Suchergebnisse

Der Aufsatz befaßt sich mit der Arbeitssituation der ca. 20.000 Straßenwärter im Öffentlichen Dienst, die mit Straßenunterhaltungsarbeiten beschäftigt sind. Die Darstellung basiert auf einer Untersuchung über die "gesundheitlichen Einschränkungen von Straßenwärtern", die an der Universität Bremen im Rahmen des Programms "Humanisierung des Arbeitslebens" durchgeführt wurde. Es werden Unfallgefahr, Lärmbelästigung und Verkehrsabgase als Belastungen, die sich aus der Arbeitsumgebung für die Straßenwärter ergeben, beschrieben. Als Ergebnis wird festgehalten, daß die Straßenwärter neben den Belastungen durch die Arbeitsinhalte starken Belastungen durch die Arbeitsumgebung ausgesetzt sind, die zu erheblichen gesundheitlichen Beeinträchtigungen führen (Bedrohungsgefühle durch den fließenden Verkehr, Lärmschwerhörigkeit, Gesundheitsschädigung durch Autoabgase). Als Maßnahmen zur Reduzierung des Gesundheitsrisikos werden abgasärmere Fahrzeuge sowie erhöhte Sicherheit für die Beschäftigten bei Straßenbetriebsarbeiten durch Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzungen und großzügige Absperrungen der Baustellen gefordert. (AG)

Zusammenfassung
Einleitung
Auszubildende verfügen in Bezug auf den Arbeitsschutz über weniger Wissen und weniger Praxis als ausgebildete Beschäftigte. Auch die individuelle Gesundheitskompetenz ist bei jungen Erwachsenen noch nicht weit ausgebildet. Daher hat diese Gruppe ein erhöhtes Belastungsprofil und ein erhöhtes Risiko für Arbeitsunfälle. Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht das Wissen über den Arbeitsschutz sowie die Verbindung von Arbeitsschutz und Gesundheitskompetenz bei Auszubildenden im 2. Lehrjahr.

Methoden
Anhand einer Befragung von Berufsschullehrer/innen zum Arbeitsschutz wurden verschiedenen Themen des Arbeitsschutzes extrahiert. Anschließend wurden in einer Querschnittsbefragung Auszubildende aus verschiedenen Branchen (Bürowesen, Technik/Einzelhandel und Gesundheitsdienst/Wohlfahrtspflege) zu ihrem Wissen und der Anwendung von Arbeitsschutzmaßnahmen befragt. Zusätzlich wurde die Gesundheitskompetenz anhand des Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q16) erhoben und auf Korrelationen mit dem Wissen über den Arbeitsschutz und dessen Anwendung überprüft.

Ergebnisse
Es beteiligten sich 72 Berufsschullehrer/innen an der Befragung (Responserate: 63 %). Es zeigte sich, dass sie nicht alle Themen des Arbeitsschutzes unterrichten. Die Auszubildenden (N = 391) hatten mehr Kenntnisse über praktische Themen des Gesundheitsschutzes als über dessen betrieblicher Organisation. Auszubildende aus dem Gesundheitsdienst und der Wohlfahrtspflege gaben öfter an, ihr Wissen im Arbeitsalltag anwenden zu können. Es wurden schwache bis mäßige statistisch signifikante Korrelationen von Arbeitsschutz und Gesundheitskompetenz beobachtet (Wissen Arbeitsschutz: r = 0,23; p < 0,001, Anwendung Wissen Arbeitsschutz: r = 0,26; p < 0,001).

Schlussfolgerung
Es sollte auf eine bessere Verzahnung der Lehrinhalte zum Arbeitsschutz in der Berufsschule und der praktischen Anwendung dieser Inhalte im Lehrbetrieb geachtet werden. Die Korrelation von Gesundheitskompetenz und Arbeitsschutzwissen sowie dessen Anwendung könnten auf eine konzeptuelle Erweiterung der arbeitsbezogenen Gesundheitskompetenz auf Basis des HLS-EU-Q16 bei Auszubildenden hinweisen.

We report on the suspected case reports filed for SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 illnesses among health and social welfare workers in Germany. In addition, we report about COVID-19 in health workers in Malaysia. Claims for occupational diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2 are recorded separately in a database of the Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Health and Welfare Services (BGW). This database is analyzed according to its content as of May 22, 2020. In addition, the notifiable cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections from personnel in medical institutions (e.g., clinics and doctor's office) and social welfare institutions (e.g., nursing homes, shelters and refugee camps) following the German Infection Protection Act are analyzed. The report from Malaysia is based on personal experience and publications of the government. In Germany at present, 4398 suspected case reports for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infections among health and social workers have been filed. This figure is four times the number of all reported infections normally received per year. The majority of claims, regardless of being a confirmed infection, concerned nurses (n = 6927, 63.9%). The mortality rate for workers infected with SARS-CoV-2 is 0.2% to 0.5%. Doctors are affected by severe illness more frequently than other occupational groups (8.1% vs. 4.1%). In Malaysia, work-related infection of health workers (HW) occurred mainly when COVID-19 was not suspected in patients and no adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) was worn. Although knowledge on the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infections among workers remains limited, the impact appears to be substantial. This is supported by the mortality rate among infected workers. Occupational health check-ups carried out at the present time should be systematically analyzed in order to gain more information on the epidemiology of COVID-19 among HW. Since the supply and use of PPE improved, the infection risk of HW in Malaysia seems to have decreased.

