Job uncertainty and personal control during downsizing: A comparison of survivors and victims

This study developed and tested a model of job uncertainty for survivors and victims of downsizing. Data were collected from three samples of employees in a public hospital, each representing three phases of the downsizing process: immediately before the announcement of the redeployment of staff, during the implementation of the downsizing, and towards the end of the official change programme. As predicted, levels of job uncertainty and personal control had a direct relationship with emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction, In addition, there was evidence to suggest that personal control mediated the relationship between job uncertainty and employee adjustment, a pattern of results that varied across each of the three phases of the change event. From the perspective of the organization's overall climate, it was found that levels of job uncertainty, personal control and job satisfaction improved and/or stabilized over the downsizing process. During the implementation phase, survivors experienced higher levels of personal control than victims, but both groups of employees reported similar levels of job uncertainty. We discuss the implications of our results for strategically managing uncertainty during and after organizational change.

Patients and doctors working together in partnership:Birch v UCL Hospital NHS Foundation Trust [2008] EWHC 2237 (QB)

Of the myriad of pressing topics current in medical law and ethics, the issue of informed consent appears to be the ‘plainer sibling’. The decision by Cranston J in Birch v UCL Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in 2008 has brought into sharp relief that which many commentators already held to be true. Far from being the ‘plainer sibling’ when weighed against other prominent issues in medical law and ethics, the doctrine of informed consent, is one of the most significant principles to emerge in recent years.

Stress, burnout and coping strategies in the emergency and intensive care hospital departments

Doctors and nurses working at the accident and emergency (A&E), and intensive care departments are at risk of burnout. They often spend substantial time in intense interactions with other people, centered on patients? health problems (physical, psychological and social) that may lead to feelings of anger, anxiety and frustration, and eventually to burnout. Burnout is a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment (Maslach & Jackson, 1981) The purpose of this chapter is to assess work stressors, burnout and stress-coping mechanisms among doctors and nurses at the A&E and intensive care departments. A quantitative design using the survey approach was used to collect data from a sample of 200 participants with a response rate of 71% (n=154) Work stressors were associated with burnout in both doctors and nurses. Workload was the most salient work stressor in the sample. Nurses experienced more stress (M=1.5, SD=0.4) than doctors (M=1.2, SD=0.4) in all the work stressor variables examined. The A&E department was reported as more stressful than the intensive care department. Avoidance-oriented and task-oriented coping were the most and the least frequently reported coping strategies respectively. Additionally, only emotion-oriented coping strategy was significantly different between doctors and nurses, and this strategy was also significantly positively correlated with all the variables in the adapted nursing stress scale, and the three burnout variables. Death and dying was most strongly correlated with emotion-oriented coping. This chapter provides an assessment of stress, burnout and coping experienced by both doctors and nurses within the A&E and intensive care departments. Methods that may mitigate stress in these environments may be adequate staffing, supportive management, stress management programs, as well as improvement in communication strategies between doctors and nurses.

Personal autonomy in discharge planning decision -making in mentally alert hospitalized elderly individuals: The social workers' perspective

This study was conducted to understand (a) hospital social workers' perspectives about patients' personal autonomy and self-determination, (b) their experiences, and (c) their beliefs and behaviors. The study used the maximum variation sampling strategy to select hospitals and hospital social work respondents. Individual interviews were conducted with 31 medical/surgical and mental health hospital social workers who worked in 13 hospitals. The data suggest the following four points. First, the hospital setting as an outside influence as it relates to illness and safety, and its four categories, mentally alert patients, family members, health care professionals, and social work respondents, seems to enhance or diminish patients' autonomy in discharge planning decision making. Second, respondents report they believe patients must be safe both inside and outside the hospital. In theory, respondents support autonomy and self-determination, respect patients' wishes, and believe patients are the decision makers. However, in practice, respondents respect autonomy and self-determination to a point. Third, a model, The Patient's Decision in Discharge Planning: A Continuum, is presented where a safe discharge plan is at one end of a continuum, while an unsafe discharge plan is at the other end. Respondents respect personal autonomy and the patient's self-determination to a point. This point is likely to be located in a gray area where the patient's decision crosses from one end of the continuum to the other. When patients decide on an unsafe discharge plan, workers' interventions range from autonomy to paternalism. And fourth, the hospital setting as an outside influence may not offer the best opportunity for patients to make decisions (a) because of beliefs family members and health care professionals hold about the value of patient self-determination, and (b) because patients may not feel free to make decisions in an environment where they are surrounded by family members, health care professionals, and social work respondents who have power and who think they know best. Workers need to continue to educate elderly patients about their right to self-determination in the hospital setting. ^

