-
Therapeutische Umschau. Revue... Aug 2023Any acute state of dyspnoea will lead to feelings of insecurity and anxiety. In this context the paper elucidates the conceptual horizon of anxiety, stretching from its...
Any acute state of dyspnoea will lead to feelings of insecurity and anxiety. In this context the paper elucidates the conceptual horizon of anxiety, stretching from its status as «normal», essential element of conditio humana, to representing a symptom of another (somatic or mental) illness and to constituting a psychiatric disorder of its own. In any case of acute dyspnoea it is important to «normalize» the patient's anxiety, i.e. to contextualize it as a comprehensible reaction to the stressing experience and not as proof of personal weakness. If dyspnoea and anxiety occur in a patient with a preexisting psychiatric disorder, defining the appropriate therapeutic steps will be more complex and demanding, especially with regard to a targeted interdisciplinary cooperation (consultation liaison psychiatry). The paper highlights the principles of psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutical interventions, a stable therapeutical relationship always defining the center of any treatment procedure.
Topics: Humans; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Emotions; Dyspnea; Psychiatry; Referral and Consultation
PubMed: 37855533
DOI: No ID Found -
The Nurse Practitioner Feb 2024Knowledge of stress management strategies is helpful to NPs in clinical practice, as they frequently encounter patients or patients' family members who require... (Review)
Review
Knowledge of stress management strategies is helpful to NPs in clinical practice, as they frequently encounter patients or patients' family members who require assistance in managing acute stress. Patients or patients' family members may experience a high level of stress due to health factors such as pain, life-changing diagnoses, treatment options viewed as undesirable, and/or poor medical prognoses. In addition, healthcare visits, hospitalization, diagnostic tests, surgical procedures, and other treatments can cause stress for some patients. NPs should therefore be well informed about stress management strategies to be able to effectively educate and provide compassionate care for their patients. This article reviews four strategies designed to assist patients and/or their family members in reducing stress to allow for a more positive experience during a healthcare visit or hospitalization.
Topics: Humans; Pain; Counseling
PubMed: 38271149
DOI: 10.1097/01.NPR.0000000000000144 -
La Clinica Terapeutica 2023Work-related stress represents a major health problem within most work environments and its rates of incidence are increasing as time goes by. Work-related stress is... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Work-related stress represents a major health problem within most work environments and its rates of incidence are increasing as time goes by. Work-related stress is both detrimental for workers' psychophysical health and costly to societies. Besides the direct medical costs that represent only a fraction of the total cost, data is either lacking or unreliable to properly estimate the economic impact of occupational stress.
METHODS
This paper reviews international studies and organisational reports in order to highlight occupational stress economic impact on an international level.
RESULTS
The study shows that work-related stress imposes an undeniable financial burden on worldwide societies. Findings show estimations that vary from € 54 million up to € 280 billion depending on the country. Results suggest that productivity loss due to absenteeism and presenteeism has a greater economic impact compared to the medical expenses.
DISCUSSION
Generally speaking, the costs of work-related stress, also according to Europe, impact both on employers and welfare sy-stems, and from the point of view of prevention we should work hard to improve stress-management strategies.
CONCLUSIONS
The discussion around this matter should be emphasized in order to properly address occupational stress and make implications for job redesign under the perspective that promoting and protecting workers' mental well-being will benefit the individual and allow cost containment benefitting the collective as well.
Topics: Humans; Europe; Working Conditions; Absenteeism; Occupational Stress
PubMed: 37674456
DOI: 10.7417/CT.2023.2464 -
The Western Journal of Emergency... Jul 2023During the COVID-19 pandemic, as society struggled with increasing disease burden, economic hardships, and with disease morbidity and mortality, governments and... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
During the COVID-19 pandemic, as society struggled with increasing disease burden, economic hardships, and with disease morbidity and mortality, governments and institutions began implementing stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders to help stop the spread of the virus. Although well-intentioned, one unintended adverse consequence was an increase in violence, abuse, and neglect.
METHODS
We reviewed the literature on the effect the pandemic had on domestic violence, child and elder abuse and neglect, human trafficking, and gun violence. In this paper we explore common themes and causes of this violence and offer suggestions to help mitigate risk during ongoing and future pandemics. Just as these forms of violence primarily target at-risk, vulnerable populations, so did pandemic-related violence target marginalized populations including women, children, Blacks, and those with lower socioeconomic status. This became, and remains, a public health crisis within a crisis. In early 2021, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Public Health and Injury Committee was tasked with reviewing the impact the pandemic had on violence and abuse as the result of a resolution passed at the 2020 ACEP Council meeting.
