Jegodka Yvette, Lagally Lena, Mertes Hanna, Deering Katharina, Schoierer Julia, Buchberger Barbara, Bose-O'Reilly Stephan
FOM University of Applied Sciences, Institute for Health and Social Sciences, Bismarckstr. 107, D-10625 Berlin, Germany.
LMU Munich, University Hospital, Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Unit Global Environmental Health and Climate Change, Ziemssenstr. 5, D-80336 Munich, Germany.
J Clim Chang Health. 2021 Aug;3:100031. doi: 10.1016/j.joclim.2021.100031. Epub 2021 Jul 23.
Our aim was to identify if working during hot days while wearing Covid-19 related personal protective equipment causes occupational heat stress for nurses and nursing assistants in Germany.
Using an online survey, we assessed the impact of hot weather on nurses and nursing assistants working with personal protective equipment. Respondents were recruited by distributing the link to the survey via personal communication, email and various social media channels to nursing staff from hospitals, nursing homes and outpatient care.
There were in total 428 participants (18.2% male, 82.5% female), mostly (30.5%) aged between 45 and 55 years. Half of respondents (48.3%) had more than 20 years of experience in nursing. Cardiac, pulmonary, or other pre-existing conditions were reported by 46.2%.Nurses and nursing assistants working in personal protective equipment during hot days were exposed to occupational heat stress. Work was found exhaustive by 96.5% of the participants during those days. 93.0% reported breathing problems and 85.8% reported difficulties with focusing on their work. Many workplaces did not provide adequate heat protection, with distinct differences concerning the amount of prophylactic and heat mitigating measures across institutions. There were significant differences across institutions when it comes to the number of drinks served ( < 0.001), the availability of room thermometers ( 0.001), the use of mobile cooling devices ( 0.001) and fans ( 0.05).
Results suggest employers must make more of an effort to provide adequate heat protection for their nursing staff. In order to ensure patient care, there is a need for action; in particular, attention must be paid to the pre-existing health conditions of the nursing staff.
我们的目的是确定在炎热天气下佩戴与新冠病毒相关的个人防护装备工作是否会给德国的护士和护理助理带来职业热应激。
通过在线调查，我们评估了炎热天气对使用个人防护装备工作的护士和护理助理的影响。通过个人交流、电子邮件和各种社交媒体渠道向医院、养老院和门诊护理机构的护理人员分发调查问卷链接来招募受访者。
共有428名参与者（18.2%为男性，82.5%为女性），大多数（30.5%）年龄在45至55岁之间。一半的受访者（48.3%）有超过20年的护理经验。46.2%的人报告有心脏、肺部或其他既往疾病。在炎热天气下穿戴个人防护装备工作的护士和护理助理面临职业热应激。在那些日子里，96.5%的参与者认为工作使人精疲力竭。93.0%的人报告有呼吸问题，85.8%的人报告难以集中精力工作。许多工作场所没有提供足够的热防护，各机构在预防和减轻热应激措施的数量方面存在明显差异。在提供饮品数量（<0.001）、房间温度计的配备情况（0.001）、移动制冷设备的使用情况（0.001）和风扇的使用情况（0.05）方面，各机构之间存在显著差异。
结果表明雇主必须做出更多努力，为其护理人员提供足够的热防护。为了确保患者护理，需要采取行动；特别是，必须关注护理人员的既往健康状况。
