Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, burnout symptoms have been prevalent among healthcare workers. Living with spouses can be complex and was associated with an increased burnout risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the relationship between living with spouses and burnout among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. We distributed questionnaires to participants working in a hospital affiliated with a medical university in Taiwan. The questionnaires were the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, which comprises personal burnout (PB), work-related burnout (WB), and client burnout subscales; the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire; and information on basic demographic variables, family factors, living habits, work-related factors, and physical health factors. Multiple linear regression and mediation analysis were used. We obtained 1615 (63.81%) valid questionnaires. After analysis revealed that marriage was an independent risk factor for PB; however, the effect of marriage on WB was nonsignificant after controlling for risk factors. Parenthood, less alcohol use, reported sleep duration less than six hours, less overtime, less shift work, and participation in leisure activities with family and friends were found to be mediators between marriage and a lower WB level. In addition, chronic diseases, frequent neck pain, and shoulder pain were suppression factors. In summary, marriage was associated with an increased risk of PB. Married individuals sustain a high WB level because of changes in family roles, living conditions, and work conditions. Overall, helping healthcare workers to maintain well-being in marriage or family living may be effective in decreasing burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Overtime adversely affects physical and mental health, contributing to irritability, anxiety, reduced sleep, and even cardiovascular issues, ultimately lowering care quality and increasing turnover intentions. This study aimed to investigate whether prolonged overtime increases the risk of occupational burnout over time among healthcare workers. Methods: We conducted a four-year longitudinal observational study using secondary data from annual surveys (2021–2024) of healthcare workers at a medical university hospital in Taichung, Taiwan. Burnout was assessed using the personal burnout (PB) scale from the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), with high PB levels (HPBL) defined as scores in the upper quartile of the 2021 baseline. Survival analysis utilizing the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression investigated burnout progression and the effects of overtime. Results: HPBL was defined as PB scores ≥45.83 (upper quartile in 2021). The proportions of HPBL were 30.28% (2021), 33.29% (2022), 36.75% (2023), and 32.51% (2024). Survival analysis confirmed that the risk of burnout increased over time, with the survival time estimated at 2.50 ± 0.03 years and lower survival probabilities observed among participants working overtime (Log-rank test, p < 0.0001). Multivariate logistics revealed overtime work, female gender, being a physician/nurse, and reduced sleep as independent risk factors for HPBL (OR = 3.14 for overtime, p < 0.001). These findings support the hypotheses on burnout progression and the impact of overtime. Conclusions: Overtime significantly heightens the risk of burnout, which worsens over time. Female sex, healthcare roles, obesity, and insufficient sleep are additional risk factors. Limiting overtime and proactive interventions are crucial to preventing burnout in healthcare workers.

This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of music intervention in reducing perioperative anxiety and improving physiological indicators in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. A randomized controlled trial design was employed. Participants scheduled for elective orthopedic surgery were randomly assigned to either the music intervention group or the control group. The intervention group received 30 minutes of calming instrumental music via headphones before surgery, while the control group received routine care without music. Anxiety levels were measured using the Visual Analogue Anxiety Rating (VIRA), and physiological indicators including blood pressure (BP), heart rate, and respiratory rate were recorded before and after the intervention. The music group showed a significant reduction in anxiety scores compared to the control group (p < .05). Additionally, there were notable improvements in systolic blood pressure and heart rate within the music group post-intervention. No adverse effects were reported. Music intervention is a simple, non-invasive, and effective method to reduce perioperative anxiety and stabilize physiological parameters in orthopedic surgical patients. This intervention may be considered as part of routine preoperative care.

Most residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are patients with chronic diseases requiring long-term care. Unplanned hospitalization of older and frailer residents from LTCFs reduces their mobility and increases the number of infections, complications, and falls that might lead to severe disability or death. This study aimed to identify the critical risk factors associated with unplanned hospitalization among LTCF residents in Taiwan, providing insights that could inform better care practices in similar settings globally. A retrospective study was conducted using inpatient data from a medical center in central Taiwan, covering the period from 2011 to 2019. A total of 1220 LTCF residents were matched with general patients using propensity score matching. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with unplanned hospitalization, controlling for relevant variables. LTCF residents had a significantly higher risk of unplanned hospitalization compared to general patients (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.21–1.73). Key risk factors included advanced age (≥85 years, OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.02–1.54), the presence of comorbidities such as diabetes (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.03–1.33) and renal failure (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.42–1.86), high fall risk (OR = 2.67, 95% CI = 2.30–3.10), and being bedridden (OR = 6.55, 95% CI = 5.48–7.85). The presence of a tracheostomy tube also significantly increased hospitalization risk (OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.15–2.59). LTCF residents are at a higher risk of unplanned hospitalization, particularly those with specific comorbidities, physical limitations, and indwelling medical devices. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to manage these risks, potentially improving care outcomes for LTCF residents globally.

