The COVID-19 pandemic has affected health professionals in a special way, as they are responsible for the care of vulnerable groups. Little is known about how outpatient caregivers perceive their working conditions during the pandemic in Germany and about the difficulties they face. The aims of this study were (1) to examine specific job demands of outpatient caregivers in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, (2) to illuminate their job resources they can rely on and (3) to identify potential strain reactions they experience. Fifteen semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with outpatient caregivers working in Northern Germany in the period May–June 2020. Interviews were analyzed by using qualitative content analysis. Outpatient caregivers experienced daily mask obligation, lack of personal protection equipment (PPE) and stricter hygiene regulations as demanding during the pandemic. They also described a higher workload and emotional demands such as fear of infection or infecting others. They perceived team spirit and communication as important work-related resources. Depressive symptoms and feelings of stress were described as strain reactions. Outpatient care services need to be better prepared for sudden pandemic situations and provide their employees with sufficient PPE and education to reduce pandemic-related job demands leading to negative strain reactions.

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund In der Pflegebranche nehmen Arbeitsunfähigkeitstage durch verschiedene Fehlbelastungen zu, welches die Relevanz der Betrieblichen Gesundheitsförderung (BGF) hervorhebt. Ziel der Arbeit Der Artikel soll die Thematik der BGF in der Pflege beleuchten und zudem eine Übersicht von bestehenden betrieblichen Gesundheitsförderungsmaßnahmen im Setting Pflege bieten. Material und Methoden In einer explorativen Literaturrecherche werden bisher verfügbare Erkenntnisse aus der BGF in der Pflege recherchiert und zusammengefasst. Aus diesen Forschungserkenntnissen werden Maßnahmenvorschläge für die Pflege-BGF abgeleitet. Die Vorschläge sollten aktualisiert werden, wenn derzeit laufende arbeitspsychologische Studien neue Erkenntnisse hervorgebracht haben. Ergebnisse Bestehende Interventionen in der Pflegebranche, welche beispielsweise Achtsamkeitstrainings, Maßnahmen zur Stress‑/Tabakkonsumreduzierung sowie die Förderung gesunder Ernährungsweise und körperlichen Aktivität beinhalten, werden dargestellt. Diskussion Studienergebnisse zeigen, dass Interventionen zur Stressreduzierung aus der stationären Pflege effektiv das Stresserleben der Pflegekräfte senken konnten. Web-basierte Interventionen scheinen darüber hinaus für das ambulante Pflegesetting als erstrebenswert. Mögliche Herausforderungen, wie fehlende Fachkenntnisse und -kräfte, für die BGF-Umsetzung werden diskutiert.

ZusammenfassungDer Artikel bietet eine Übersicht zum aktuellen Forschungsstand bezüglich des Gesundheitsverhaltens von Beschäftigten aus der Pflegebranche. Trotz der wachsenden Anzahl an ambulant gepflegten Personen und damit dem Beschäftigtenwachstum in dieser Branche existieren aktuell kaum Erkenntnisse und empirische Befunde über das Gesundheitsverhalten von deutschen Pflegekräften. Die bisher verfügbare Informationslage deutet allerdings auf eine ungesunde Ernährungsweise, mangelhafte körperliche Aktivität sowie auf mangelnde Möglichkeiten von Pausen- und Regenerationseinheiten hin. Forschungs- und Interventionsarbeiten zur Analyse des Arbeits- und Gesundheitsverhaltens als Grundlage zur Entwicklung bedarfsgerechter gesundheitsförderlicher Maßnahmen sind unabdingbar.

The confined environment of a ship promotes the transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) due to close contact among the population on board. The study aims to provide an overview of outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 on board of cruise, navy or cargo ships, to identify relevant outbreak management techniques, related problems and to derive recommendations for prevention. Four databases were searched. The study selection included reports about seroprevalences or clinically/laboratory confirmed infections of SARS-CoV-2 on board ships between the first of January, 2020 and the end of July, 2020. A total of 37 studies were included of whom 33 reported outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 on cruise ships (27 studies referred to the Diamond Princess). Two studies considered outbreaks on the Grand Princess, three studies informed about Nile River cruises and one study about the MS Westerdam (mention of multiple outbreaks possible in one study). Additionally, three studies reported outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 on navy vessels and one study referred to a cargo ship. Problems in handling outbreaks resulted from a high number of asymptomatic infections, transportation issues, challenges in communication or limited access to health care. Responsible operators need to implement infection control measures which should be described in outbreak management plans for ships to prevent transmission risks, including, e.g., education, testing strategies, communication lines, social distancing and hygiene regulations.

Ongoing demographic change is leading to an increasingly older society and a rising proportion of people in need of care in the German population. Therefore, the professional group of outpatient caregivers is highly relevant. Their work is characterised not only by interacting with patients in a mobile setting but also by working in shifts. Health behaviour under these specific working conditions is crucial for ensuring long-term work ability and performance. Little is known about the health behaviour of German outpatient caregivers and its potential impact on their work. The aims of the study were (1) to examine health behavioural patterns (nutrition, exercise, smoking, regeneration) of outpatient caregivers, (2) to illuminate their personal health-promoting behaviours, and (3) to identify potential work-related factors influencing their health behaviour. Fifteen problem-centred interviews were conducted with outpatient caregivers working in Northern Germany in the period January–April 2020. Interviews were analysed by using qualitative content analysis. Outpatient caregivers reported improvable nutrition and hydration, with simultaneous high coffee consumption, low physical activity, poor regeneration (breaks and sleep quality), and good personal health-promoting behaviour (e.g., back-friendly habits), although the majority were smokers. Barriers to the implementation of health-promoting behaviours were a high perception of stress due to increased workload and time pressure, while aids to better health-promoting behaviour were described as being social support and personal resources. The respondents perceived their working conditions as potentially influencing their health behaviour. On the basis of their descriptions, various practice-relevant strategies were derived. The data explore a potential need for outpatient care services to develop interventions on behavioural and structural levels that can help create healthier working conditions for their employees so these caregivers can adopt better health behaviours.