employ this intervention to protect the mental health of medical staff during severe epidemics of diseases such as coronavirus.