Infectious Respiratory Disease Outbreaks and Pregnancy: Occupational Health and Safety Concerns of Canadian Nurses

Phillips, Karen P.; O’Sullivan, Tracey; Dow, Darcie; Amaratunga, Carol

doi:10.1017/s1049023x11000100

Cited by 12 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 39 publications

(70 reference statements)

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“…Many studies have shown that clear role recognition is an important prerequisite for better nursing work [ 17 – 19 ]. For example, Lam K. emphasized that detailed role classification was beneficial for improving work efficiency [ 20 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A qualitative study of the vocational and psychological perceptions and issues of transdisciplinary nurses during the COVID-19 outbreak

Fan

et al. 2020

Aging

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Background: Due to its high infectivity and concealment, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak that occurred in Wuhan attracted global attention. A special nursing group of transdisciplinary nurses (TNs) who had not worked in respiratory medicine, infection departments, or emergency and intensive medicine but who accounted for a large proportion of all nurses also drew our attention. Few studies have examined this special group of TNs. Therefore, this study collected the experiences and views of TNs at the forefront of the COVID-19 outbreak to investigate their potential problems. Results: Twenty-five TNs and 19 nurses with experience in infectious diseases (non-TNs) were enrolled in the study. Compared with non-TNs, TNs showed higher levels of perceived stress and relatively less perceived social support. For TNs, the ambiguous roles, transition of operating mode, unfamiliar work content, and reversal of their daily schedule were the most common vocational problems. Additionally, most TNs had psychological problems such as anxiety, pain and insomnia. The incomprehension of parents, concern for family members and long-term isolation were the most common causes of psychological stress. Conclusion: This survey is the first to focus on the group of TNs at the forefront of the COVID-19 outbreak and to investigate their experiences, vocational issues and psychological stresses qualitatively and quantificationally. We found that TNs had more perceived stress and less perceived social support than non-TNs. The vocational and psychological issues of TNs should be highlighted. These findings identify important issues and offer insights into the underlying issues to help TNs ultimately win the battle against novel coronavirus epidemics. Methods: Semi-structured and face-to-face individual interviews and quantitative assessments were conducted. The Braun Clarke Thematic Analysis method and the strategy outlined by Miles and Huberman were used in the data analysis process of the qualitative study. The perceived stress scale and perceived social support scale were utilized to quantificationally evaluate the perceived stress level and the amount of perceived social support. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were adopted to assess the vocational and psychological perceptions and issues.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A qualitative study of the vocational and psychological perceptions and issues of transdisciplinary nurses during the COVID-19 outbreak

Fan

et al. 2020

Aging

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“…50 This has implications for policy regarding pregnant nurses, who understand the risks to health of contracting influenza at work and the unknown risks of chemoprophylaxis as important concerns. 51 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oseltamivir and inhaled zanamivir as influenza prophylaxis in Thai health workers: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled safety trial over 16 weeks

Anekthananon

Pukrittayakamee

Ratanasuwan

et al. 2012

Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy

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ObjectivesLong-term chemoprophylaxis using neuraminidase inhibitors may be needed during influenza epidemics but safety data are limited to several weeks. We sought to assess the tolerability of oseltamivir and zanamivir as primary prophylaxis over 16 weeks.MethodsWe conducted a parallel group, double blind, 2 (active drug) :1 (placebo) randomized trial of oral oseltamivir/placebo or inhaled zanamivir/placebo over 16 weeks in healthy, Thai hospital professionals at two Bangkok hospitals. The primary endpoint was study withdrawal due to drug-related (possibly, probably, definitely) serious or adverse events (AEs) graded ≥2.ResultsRecruited subjects numbered 129 oseltamivir/65 placebo and 131 zanamivir/65 placebo. A total of 102 grade ≥2 AEs were reported or detected in 69 subjects: 23/129 (17.8%) versus 15/65 (23.1%) (P = 0.26), and 23/131 (17.6%) versus 8/65 (12.3%) (P = 0.28). Intercurrent infections/fevers [26/102 (25.5%)], abnormal biochemistry [25/102 (24.5%)] and gastrointestinal symptoms [18/102 (17.6%)] were the most frequently reported AEs. There were no drug-related study withdrawals. Eight serious AEs were all due to intercurrent illnesses. Laboratory, lung function and ECG parameters were similar between drugs and placebos.ConclusionsOseltamivir and zanamivir were well tolerated in healthy hospital professionals. Both drugs can be recommended for primary influenza prophylaxis for up to 16 weeks.