In times of demographic change, most developed countries are increasingly looking to cover the growing domestic demand for healthcare by hiring nurses from abroad. The evidence concerning the health of immigrant care workers is inconsistent since studies report that it is either better or more impaired than that of their non-immigrant counterparts. This study compared the extent of occupational psychosocial stressors and resources affecting immigrant and non-immigrant homecare nurses. The cross-sectional survey was conducted in the homecare nursing service sector in Hamburg. Psychosocial distress, depressive symptomatology, generalized anxiety, somatic symptom burdens, homecare-specific qualitative stressors, as well as resources, have been measured using a standardized questionnaire. There was no significant difference in the extent of psychosocial distress experienced by immigrant and non-immigrant homecare nurses. Somatic symptom burdens most strongly predicted nurses' psychosocial distress, in general. For immigrant nurses, greater influence and freedom at work, as well as fixed-term employment, was related to increased levels of distress, while age, working full time, and working overtime predicted distress in non-immigrant nurses. A functioning relationship with colleagues and superiors had a declining effect on immigrant nurses' psychosocial distress, while shift work arrangements benefitted non-immigrant nurses. Even though the extent of psychosocial distress experienced by immigrant and non-immigrant nurses did not significantly differ, the nurse's individual explanatory model of psychosocial health should be considered in every occupational and political context.

In times of demographic change, most developed countries are increasingly looking to cover the growing domestic demand for healthcare by hiring nurses from abroad. The evidence concerning the health of immigrant care workers is inconsistent since studies report that it is either better or more impaired than that of their non-immigrant counterparts. This study compared the extent of occupational psychosocial stressors and resources affecting immigrant and non-immigrant homecare nurses. The cross-sectional survey was conducted in the homecare nursing service sector in Hamburg. Psychosocial distress, depressive symptomatology, generalized anxiety, somatic symptom burdens, homecare-specific qualitative stressors, as well as resources, have been measured using a standardized questionnaire. There was no significant difference in the extent of psychosocial distress experienced by immigrant and non-immigrant homecare nurses. Somatic symptom burdens most strongly predicted nurses' psychosocial distress, in general. For immigrant nurses, greater influence and freedom at work, as well as fixed-term employment, was related to increased levels of distress, while age, working full time, and working overtime predicted distress in non-immigrant nurses. A functioning relationship with colleagues and superiors had a declining effect on immigrant nurses' psychosocial distress, while shift work arrangements benefitted non-immigrant nurses. Even though the extent of psychosocial distress experienced by immigrant and non-immigrant nurses did not significantly differ, the nurse's individual explanatory model of psychosocial health should be considered in every occupational and political context.

Abstract

Objectives:
The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate metrologically the effectiveness of a training program on the reduction of stressful trunk postures in geriatric nursing professions.


Methods:
A training program, consisting of instruction on body postures in nursing, practical ergonomic work methods at the bedside or in the bathroom, reorganization of work equipment, and physical exercises, was conducted in 12 wards of 6 nursing homes in Germany. The Computer-Assisted Recording and Long-Term Analysis of Musculoskeletal Loads (CUELA) measurement system was used to evaluate all movements and trunk postures adopted during work before and 6 months after the training program. In total, 23 shifts were measured. All measurements were supported by video recordings. A specific software program (WIDAAN 2.75) was used to synchronize the measurement data and video footage.


Results:
The median proportion of time spent in sagittal inclinations at an angle of >20° was significantly reduced (by 29%) 6 months after the intervention [from 35.4% interquartile range (27.6–43.1) to 25.3% (20.7–34.1); P < 0.001]. Very pronounced inclinations exceeding 60° [2.5% (1.1–4.6) to 1.0% (0.8–1.7); P = 0.002] and static inclinations of over 20° for >4 s [4.4% (3.0–6.7) to 3.6% (2.5–4.5); P < 0.001] were significantly reduced, by 60% and 22%, respectively. Video analysis showed that in 49% of care situations, ergonomic measures were implemented properly, either at the bedside or in the bathroom.


Conclusions:
Stressful trunk postures could be significantly reduced by raising awareness of the physical strains that frequently occur during a shift, by changes in work practices and by redesigning the work environment. Workplace interventions aimed at preventing or reducing low back pain in nursing personnel would probably benefit from sensitizing employees to their postures during work.

Abstract

Background and Objective
Occupations involving repetitive movements of the wrists, activities that require a lot of force, and hand-arm swinging are particularly likely to contribute to the development of hand and wrist complaints. The daily setup and dismantling of dialysis machines as part of the dialysis treatment process can strain the wrists and fingers of nurses. However, evidence regarding the relationship between the work activities of dialysis nurses and the incidence of hand and wrist complaints is limited. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and severity of hand and wrist complaints among dialysis nurses in Germany and to relate these to their work activities.


Methods
An online survey was created and sent to 836 dialysis centres in Germany. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used in an online survey to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints in the hands and wrists. The Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) was used to assess symptom severity. Dialysis nurses rated the effort required to set up dialysis machines using the BORG-CR10 scale. The analysis was descriptive.


Results
A total of 122 dialysis nurses (18 male, 104 female; mean age 45 ± 12 years) participated in the survey, and 59% of them reported developing hands or wrist complaints in the last 12 months. According to BCTQ, the average severity of these complaints is 2.0 ± 0.8 (N = 72). The severity of symptoms increased significantly with the number of setups performed by a dialysis nurse per day (rs = 0.35, P = 0.003, N = 72). The nurses rated the effort required to set up the dialysis machines as 2.8 ± 1.8 on the BORG-CR10 scale (N = 101).


Discussion
The results of the online survey showed that dialysis nurses were more likely than the general population to experience hand and wrist complaints. The repetitive activities of the hands and wrists while setting up a dialysis machine are thought to be the cause.


Conclusions
Preventive measures are needed to reduce hand and wrist strain in dialysis nurses.