Impact of COVID-19 on environmental services workers in healthcare settings: a scoping review

Ng, Qin Xiang; Yau, Chun En; Yaow, Clyve Yu Leon; Lim, Yu Liang; Xin, Xiaohui; Thumboo, Julian; Fong, Kok Yong

doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2022.09.001

Cited by 15 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 43 publications

(118 reference statements)

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“…Other socioeconomic factors, such as occupation relevant to personal income, also need further discussion. Studies have found that COVID-19 has exacerbated income and socioeconomic inequalities, which implies that a proper vaccination policy must be designed to support various occupations such as environmental services workers who appear to be COVID-19-vulnerable [ 37 ]. Policymakers are suggested to provide equal access, including assistance with vaccination registration and transportation logistics, especially when such resources are unavailable or less accessible to those citizens.…”

Section: Discussion and Policy Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 Vaccination: Sociopolitical and Economic Impact in the United States

2022

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Since the outbreak of COVID-19, vaccination against the virus has been implemented and has progressed among various groups across all ethnicities, genders, and almost all ages in the United States. This study examines the impacts of socioeconomic status and political preference on COVID-19 vaccination in over 443 counties in the southwestern United States. Regression analysis was used to examine the association between a county’s vaccination rate and one’s personal income, employment status, education, race and ethnicity, age, occupation, residential area, and political preference. The results were as follows: First, counties with higher average personal income tend to have a higher vaccination rate (p < 0.001). Second, county-level vaccination is significantly associated with the percentage of Democrat votes (β = 0.242, p < 0.001). Third, race and ethnicity are vaccine-influencing factors. Counties with more Black residents have lower vaccine acceptance (β = −0.419, p < 0.001), while those where more Hispanics or Native Americans reside are more likely to accept vaccines for health protection (β = 0.202, p < 0.001; β = 0.057, p = 0.008, respectively). Lastly, pertaining to the age difference, seniors aged 65 and older show substantial support for vaccination, followed by the median age group (all p < 0.001).

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Section: Discussion and Policy Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 Vaccination: Sociopolitical and Economic Impact in the United States

2022

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Studies have indicated that the rates of well-being and resilience decreased in all people, especially health workers and environmental services workers, during the COVID-19 crisis in the world. 10,[18][19][20] The present cross-sectional study examined the resilience of 234 EMS employees who were continuously involved in transferring patients with COVID-19 from prehospital settings to hospital emergencies for found that the mean score of the resilience of EMS employees during the COVID-19 crisis was 32.27 ± 4.8, according to a 40-point tool. 21 Meese et al (2021) found that the resilience scores of administrative and Nonclinical, advanced practice providers, clinical support staff, and nurses were 6.47, 6.87, 6.51, and 6.57, respectively, according to an 8-point tool after the COVID-19 crisis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Studies have indicated that the rates of well‐being and resilience decreased in all people, especially health workers and environmental services workers, during the COVID‐19 crisis in the world. 10 , 18 , 19 , 20 The present cross‐sectional study examined the resilience of 234 EMS employees who were continuously involved in transferring patients with COVID‐19 from prehospital settings to hospital emergencies for 6 months (April to September 2020). During the Covid‐19 pandemic, Iran's prehospital emergency system, like other countries in the world, was in an emergency state, and there was insufficient time to train prehospital emergency workers and implement mental health protocols.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Changes in the prehospital emergency technician's resilience during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A web‐based cross‐sectional study

Ebrahimian

Keshavarz‐Tork

Seidabadi

et al. 2023

Health Science Reports

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Background and Aims: Resilience is a process that enables people to control the stressors of their lives. During the COVID-19 crisis, work stress increased among prehospital emergency technicians. So, it was possible to reduce their resilience. This study aimed to investigate the changes in the prehospital emergency technicians' resilience during the pandemic of COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the prehospital emergency department in Qazvin province. For 6 months, 234 emergency technicians participated in this study. Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire and the emergency medical services resilience scale (EMSRS).Results: The Friedman test indicated no significant difference between the mean scores of EMS employees' resilience during 6 months (p > 0.05). However, the correlation matrix between the scores of EMSRS during 6 months indicated that the resilience scores of EMS employees were positively correlated during the study (p < 0.01). Conclusions:The EMS technicians' resilience was almost constant and moderate during the 6 months of care for patients with COVID-19 and their transfer to the hospital, indicating that the COVID-19 crisis could suppress the emergency medical technicians ability to increase resilience.

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“…Social epidemiology research has also found that COVID-19 accentuated the fault lines of socioeconomic and health inequality in many countries, with a disproportionate burden of disease and a greater likelihood of income loss and emotional distress among low-income communities ( 11 – 13 ). Based on the findings of earlier studies, compared to other frontline healthcare workers, environmental services workers have experienced similar (if not greater) levels of depression, anxiety, and stress due to increased job demands and the risk of COVID-19 exposure ( 2 – 4 ). These challenges include work-related difficulties during the pandemic, unmet training and education needs, lack of resources and supplies, poor communication with management and other healthcare staff, as well as other perceived stressors and lack of support ( 2 – 4 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experiences of environmental services workers in a tertiary hospital in Asia during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

Koh

Xin

et al. 2023

Front. Public Health

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BackgroundThe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a significant impact on all walks of life, in particular, environmental services workers in healthcare settings had higher workload, increased stress and greater susceptibility to COVID-19 infections during the pandemic. Despite extensive literature describing the impact of the pandemic on healthcare workers such as doctors and nurses, studies on the lived experiences of environmental services workers in healthcare settings are sparse and none has been conducted in the Asian context. This qualitative study thus aimed to examine the experiences of those who worked for a year of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA purposive sample of environmental services workers was recruited from a major tertiary hospital in Singapore. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in-person, lasting around 30min, and included open-ended questions pertaining to five main domains: work experiences during COVID-19, training and education needs, resource and supplies availability, communication with management and other healthcare staff, and perceived stressors and support. These domains were identified based on team discussions and literature review. The interviews were recorded and transcribed for thematic analysis, as guided by Braun and Clarke.ResultsA total of 12 environmental services workers were interviewed. After the first seven interviews, no new themes emerged but an additional five interviews were done to ensure data saturation. The analysis yielded three main themes and nine subthemes, including (1) practical and health concerns, (2) coping and resilience, and (3) occupational adaptations during the pandemic. Many expressed confidence in the preventive efficacy of proper PPE, infection control practice and COVID-19 vaccination in protecting them against COVID-19 and severe illness. Having prior experience with infectious disease outbreaks and previous training in infection control and prevention appeared to be useful as well for these workers. Despite the various challenges presented by the pandemic, they could still find meaning in their everyday work by positively impacting the wellbeing of patients and other healthcare workers in the hospital.ConclusionBesides uncovering the concerns shared by these workers, we identified helpful coping strategies, resilience factors and certain occupational adaptations, which have implications for future pandemic planning and readiness.

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Impact of COVID-19 on environmental services workers in healthcare settings: a scoping review

Cited by 15 publications

References 43 publications

COVID-19 Vaccination: Sociopolitical and Economic Impact in the United States

COVID-19 Vaccination: Sociopolitical and Economic Impact in the United States

Changes in the prehospital emergency technician's resilience during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A web‐based cross‐sectional study

Experiences of environmental services workers in a tertiary hospital in Asia during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

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