CONCLUSION
Measures meant to help control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic had many unintended consequences and placed people at risk for violence. Emergency departments (ED), although stressed and strained during the pandemic, remain a safety net for survivors of violence. As we move out of this pandemic, hospitals and EDs need to focus on steps that can be taken to ensure they preserve and expand their ability to assist victims should another pandemic or global health crisis develop.
Topics: Child; Humans; Female; Aged; Pandemics; COVID-19; Domestic Violence; SARS-CoV-2; Emergency Service, Hospital
PubMed: 37527378
DOI: 10.5811/westjem.58405 -
Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia 2024In an industry known for its workplace hazards, such as the management and manipulation of animals that could bite, kick or cause considerable damage simply because of... (Review)
Review
In an industry known for its workplace hazards, such as the management and manipulation of animals that could bite, kick or cause considerable damage simply because of their size, combined with long working hours, lifting of heavy loads and the general mental stress, it is perhaps surprising that the veterinary industry is not also known for its safety culture and structures. One would expect that where such hazards and risks have been identified, there would be many and varied levels of education on risk and hazard management, a comprehensive set of tools with which to mitigate these risks as well as discussion and debriefing of significant adverse events to ensure they do not occur again. One would also assume that there would be a strong sense of safety culture in the workplace and that personnel would expect each other to ensure that the health and safety of themselves and their colleagues was a number one priority. Yet, is this the case in the veterinary industry? A request was made by the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists (AVA) to provide 'safety guidelines' for use in general practice, particularly pertaining to pregnancy. The AVA set up a task force to address these concerns and to determine if guidelines could be created. This article is offered as a starting point for considering safety in the veterinary industry in a broad sense, with the hope that in the future there may be development of such guidelines. It is hoped that this article also provides the stimulus for further research in this area.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Workplace; Veterinary Medicine; Occupational Health; Veterinarians; Female; Pregnancy; Safety Management
PubMed: 38796348
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaa.2024.02.003 -
Schmerz (Berlin, Germany) Dec 2023Chronic pain affects around 3 million people in Germany. The drug therapies used are only effective to a limited extent and sometimes have considerable side effects.... (Review)
Review
Chronic pain affects around 3 million people in Germany. The drug therapies used are only effective to a limited extent and sometimes have considerable side effects. Methods of mind-body medicine (MBM) including especially mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), meditation and yoga, can significantly reduce the perceived intensity of the pain. Combined with evidence-based complementary medicine, MBM as mind-body medicine in integrative and complementary medicine (MICOM) is an effective instrument for self-efficacy and self-care with very few side effects. The reduction of stress plays a key role in this process.
Topics: Humans; Pain Management; Meditation; Yoga; Complementary Therapies; Chronic Pain; Stress, Psychological; Mindfulness
PubMed: 37428227
DOI: 10.1007/s00482-023-00736-3 -
Global Health, Epidemiology and Genomics 2023Pediatric burns are a significant medical issue that can have long-term effects on various aspects of a child's health and well-being. Pain management in pediatric burns... (Review)
Review
Pediatric burns are a significant medical issue that can have long-term effects on various aspects of a child's health and well-being. Pain management in pediatric burns is a crucial aspect of treatment to ensure the comfort and well-being of young patients. The causes and risk factors for pediatric burns vary depending on various factors, such as geographical location, socioeconomic status, and cultural practices. Assessing pain in pediatric patients, especially during burn injury treatment, poses several challenges. These challenges stem from various factors, including the age and developmental stage of the child, the nature of burn injuries, and the limitations of pain assessment tools. In pediatric pain management, various pain assessment tools and scales are used to evaluate and measure pain in children. These tools are designed to account for the unique challenges of assessing pain in pediatric patients, including their age, developmental stage, and ability to communicate effectively. Pain can have significant physical, emotional, and psychological consequences for pediatric patients. It can interfere with their ability to engage in daily activities, disrupt sleep patterns, and negatively affect their mood and behavior. Untreated pain can also lead to increased stress, anxiety, and fear, which can further exacerbate the pain experience. Acute pain, which is short-term and typically associated with injury or illness, can disrupt a child's ability to engage in physical activities and impede their overall recovery process. On the other hand, chronic pain, which persists for an extended period, can have long-lasting effects on physical functioning and quality of life in children. The psychological consequences of burns can persist long after the physical wounds have healed, leading to ongoing emotional distress and impaired functioning. Multimodal pain management, which involves the use of multiple interventions or medications targeting different aspects of the pain pathway, has gained recognition as an effective approach for managing pain in both children and adults. However, it is important to consider the specific needs and considerations of pediatric patients when developing evidence-based guidelines for multimodal pain management in this population. Over the years, there have been significant advances in pediatric pain research and technology, leading to a better understanding of pain mechanisms and the development of innovative approaches to assess and treat pain in children. Overall, pain management in pediatric burns requires a multidisciplinary approach that combines pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Child; Pain Management; Quality of Life; Burns; Acute Pain; Chronic Pain
PubMed: 37745034
DOI: 10.1155/2023/9950870 -
Minerva Anestesiologica Nov 2023Accidental or surgically induced thoracic trauma is responsible for significant pain that can impact patient outcomes. One of the main objectives of its pain management... (Review)
Review
Accidental or surgically induced thoracic trauma is responsible for significant pain that can impact patient outcomes. One of the main objectives of its pain management is to promote effective coughing and early mobilization to reduce atelectasis and ventilation disorders induced by pulmonary contusion. The incidence of chronic pain can affect more than 35% of patients after both thoracotomy and thoracoscopy as well as after chest trauma. As the severity of acute pain is associated with the incidence of chronic pain, early and effective pain management is very important. In this narrative review, we propose to detail systemic and regional analgesia techniques to minimize postoperative pain, while reducing transitional pain, surgical stress response and opioid side effects. We provide the reader with practical recommendations based on both literature and clinical practice experience in a referral level III thoracic trauma center.