Factors surgical team members perceive influence choices of wearing or not wearing personal protective equipment during operative /invasive procedures

Exposure to certain bloodborne pathogens can prematurely end a person’s life. Healthcare workers (HCWs), especially those who are members of surgical teams, are at increased risk of exposure to these pathogens. The proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during operative/invasive procedures reduces that risk. Despite this, some HCWs fail to consistently use PPE as required by federal regulation, accrediting agencies, hospital policy, and professional association standards. The purpose of this mixed methods survey study was to (a) examine factors surgical team members perceive influence choices of wearing or not wearing PPE during operative/invasive procedures and (b) determine what would influence consistent use of PPE by surgical team members. Using an ex post facto, non-experimental design, the memberships of five professional associations whose members comprise surgical teams were invited to complete a mixed methods survey study. The primary research question for the study was: What differences (perceptual and demographic) exist between surgical team members that influence their choices of wearing or not wearing PPE during operative/invasive procedures? Four principal differences were found between surgical team members. Functional (i.e., profession or role based) differences exist between the groups. Age and experience (i.e., time in profession) differences exist among members of the groups. Finally, being a nurse anesthetist influences the use of risk assessment to determine the level of PPE to use. Four common themes emerged across all groups informing the two study purposes. Those themes were: availability, education, leadership, and performance. Subsidiary research questions examined the influence of previous accidental exposure to blood or body fluids, federal regulations, hospital policy and procedure, leaders’ attitudes, and patients’ needs on the use of PPE. Each of these was found to strongly influence surgical team members and their use of PPE during operative/invasive procedures. Implications based on the findings affect organizational policy, purchasing and distribution decisions, curriculum design and instruction, leader behavior, and finally partnership with PPE manufacturers. Surgical team members must balance their innate need to care for patients with their need to protect themselves. Results of this study will help team members, leaders, and educators achieve this balance.

Factors Surgical Team Members Perceive Influence Choices of Wearing or not Wearing Personal Protective Equipment During Operative/Invasive Procedures

Exposure to certain bloodborne pathogens can prematurely end a person’s life. Healthcare workers (HCWs), especially those who are members of surgical teams, are at increased risk of exposure to these pathogens. The proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during operative/invasive procedures reduces that risk. Despite this, some HCWs fail to consistently use PPE as required by federal regulation, accrediting agencies, hospital policy, and professional association standards. The purpose of this mixed methods survey study was to (a) examine factors surgical team members perceive influence choices of wearing or not wearing PPE during operative/invasive procedures and (b) determine what would influence consistent use of PPE by surgical team members. Using an ex post facto, non-experimental design, the memberships of five professional associations whose members comprise surgical teams were invited to complete a mixed methods survey study. The primary research question for the study was: What differences (perceptual and demographic) exist between surgical team members that influence their choices of wearing or not wearing PPE during operative/invasive procedures? Four principal differences were found between surgical team members. Functional (i.e., profession or role based) differences exist between the groups. Age and experience (i.e., time in profession) differences exist among members of the groups. Finally, being a nurse anesthetist influences the use of risk assessment to determine the level of PPE to use. Four common themes emerged across all groups informing the two study purposes. Those themes were: availability, education, leadership, and performance. Subsidiary research questions examined the influence of previous accidental exposure to blood or body fluids, federal regulations, hospital policy and procedure, leaders’ attitudes, and patients’ needs on the use of PPE. Each of these was found to strongly influence surgical team members and their use of PPE during operative/invasive procedures. Implications based on the findings affect organizational policy, purchasing and distribution decisions, curriculum design and instruction, leader behavior, and finally partnership with PPE manufacturers. Surgical team members must balance their innate need to care for patients with their need to protect themselves. Results of this study will help team members, leaders, and educators achieve this balance.

