No abstract

The pandemic caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has been affecting populations globally since the end of 2019. Previous studies have indicated that spirituality in these times of crisis serves as a source of hope and well-being that helps people get through the day. This study investigated the role of spirituality and religiosity in healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. An integrative review of the scientific literature available on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases and a review of the gray literature in the Information System on Gray Literature in Europe (OpenGrey) were carried out. From a total of 1,338 articles searched; 25 articles were included in this review (22 quantitative observational, 2 qualitative and one randomized controlled trial). Our findings revealed the importance of including spirituality in clinical practice for both health professionals and patients. On the one hand, spirituality can be considered a good coping strategy used by healthcare professionals to promote mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting in greater patient satisfaction with the care given. On the other hand, addressing spiritual needs of individuals leads to a reduction in stress, anxiety, depression, and an increase in resilience and hope among patients.

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to identify and evaluate the impact of interventions to improve or reduce insomnia in the workforce through randomized clinical trials. Following the recommendations of the PRISMA and MARS statement, a systematic literature search was carried out on the PubMed, Web of Science, CINHAL, and PsycINFO databases, with no restrictions on the language or publication date. For the meta-analysis, a random-effects model and the Insomnia Severity Index were used as outcome measures. To assess the risk of bias and the quality of evidence, the Cochrane Collaboration tool and the GRADE method were used, respectively. Twenty-two studies were included in the systematic review and 12 studies in the meta-analysis, making a total of 14 intervention groups with a sample of 827 workers. Cognitive behavioral therapy was the most widely used intervention. According to the estimated difference between the means, a moderate effect for the reduction of insomnia symptoms after the intervention (MD −2.08, CI 95%: [−2.68, −1.47]) and a non-significant degree of heterogeneity were obtained (p = 0.64; I2 = 0%). The quality of the evidence and the risk of bias were moderate. The results suggest that interventions on insomnia in the workplace are effective for improving workers’ health, and that improvements in the quality of sleep and a decrease in the symptoms of insomnia are produced, thanks to an increase in weekly sleeping hours and a reduction in latency at sleep onset. As regards work, they also led to improvements in productivity, presenteeism, and job burnout.

This article aims to explore the food patterns of Chinese immigrants living in Spain and to understand the factors associated with these behaviors. This qualitative ethnographic study included 133 Chinese immigrants; using interviews with scripts were based on the National Health Survey of Spain. Three categories were defined: “Differences between Chinese food and Western food”; “Products and dishes consumed by Chinese immigrants” and “Modification of eating habits”. Participants found a remarkable difference between eastern (i.e., vegetables and rice) and western (i.e., dairy, high-fat, bread) foods. They also experienced a change in their eating habits, mostly related to acculturation and lack of time. Chinese immigrants have different eating patterns as compared to the native population in Spain and this information could help in future healthcare strategies. Knowing the food culture could infer aspects, such as insertion or integration, and promoting health and well-being.

Background: Spain hosts the fourth largest number of immigrants in Europe, resulting in a large proportion of migrant workers. To date, few studies have examined the working conditions of immigrants in Southern Spain who are known to be at risk for adverse working conditions. This study aimed to investigate the patterns of work and working conditions of immigrants living in southern Spain and to understand how these factors may affect their health. Methods: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted throughout 2019 and included 93 immigrants. Transcription, literal reading, and theoretical categorization were performed and a narrative content analysis was carried out. Results: Three themes emerged on working conditions of this study population, including social and labor-related characteristics, working conditions, and occupational health issues. Four employment sectors were most commonly occupied by these immigrants, including caregiving and food service for women and agriculture and construction for men. Most immigrants were from Latin America, unemployed or working part-time jobs, and not hired under an employment contract. Most worked in low-qualified jobs, and were exposed to occupational hazards such as falls from heights, manual handling of materials, and psychological strain. The lack of training on occupational risk prevention and labor rights was related to a low identification of work situations having a negative impact on the health of immigrants. Conclusions/Application to Practice: These findings should be taken into account by the government and public health managers to provide better assistance to immigrant workers in Europe.

In general, immigrants suffer poor working conditions. This is particularly true in the case of women, who constitute 48% of international migrants, and these poor conditions are closely linked to the sectors they mainly occupy, such as domestic and care-giving services. The aim of the present study was to investigate the working conditions of the female immigrant population living in southern Spain and how these conditions may affect their health. A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and discussion groups was conducted over one year in 2019, with 61 immigrant women recruited. The sectors occupied by immigrant women were caregiving for dependent people and domestic services. Most of the female immigrants interviewed were working (63.94%), although the majority were employed in an irregular situation, with a very long working day. Among the main risks identified were biological risks, physical attacks, falls, wounds and musculoskeletal complaints related to handling patients and carrying out household chores. Most of them had not taken an occupational health test and did not report accidents occurring in the workplace for fear of losing their jobs. The main health problems were related to physical and mental health (such as musculoskeletal diseases and stress). These findings highlight the importance of making a major change in our perspective regarding the social value of including immigrant women in the labour market and the different aspects related to their health.

Aim To investigate the effectiveness of spiritual interventions in the workplace for different health outcomes through the use of a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials. Background Most studies including spirituality in the workplace investigated it at the organisational/business level, while giving a secondary value to the well‐being and quality of life of the workers. Methods Systematic review and meta‐analysis carried out on the following databases: SCOPUS, PubMed and Web of Science. Spiritual interventions investigating work‐related health outcomes were included. Then, meta‐analyses were conducted. Results From a total of 2,832 studies, 7 articles were included in the systematic review and 6 in the meta‐analysis. Spiritual interventions, as compared to controls, improved the health outcomes of the workers (standard mean difference (SMD), −1.42; 95% CI, −1.98, −0.86; p < .001; I2 = 96%). Subanalyses revealed that yoga was an effective intervention and that stress was reduced by these interventions. Conclusion Spiritual interventions in the workplace seem to be effective in improving workers’ health. Nevertheless, the high heterogeneity and limited number of studies may hinder more robust conclusions at the moment. Implications for nursing management The use of spiritual interventions should be considered in workplaces in order to reduce the stress and other negative outcomes.

Indigenous communities usually experience higher levels of mortality and poorer access to healthcare services compared to non-indigenous communities. This study aims to understand the most prevalent health problems and their treatment in the Asháninka indigenous communities of the Peruvian Amazon. We conducted an ethnographic study in order to explore the perceived health problems, the use of traditional medicine and the resources offered by the official Peruvian healthcare system. Field notes and semi-structured interviews were used. A total of 16 indigenous and four non-indigenous people were interviewed, and interpretative analysis was used to identify themes. The Asháninka community is an overlooked population, which, due to distance restrictions, misconceptions and ethnical disparities, is far away from an appropriate healthcare system and is subjected to acute medical conditions such as infections and gastrointestinal problems. This group tends to seek traditional medicine, mostly herbal medications and traditional healers. The use of a health professional is seen as a last resort. Although the official Peruvian health system incorporates community participation strategies to improve the healthcare of indigenous people, the shortage of material, human resources and cultural sensitivity makes this difficult. Healthcare strategies should be devised and implemented in order to minimize health inequality in this population.