4 results
Quality of sleep among healthcare workers treating patients with coronavirus disease-19
- A. Omrane, I. Touil, E. Sghaier, O. Jaoued, J. Chelly, F. EL Arbi, M. Fkih Hassen, S. Mergheli, J. Knani, T. Khalfallah
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S777
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Introduction
Since the declaration of the first Covid-19 case on December 08th ,2019, and to curb the spread of this pandemic, each country and notably Tunisia, has implemented a preventive strategy dominated by general lockdowns in accordance with social distancing and basic hygiene measures. These measures were not applicable in the health care sector as health care workers are at the forefront in the fight against COVID-19. This condition affects not only their physical health caused by elevated workload, but also their mental health causing anxiety, fear, and depression. Previous studies have reported that health care professionals feel stigmatized, experience high levels of anxiety and symptoms of depression, and have sleep problems. Impaired Quality of Sleep (QoS) can affect their efficiency in providing medical services and adequate psychological support for patients suffering from COVID-19.
ObjectivesTo evaluate the QoS among health care professionals treating patients with COVID-19 and quantifying the symptoms of depression and levels of anxiety.
MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in 75 health care professionals matched by age and sex working in public hospital Taher Sfar Mahdia. The study was based in a self administred, French language questionnaire containing three validated questionnaires: 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) Scale, 9-items Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and additional survey constructed for the purpose of the study.
ResultsHealthcare professional treating COVID-19 patients (Group I) group was predominately females mean aged of 32.67±7.04. The health professionals treating COVID-19 patients had poorer Quality of Sleep; Pittsburgh score 10.6 ± 742 vs 7.89 ± 6.14 in the group not treating COVID-19 patients ( p=0.001). Levels of anxiety and depression were significantly higher in the group I (respectively p=0.005 and 0.03). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that higher scores on GAD (beta = .809, p < .01) and the lower one was the number of persons in charge (beta = –0.632; p < .01) were independent predictors of a poorer quality of sleep
ConclusionsThis study has revealed the heavy mental health burden health care professionals treating infected patients in Tunisia during the COVID-19 pandemic are exposed to. Providing early psychological support and a psychologically safe environment for these healthcare workers may alleviate their stress and, consequently, ameliorate their QoS. More attention should be devoted to their quality of sleep and work schedules. In many countries, online training, telehealth supports, behavioral group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness-based therapy have been deployed for frontier Healthcare workers and have proven effective in such circumstances.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Assessment of health-related quality of life in asthmatic patients
- A. Omrane, I. Touil, R. Romdhani, Y. Brahem, S. Bouchareb, L. Boussoffara, J. Kneni, T. Khalfallah, N. Keskes
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S895
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Introduction
Asthma is a common worldwide, chronic respiratory disease. It has been shown to impair a person’s health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), but the core influencing factors are not fully understood.
ObjectivesWe aimed in this study to evaluate QoL of asthmatic patients and its main determinants.
MethodsA prospective single center study was held with asthmatics consulting in the Pulmonology Department a public hospital in Tunisia. A complete structured questionnaire concerning socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were determined. The assessment of asthma control during the last 4 weeks was based on the GINA 2022 report criteria. The quality of life was assessed by the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) scale in its validated Arabic version.
ResultsA total of 109 asthmatic patients was included. Most of them were female (N= 73, 67%). Twelve (11%) were current or ex-smokers. The majority of patients (N=101, 92.6%) were active. Thirty-nine patients (35.7%) had comordidities. Asthma were controlled in 40.4% of cases.
The average of AQLQ was4.9±1.2. The most affected domains were environmental stimuli and symptoms with a mean value of 4.6 ± 1.3 and 5.0± 1.3 respectively.
Allergic and uncontrolled asthma and severe disease were significantly associated with the average of AQLQ in the study population with p respectively 0.001, <0.000 and <0.000.
Multivariate analysis demonstrated that factors independently associated with the HR-QoL were : the severity of asthma (OR-0.39, IC95% [-0.62,-0.15], p=0.001) and uncontrolled disease (OR=0.59, IC95%,[-0.87,-0.31], p=0.000).
ConclusionsThese results suggest that uncontrolled and severe asthma significantly affect health asthma-related quality of life.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Patient-to-worker violence in Public hospitals in Tunisia
- A. Omrane, C. Harrathi, I. Mlouki, M. Ouerchefani, T. Khalfallah, S. EL Mhamedi, L. Bouzgarrou
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S553
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Introduction
Compared with workers in other sectors, hospital workers are victims of high rates of non-fatal workplace assault injuries worldwide. Unfortunately, a large amount of these injuries is a result from violent acts committed by patients. International research has focused on perceived reasons for patient violence among physicians and patients.
ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence and factors of patient-to worker violence in two hospitals in the central-eastern region of Tunisia.
MethodsA cross-sectional bi-centric study was conducted in two teaching hospitals. This study included all healthcare workers of these hospitals. Data collection was performed by a structured self-administered questionnaire related to demographic and professional characteristics of participants. Participants were asked about violence where the perpetrators were patients using a questionnaire developed and validated by a Jordanian team to evaluate Violence. Beck’s Depression Inventory II and Rosenberg self-esteem scale were chosen to explore self-esteem issues and mood disorders. The Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence was used to assess cigarette dependence. The Internet addiction test was used to evaluate internet addiction.
ResultsThe response rate was of 19%. The mean age of the sample was 34.5 ±9.6 years. In work sit, 46.9% (n=239) reported being exposed to at least one incident of patient-to-worker violence. Exposure to verbal violence was reported by 92.1% of workers. Among the sample, 18.9% of participants reported feelings of low self-esteem. Asked about depressive symptoms, appetite problems were reported in 77.1% of cases. A significant association was found between patient-to-worker violence, nationality (p= 0.01) and occupation (p= 0.01) of respondents. Results showed also that patient-to-worker violence was significantly associated with smoking (p=0.043), the degree of cigarette addiction (≤10-3) and alcohol consumption (p=0.008). Mood disorders were associated to exposure to patient-to-worker violence. An increased risk to be exposure to incidents of physical violence was found among workers with depressive symptoms. Also, reporting physical violence was associated with self-esteem issues and feelings of worthlessness.
ConclusionsViolence has become an alarming hazard in hospitals. This study showed the association between different factors and the exposure to patient-to-worker violence incidents in two hospitals. Being exposed to patient-to-worker violence has negative impacts. Some of type II violence’s consequences are to impact quality of life of workers, depression, psychological squeals, effectiveness of work and the decrease of quality of care. In order to reduce patient-to-worker violence, urgent prevention programs should be incorporated in hospitals.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Addictive behaviors among healthcare workers: A bicentric Tunisian Study
- A. Omrane, H. Dabbebi, I. Mlouki, T. Khalfallah, S. EL Mhamdi
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S138-S139
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Introduction
Addiction is a disease that comes with a range of consequences. Its physical, mental, personal, social and financial repercussions could not be neglected. Yet, this issue is still stigmatized. It is a public health problem that may affect people from different backgrounds including healthcare professionals.
ObjectivesTo investigate the risk factors for a substance addiction: cigarette addiction and behavioral addiction: internet addiction among health care professionals.
MethodsA cross-sectional bi-centric study was conducted among healthcare workers from two public hospitals in the center-east of Tunisia. A questionnaire was distributed to those who gave their oral consent to take part in the study. It included items related to participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, medical history, self-esteem and mood assessment. It combined questions from the Rosemberg self-esteem scale (RSES) and the Beck Depression Inventory alongside with validated tests: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE-IQ), the Fagerstrom Test for Cigarette Dependence and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT).
ResultsAmong respondents, 16.1% were smokers. Risk factors for smoking were: being a male (OR=9.62), being in contact with patients (OR=4.75), a job tenure exceeding ten years (OR=3.11), having regular alcohol consumption (OR=7.27), unprotected sex (OR=9.24), depression (OR=3.87) or having suffered from sexual abuse during childhood (3.07). Nevertheless, practicing sport regularly (OR=0.32) and anxiety (OR=0.23) were identified protective factors. A high level of cigarette addiction was observed with 34.3% of cigarette smokers. Predictors of high cigarette dependence were: job tenure over ten years (OR=20.69), regular alcohol consumption (OR=6.11) and unprotected sex (OR=7.14). Among healthcare workers, 70.8% reported a normal internet use. Internet addiction was specially seen with those who were not engaged (OR=2,92) and those who worried about being unsuccessful (OR=1.91). Good self-esteem and being older were protective factors with OR=0.49 and OR=0.38 successively. Depression did not contribute to the development of internet addiction, on the opposite it protected against it (OR=0.36).
ConclusionsCigarette and internet addiction are threatening health problems that need more effort to screen and address. This public health issue has never stopped growing with the emergence of new types of illicit drugs and behaviours. Finally, this study draws attention to the importance of assessing the prevalence of different categories of addiction in Tunisia and highlights the necessity of updating policies used to address these addictions in a timely and appropriate way.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
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