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Section: Evolving Societies-where To From Here?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sex-specific supports recognize the biological susceptibility of women to infectious disease, particularly during pregnancy (Phillips et al 2011). Certain infectious diseases pose a threat to the developing foetus, but many infectious respiratory diseases including SARS, H1N1, and H5N1 are associated with significant complications, organ failure, and death for women in late stages of pregnancy (Phillips et al 2011). Many antiretroviral medications available for infectious respiratory disease treatment have not been approved for use during pregnancy with effects ranging from unknown to teratogenic effects in animal studies (Tanaka et al 2009).…”

Section: Evolving Societies-where To From Here?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In spite of Canadian research into both the sex-based risks and gendered experience of frontline health care workers in the 2003 SARS outbreak (O'Sullivan et al 2008;O'Connor et al 2009;Amaratunga et al 2010;Phillips et al 2011), a gender lens is not explicitly described in the current CPIP (PHAC 2015); instead, the document focusses on the risks to pregnant women. The Sendai Framework (2015) goes further, recognizing gender, disability, and cultural perspective as essential components for all policies and practices and promoting roles for women and youth in disaster leadership.…”

Section: Evolving Societies-where To From Here?mentioning

confidence: 99%

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From SARS to pandemic influenza: the framing of high-risk populations

O’Sullivan

Phillips

2019

Nat Hazards

Self Cite

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The 2003 global outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was a wake-up call for health systems in Canada, with realization of occupational health risks faced by health care workers and first responders in public health emergency response. The need for investment in critical social infrastructure-including explicitly articulated plansbecame a priority for managing future pandemics. Over the past 15 years, pandemic planning has evolved with the adoption of a whole-of-society approach to disaster risk reduction. There is recognition of the social gradient of risk, which emerges from the interaction between social determinants of health, risk of exposure, and adverse impacts from a pandemic. Additionally, there is better understanding of the benefits of planning according to functional needs, rather than deficit-oriented labelling. In this paper, we reflect on how the framing of vulnerable or high-risk populations has evolved since SARS. Looking to the future, we present the imperative for the creation of institutional space for engagement of high-risk populations in pandemic planning processes, including participatory governance. Innovative consultation strategies are needed to enhance collective asset literacy and ensure planning is adaptive to the changing social fabric. Progressive pandemic planning in the next decade must be inclusive and sensitive to modern definitions of family, varied abilities, cultural practices and gender and sexual diversity, thereby reflecting a whole-ofsociety approach to disaster risk reduction.

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Infectious Respiratory Disease Outbreaks and Pregnancy: Occupational Health and Safety Concerns of Canadian Nurses

Abstract: Reproductive risk assessments should be performed for each infectious respiratory disease outbreak to provide female healthcare workers and in particular pregnant women with guidelines regarding infection control and use of anti-infective therapy and prophylaxis.

Cited by 12 publications

References 39 publications

A qualitative study of the vocational and psychological perceptions and issues of transdisciplinary nurses during the COVID-19 outbreak

A qualitative study of the vocational and psychological perceptions and issues of transdisciplinary nurses during the COVID-19 outbreak

Oseltamivir and inhaled zanamivir as influenza prophylaxis in Thai health workers: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled safety trial over 16 weeks

From SARS to pandemic influenza: the framing of high-risk populations

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