O processo de enfermagem na concepção de profissionais de Enfermagem de um hospital de ensino

Este estudo objetiva descrever as concepções dos profi ssionais de Enfermagem sobre o processo de enfermagem, a fi m de embasar as ações de implementação do processo na instituição do estudo. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, desenvolvido durante uma pesquisa ação, com a equipe de Enfermagem de um hospital pediátrico de ensino. O processo de enfermagem é concebido como um instrumento para organizar a assistência e prescrever os cuidados de Enfermagem. As rotinas de trabalho evidenciam as atividades técnicas. As expectativas com a implementação do processo de enfermagem envolvem a melhoria da qualidade da assistência. O estudo reforça a importância de incluir os membros da equipe de enfermagem, na implementação das etapas do processo de enfermagem e aponta o desafi o de enfrentar as rotinas tecnicistas

Análisis de la situación actual de los planes de autoprotección de las UCI canarias: percepción de los conocimientos y actitudes del personal

Programa de doctorado: Avances en Medicina Interna. La fecha de publicación es la fecha de lectura

Microbiological assessment of indoor air quality at different hospital sites

Poor hospital indoor air quality (IAQ) may lead to hospital-acquired infections, sick hospital syndrome and various occupational hazards. Air-control measures are crucial for reducing dissemination of airborne biological particles in hospitals. The objective of this study was to perform a survey of bioaerosol quality in different sites in a Portuguese Hospital, namely the operating theater (OT), the emergency service (ES) and the surgical ward (SW). Aerobic mesophilic bacterial counts (BCs) and fungal load (FL) were assessed by impaction directly onto tryptic soy agar and malt extract agar supplemented with antibiotic chloramphenicol (0.05%) plates, respectively using a MAS-100 air sampler. The ES revealed the highest airborne microbial concentrations (BC range 240-736 CFU/m(3) CFU/m(3); FL range 27-933 CFU/m(3)), exceeding, at several sampling sites, conformity criteria defined in national legislation [6]. Bacterial concentrations in the SW (BC range 99-495 CFU/m(3)) and the OT (BC range 12-170 CFU/m(3)) were under recommended criteria. While fungal levels were below 1 CFU/m(3) in the OT, in the SW (range 1-32 CFU/m(3)), there existed a site with fungal indoor concentrations higher than those detected outdoors. Airborne Gram-positive cocci were the most frequent phenotype (88%) detected from the measured bacterial population in all indoor environments. Staphylococcus (51%) and Micrococcus (37%) were dominant among the bacterial genera identified in the present study. Concerning indoor fungal characterization, the prevalent genera were Penicillium (41%) and Aspergillus (24%). Regular monitoring is essential for assessing air control efficiency and for detecting irregular introduction of airborne particles via clothing of visitors and medical staff or carriage by personal and medical materials. Furthermore, microbiological survey data should be used to clearly define specific air quality guidelines for controlled environments in hospital settings.