Background: Overtime adversely affects physical and mental health, contributing to irritability, anxiety, reduced sleep, and even cardiovascular issues, ultimately lowering care quality and increasing turnover intentions. Whether overtime directly correlates with burnout can be explored with longitudinal studies that test this link. Methods: This longitudinal study analyzed secondary data from four survey waves (2021–2024) involving healthcare workers at a medical university hospital in Taichung, Taiwan. Burnout was assessed using the personal burnout (PB) scale from the Copenhagen burnout inventory (CBI), with high PB levels (HPBL) defined as scores in the upper quartile of the 2021 baseline. Survival analysis utilizing the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression investigated burnout progression and the effects of overtime. Results: HPBL was defined as PB scores ≥45.83 (upper quartile in 2021). The proportions of HPBL were 30.28% (2021), 33.29% (2022), 36.75% (2023), and 32.51% (2024). Survival analysis confirmed that the risk of burnout increased over time, with the survival time estimated at 2.50 ± 0.03 years and lower survival probabilities observed among participants working overtime (Log-rank test, P < 0.0001). Cox regression revealed overtime work, female gender, being a physician/nurse, reduced sleep, and overweight/obesity as independent risk factors for HPBL (HR = 2.13 for overtime, P < 0.001). These findings support the hypotheses on burnout progression and the impact of overtime. Conclusion: Overtime significantly heightens the risk of burnout, which worsens over time. Female sex, healthcare roles, obesity, and insufficient sleep are additional risk factors. Limiting overtime and proactive interventions are crucial to preventing burnout in healthcare workers.

Emotional availability (EA) is a critical factor in understanding the quality of parent–child interactions. However, the Lum Emotional Availability of Parents (LEAP) scale, a robust instrument applicable to parents across various age groups, lacks psychometric validation in Arabic. The current study aims to develop an Arabic version of the LEAP scale and evaluate its validity and reliability through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), measurement invariance testing, and the application of the Rasch model. This approach was used to ensure the scale's reliability and accuracy in evaluating parental EA in a culturally relevant manner. The study involved 860 adolescents (mean age = 14.33 years, SD = 1.88) from the Chlef province, Algeria. The sample included 55.8% females and 44.2% males, with the majority having parents who were together (92.4%). Data was collected using the LEAP scale. The EFA revealed a two‐factor structure for the LEAP scale, which informed subsequent CFA. Both one‐factor and two‐factor CFA models were tested; the two‐factor model demonstrated better fit indices (e.g., comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.963 and 0.957), whereas the one‐factor model showed acceptable but comparatively weaker fit (e.g., CFI = 0.914 and 0.914). Measurement invariance analyses of the two‐factor model supported invariance across gender groups. Rasch analysis further supported the two‐factor structure, indicating acceptable item fit, an appropriate range of item difficulties, and stable measurement properties across both dimensions. The scale also exhibited strong internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.932 and 0.920). The findings consistently supported a correlated two‐factor structure representing Emotional Responsiveness and Relational Validation across both parental forms. Although the two dimensions were highly related and conceptually associated aspects of parental EA, the two‐factor solution demonstrated superior psychometric performance relative to the one‐factor alternative in this sample. The retention of the two‐factor solution was based primarily on superior empirical model fit and theoretically interpretable clustering of item content. The Arabic version of the LEAP scale demonstrated good reliability and satisfactory evidence of structural validity, measurement invariance, and Rasch‐based psychometric performance among Algerian adolescents. The present findings provide preliminary psychometric evidence supporting the Arabic adaptation of the LEAP scale within an Algerian adolescent sample and may facilitate future research examining parental EA in Arabic‐speaking contexts.