Topics: Humans; Pain Management; Thoracic Surgery; Chronic Pain; Thoracic Surgical Procedures; Thoracoscopy; Pain, Postoperative; Thoracotomy
PubMed: 37671536
DOI: 10.23736/S0375-9393.23.17291-9 -
Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive &... Oct 2023In the west we have enjoyed peace for decades, but war is globally always present. Recent events have brought this into clear evidence. Once mass casualties occur, war...
In the west we have enjoyed peace for decades, but war is globally always present. Recent events have brought this into clear evidence. Once mass casualties occur, war enters civilian hospitals. As civilian Surgeons, used to our sophisticated elective work, would we know how to step up to the mark if required? Ballistic and blast wounds pose problems that need reflection before treatment starts. Delivery of early and complete debridement to high numbers of casualties, stabilising bone and closing the wounds becomes the role of the Ortho-plastic team. This article presents reflections from the senior author after ten years of working in zones of conflict. Import factors witnessed are how civilian surgeons are soon involved in unfamiliar work and must learn and adapt fast. Critical issues that arise are pressure of time, contamination, infection, and the need to never forget the importance of antibiotic stewardship even when under pressure. The advantage of supporting the Multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach, even as resources reduce, large numbers of casualties present, and staff are all under pressure, can bring order and efficiency to the chaos: It supplies best care to the victims within that current context and reduces unnecessary duplication of surgery and waste of manpower. The surgical management of ballistic and blast injuries could be added to the curriculum of young, civilian surgical trainees. This is preferable to having to acquire these skills during war with stress and minimal supervision. This would enhance the preparedness of counties at peace for disaster and conflict should the need arise. Well trained manpower could also support neighbouring countries who find themselves at war.
Topics: Humans; Antimicrobial Stewardship; Arthroplasty; Blast Injuries; Curriculum
PubMed: 37244868
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2023.05.003 -
Pflege Aug 2023Occupational stress, dissatisfaction, higher risk for chronical and psychological disorders impairs the well-being of care nurses staff and maintaining the quality of...
Occupational stress, dissatisfaction, higher risk for chronical and psychological disorders impairs the well-being of care nurses staff and maintaining the quality of elderly and disabled care. However, few studies have compared the psychological and physical stress in nurses working in inpatient and outpatient care settings. The aim of the present study was to compare perceived stress, workload and psychosomatic complaints in nurses working in inpatient and outpatient care settings. 158 care nurses working in geriatric and disabled care participated in the quantitative cross-sectional survey study. Comparisons of stress, workload and psychosomatic complaints were made between the inpatient and outpatient care group. Nurses working in the outpatient care reported more subjective experience of stress and more workload compared to nurses working in inpatient care. Additionally, nurses working in outpatient care reported more psychosomatic complaints compared to nurses in inpatient care. Our results suggest that inpatient and outpatient nurses experience their nursing activities differently stressful. In future research the differential stress factors need to be explored to provide adequate job training and develop stress prevention programs.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Workload; Cross-Sectional Studies; Inpatients; Job Satisfaction; Occupational Stress; Ambulatory Care; Surveys and Questionnaires; Nursing Staff, Hospital
PubMed: 35904486
DOI: 10.1024/1012-5302/a000901