O marketing em um hospital universitário na relação com o trabalho da enfermagem: um estudo de caso

No setor hospitalar, o marketing compõe um grupo interdependente de serviços e tem como objetivo principal aproximar clientes - externos, internos e corpo gestor -, através de estratégias específicas que promovem satisfação e qualidade. Esta organização possui uma larga diversidade de profissionais da saúde e o marketing, neste sentido, auxilia no processamento de seus serviços de forma a lapidá-los sob a ótica do cliente, buscando efetividade e produtividade. Neste cenário encontra-se o enfermeiro, cujo trabalho é composto pelas dimensões cuidar, gerenciar, educar/pesquisar, que se entrelaçam e caracterizam o serviço deste profissional. No entanto, costumeiramente, a enfermagem não declara o marketing como uma ferramenta estratégica ao seu processo de trabalho – fato verificável na exploração de publicações científicas -, e, paralelamente, depara-se com empecilhos na execução de seu trabalho que podem comprometer a sua excelência. Assim, este estudo busca analisar a relação do marketing com o trabalho do enfermeiro nas dimensões cuidar, gerenciar, ensinar/pesquisar. Para sua efetivação, optou-se pelo referencial metodológico Estudo de Caso, onde o fenômeno é verificado como ocorre em seu cenário real. Assim, a coleta, caracterizada por pesquisador e unidade únicos, ocorreu em um hospital universitário, geral e público no sul do país que declara publica e virtualmente o marketing institucional. Como fontes de evidência, foram utilizadas: entrevista focada com quatro sujeitos de áreas estratégicas para esta pesquisa; análise de documentação criada pela assessoria de marketing e observação direta. O tratamento e a análise dos dados ocorreram por meio da Análise Temática, que possibilitou a exposição dos resultados através de dois artigos: “A relação do marketing com o processo de trabalho do enfermeiro na dimensão cuidar” e “A relação do marketing com o processo de trabalho do enfermeiro nas dimensões gerenciar e educar/pesquisar”. Os resultados evidenciaram que o marketing no cuidar - auxilia a efetividade do cuidado através de novas estratégias de comunicação com o usuário, produz materiais elucidativos, lúdicos para sua continuação e manutenção e o divulga no meio intra e extra-hospitalar; no gerenciar - auxilia a o enfermeiro a ter um método mais inovador e criativo, a focar no cliente e no bom relacionamento interpessoal com a equipe; no educar/pesquisar - cria canais de comunicação interna e campanhas únicas que, além de auxiliar na realização da educação permanente e na atualização de enfermeiros, propicia meios para transmitir novos achados científicos à prática da enfermagem hospitalar. Através deste estudo, percebeu-se que ações de marketing podem contribuir para a efetividade do trabalho do enfermeiro em suas facetas dimensionais, aproximando este agente de saúde do usuário ao qual seu serviço é destinado e da gestão da organização, propiciando a este profissional maior visibilidade e valorização no espaço hospitalar e social.

Prevalencia y factores de riesgo asociados a hipertensión arterial, en los trabajadores del Hospital José Carrasco Arteaga y Centro de Atención Ambulatoria 302 central Cuenca en el período 2007-2008

Se realizó un estudio transversal de prevalencia y factores de riesgo, en un universo de 418 trabajadores con una muestra de 170 personas, calculada en forma aleatoria simple, a partir de una prevalencia de Hipertensión arterial del 29%, con un nivel de confianza 95% y error de inferencia 6%. Los datos se obtuvieron por entrevista directa y se analizaron con el software SPSS. Resultados: la prevalencia de Hipertensión arterial fue de 31.2% (IC 95% 21.32-33.68). En los hombres de 29.1% (IC 95% 17.1 - 41.1); en las mujeres de 32.2% (IC 95% 23.7 - 40.7); entre los 40 y 54 años del 30.0% (IC 95% 21.5 -38.5) y entre los de 55 y 65 años, del 33.3% (IC 95% 21.4- 45.2). Se asoció positivamente la Hipertensión arterial con dislipidemia: RP 2.82 (IC 95% 1.29-6.14) y p= 0.003; con Diabetes Mellitus: RP 1.9 (IC 95% 0.96 3.76); con IMC ≥ 25 Kg/m2: RP 6.04 (IC 95% 3.03-12.03) y p=0.000; con obesidad abdominal: RP 4.38 (IC 95% 1.99-9.66) y p=0.000; con sedentarismo: RP 2.91 (IC 95% 1.47-5.76 y p=0.000. Conclusión: la prevalencia de Hipertensión arterial fue 31.2%. Se encontró asociación significativa con los factores de riesgo: Dislipidemia, Diabetes mellitus, sobrepeso,

Aspiración de cuerpos extraños en la emergencia del hospital pediátrico: Manejo de diez casos y actualización

Introducción: la aspiración de un cuerpo extraño es causa importante y prevenible de morbimortalidad en la infancia, principalmente en menores de 3 años. En ausencia de un adulto que presencie el episodio de sofocación o atragantamiento, el diagnóstico puede dificultarse, retrasándolo. Objetivo: conocer las características clínicas e imagenológicas de los pacientes que al arribo al DEP se planteó el diagnóstico de obstrucción de vía aérea (OVA) por cuerpo extraño (CE) y actualización. Metodología: estudio descriptivo, observacional y retrospectivo de las historias clínicas de 10 niños ingresados a la URE del DEP con diagnóstico de OVA por CE entre el 1 de enero de 2010 y el 31 de diciembre de 2013, analizando edad, sexo, hora del accidente, procedencia, lugar, medio social, presencia de adulto, examen físico, imagenología, naturaleza del CE, localización anatómica, maniobras practicadas, primera asistencia, tiempo hasta su expulsión/extracción, complicaciones y destino de los pacientes. Resultados: siete de los diez niños fueron varones; edades entre 6 meses y 13 años; nueve de Montevideo y área metropolitana. En los casos presenciados por adultos -nueve- se consultó dentro de las 24 horas. En siete se trató de material orgánico (carne, fruta, semillas) durante la alimentación (almuerzo, cena), y en tres ocasiones no orgánico, uno radioopaco. Nueve niños estaban en su hogar y uno en la escuela. La primera asistencia en seis casos consistió en maniobras realizadas por familiares (barrido de boca con el dedo) o personal de salud (maniobra de Heimlich) siendo inefectivas. En ocho casos los hallazgos del examen físico coincidieron con el diagnóstico planteado. La radiología mostró el CE o signos indirectos. La eliminación espontánea ocurrió en dos ocasiones; en dos se extrajo en el DEP, y en seis mediante broncoscopio rígido bajo anestesia general, de bronquio fuente derecho en cuatro y de bronquio fuente izquierdo en dos. No se registraron complicaciones y todos los pacientes fueron dados de alta. Comentarios: es una patología de baja incidencia. Distribución bimodal, con picos a los ocho meses y a los ocho años, en domicilio y a predominio de material orgánico. Alta participación de adultos sin hábitos de puericultura y de medio social deficitario puede incidir en su ocurrencia. El síndrome asfíctico con confirmación posterior de aspiración estuvo presente en nueve casos. La exploración física y la imagenología fueron de utilidad. Las maniobras que buscan desobstruir la vía aérea fueron inefectivas. La extracción en block quirúrgico con broncoscopio rígido continúa siendo de elección. No se registró morbimortalidad inmediata al episodio. Se debe insistir en la divulgación de medidas preventivas en padres y cuidadores así como contar con regionalización y transporte pediátricos adecuados.

Criterio de solicitud del antígeno carcinoembrionario (CEA) en el Hospital de Florida (julio 2012-julio 2013)

El cáncer constituye la segunda causa de muerte en Uruguay, ocupando el colorrectal los primeros lugares. El antígeno carcinoembrionario (CEA) es un marcador de seguimiento, no una prueba de tamizaje. El objetivo del presente trabajo es determinar el criterio técnico que respaldo la solicitud del CEA en el Hospital de Florida en el período julio de 2012 a julio de 2013. Es un estudio observacional de corte transversal que analizó una muestra de 500 determinaciones de CEA. Las variables fueron: edad, antecedente personal de cáncer colorrectal, motivo de solicitud y médico (especialista o generalista) que solicitó el estudio. Se accedió a 494 historias clínicas. La edad media y mediana fue de 61,2 y 63 años, con un rango de 74 años y una mínima de 18 y máxima de 92 años. Hubo 10,9% de usuarios con antecedente personal de cáncer colorrectal. Los motivos de solicitud fueron: control oncológico de un cáncer colorrectal (9,5%), valoración inicial de un cáncer colorrectal (1,4%), rutina (13,2%) y otros (75,9%). Especialistas y médicos generalistas solicitaron 29,1% y 16,6% de los estudios, en tanto en 54,3% de los estudios no se pudo determinar quién lo hizo. Excluidos los usuarios con antecedente personal de cáncer colorrectal, especialistas y médicos generalistas solicitaron el 19,7%, 18,5%, respectivamente, y en 61,8% de los casos no se pudo determinar quién indicó el análisis. Conclusiones: en la gran mayoría de los casos (89,1%) no se utilizó un criterio oncológico para solicitar el CEA; el mismo se efectuó a usuarios no oncológicos, algunos a edades tempranas y no hubo diferencias entre médicos generalistas y especialistas, aunque en un alto porcentaje de casos no se pudo establecer quién realizó la solicitud.

O processo de enfermagem na concepção de profissionais de Enfermagem de um hospital de ensino

Este estudo objetiva descrever as concepções dos profi ssionais de Enfermagem sobre o processo de enfermagem, a fi m de embasar as ações de implementação do processo na instituição do estudo. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, desenvolvido durante uma pesquisa ação, com a equipe de Enfermagem de um hospital pediátrico de ensino. O processo de enfermagem é concebido como um instrumento para organizar a assistência e prescrever os cuidados de Enfermagem. As rotinas de trabalho evidenciam as atividades técnicas. As expectativas com a implementação do processo de enfermagem envolvem a melhoria da qualidade da assistência. O estudo reforça a importância de incluir os membros da equipe de enfermagem, na implementação das etapas do processo de enfermagem e aponta o desafi o de enfrentar as rotinas tecnicistas

Factores asociados al aborto en adolescentes en el Hospital Teófilo Dávila, de la ciudad de Machala, año 2007

El estudio realizado es de tipo descriptivo orientado a determinar la frecuencia y los factores asociados en adolescentes que acudieron al Hospital Teófilo Dávila con diagnóstico de aborto desde enero del 2007 hasta diciembre del 2007 fueron en un número de 152, de los cuales 62fueron abortos inducidos y 38espontáneos, el 69tienen entre 17 - 19 años de edad, el 68estaban en unión libre con sus parejas, el 39únicamente completaron la primaria y el 37no completo la secundaria, el 67era de procedencia urbana, la ocupación fue de QQDD en un 80, el 76de los casos era su primer aborto, el 55no se realizaron controles, el 59.9no presento ningún antecedente aborto, el promedio de controles prenatales fue de 55que no se realizaron controles, el 59,9no presento ningún antecedente patológico personal, el 40presentan otras patologías diferentes a las señaladas, el 90no uso métodos anticonceptivos, el 39de las adolescentes no tuvo hábitos tóxicos y finalmente el 60no consumió vitaminas durante el embarazo. Conclusiones: la frecuencia de abortos en mujeres adolescentes es mayor que en mujeres adultas, se registraron 152 casos de adolescentes con diagnostico de aborto encontrándose que los mayores factores que influyen fueron la edad de 17 -19 años. La unión libre, no poseen profesión, residen en la zona urbana marginal, como antecedente patológicos familiares la H.T.A, no se realizaron ningún control prenatal, no usaron métodos anticonceptivos