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The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of healthcare workers during the first wave of the coronavirus crisis. In a mixed-methods study, data were collected through an online survey completed by 263 hospital staff members, as well as 10 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with physicians, nurses, and medical technologists working on coronavirus wards. Respondents expressed extremely high levels of concern for family members, but they were less apprehensive about their own health and safety. Nurses displayed more apprehension and burnout compared to healthcare workers in other professional roles. The in-depth interviews reinforced and supplemented the survey findings and deepened our understanding of the experience of healthcare workers directly involved in the first wave of coronavirus patient care. The findings of this study illuminate the main concerns of hospital staff during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and deepen our understanding of issues that require systemic attention in order to strengthen mental resilience among hospital staff. The steps required to continue fighting the virus include the development of a mental and emotional support network for healthcare workers to safeguard them and their health, as they care for patients, and to provide ongoing psychosocial support. As later waves of COVID-19 continued, these recommendations are even more pertinent.
Keren Dopelt; Osnat Bashkin; Nadav Davidovitch; Noam Asna. Facing the Unknown: Healthcare Workers’ Concerns, Experiences, and Burnout during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Mixed-Methods Study in an Israeli Hospital. Sustainability 2021, 13, 9021 .
AMA StyleKeren Dopelt, Osnat Bashkin, Nadav Davidovitch, Noam Asna. Facing the Unknown: Healthcare Workers’ Concerns, Experiences, and Burnout during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Mixed-Methods Study in an Israeli Hospital. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (16):9021.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKeren Dopelt; Osnat Bashkin; Nadav Davidovitch; Noam Asna. 2021. "Facing the Unknown: Healthcare Workers’ Concerns, Experiences, and Burnout during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Mixed-Methods Study in an Israeli Hospital." Sustainability 13, no. 16: 9021.
Over the past decade, there has been a growing development of innovative technologies to treat cancer. Many of these technologies are expensive and not funded by health funds. The present study examined physicians’ perceptions of the ethical and clinical aspects of the recommendation and use of unfunded technologies for cancer treatment. This mixed-methods study surveyed 127 oncologists regarding their perceptions toward using unfunded innovative cancer treatment technologies, followed by in-depth interviews with 16 oncologists. Most respondents believed that patients should be offered all treatment alternatives, regardless of their financial situation. However, 59% indicated that they often face dilemmas regarding recommending new unfunded treatments to patients with financial difficulties and without private health insurance. Over a third (38%) stated that they felt uncomfortable discussing the cost of treatment with patients. A predictive model found that physicians facing patients whose medical condition worsened due to an inability to access new treatments, and who expressed the opinion that physicians can assist in locating funding for patients who cannot afford treatments, were more likely to recommend unfunded innovative therapies to patients (F = 5.22, R2 = 0.15, p< 0.001). Subsequent in-depth interviews revealed four key themes: economic considerations in choosing therapy, patient–physician communication, the public healthcare fund, and discussion of treatment costs. Physicians feel a professional commitment to offer patients the best medical care and a moral duty to discuss costs and minimize patients’ financial difficulty. There is a need for careful and balanced use of innovative life-prolonging technologies while putting patients at the center of discourse on this complex and controversial issue. It is essential to develop a psychosocial support program for physicians and patients dealing with ethical and psychosocial dilemmas and to set guidelines for oncologists to conduct a comprehensive and collaborative physician–patient discourse regarding all aspects of treatment.
Osnat Bashkin; Keren Dopelt; Noam Asna; Nadav Davidovitch. Recommending Unfunded Innovative Cancer Therapies: Ethical vs. Clinical Perspectives among Oncologists on a Public Healthcare System—A Mixed-Methods Study. Current Oncology 2021, 28, 2902 -2913.
AMA StyleOsnat Bashkin, Keren Dopelt, Noam Asna, Nadav Davidovitch. Recommending Unfunded Innovative Cancer Therapies: Ethical vs. Clinical Perspectives among Oncologists on a Public Healthcare System—A Mixed-Methods Study. Current Oncology. 2021; 28 (4):2902-2913.
Chicago/Turabian StyleOsnat Bashkin; Keren Dopelt; Noam Asna; Nadav Davidovitch. 2021. "Recommending Unfunded Innovative Cancer Therapies: Ethical vs. Clinical Perspectives among Oncologists on a Public Healthcare System—A Mixed-Methods Study." Current Oncology 28, no. 4: 2902-2913.
The demand for medical assistance in dying remains high and controversial with a large knowledge gap to support optimal patient care. The study aimed to explore physicians’ attitudes regarding euthanasia and examine the factors that related to these attitudes. We surveyed 135 physicians working at a tertiary-care hospital in Israel. The questionnaire was comprised of demographic and background information, DNR procedure information, encounters with terminally ill patients, familiarity with the law regarding end-of-life questions, and Attitudes toward Euthanasia. About 61% agreed that a person has the right to decide whether to expedite their own death, 54% agreed that euthanasia should be allowed, while 29% thought that physicians should preserve a patients’ life even when they expressed the wish to die. A negative statistically significant relationship was found between the level of religiosity and attitudes toward euthanasia. The physicians’ attitudes towards euthanasia are quite positive when compared to other countries. The data shows a conflict of values: the sacredness of human life versus the desire to alleviate patients’ suffering. The Coronavirus-19 outbreak reinforces the importance of supporting physicians’ efforts to provide ethical and empathic communication for terminally ill patients. Future studies should aim to improve our understanding and treatment of the specific types of suffering that lead to end-of-life requests.
Keren Dopelt; Dganit Cohen; Einat Amar-Krispel; Nadav Davidovitch; Paul Barach. Facing Death: Attitudes toward Physician-Assisted End of Life among Physicians Working at a Tertiary-Care-Hospital in Israel. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 6396 .
AMA StyleKeren Dopelt, Dganit Cohen, Einat Amar-Krispel, Nadav Davidovitch, Paul Barach. Facing Death: Attitudes toward Physician-Assisted End of Life among Physicians Working at a Tertiary-Care-Hospital in Israel. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (12):6396.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKeren Dopelt; Dganit Cohen; Einat Amar-Krispel; Nadav Davidovitch; Paul Barach. 2021. "Facing Death: Attitudes toward Physician-Assisted End of Life among Physicians Working at a Tertiary-Care-Hospital in Israel." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 12: 6396.
The COVID-19 crisis poses challenges to healthcare systems and requires micro- and macro-organizational adaptations. This study examined the organizational atmosphere in Israeli hospitals by evaluating workers’ perceptions and concerns about the COVID-19 crisis and its management. At the end of the pandemic’s first wave in Israel, 547 healthcare workers responded to an online survey, which inquired about COVID-19 concerns at the individual and family level, perceptions at the national and organizational level, perceptions of the way the crisis was managed, self-assessment of coping with the crisis and burnout, and demographics. Findings showed that healthcare workers expressed deep concerns for family members and apprehension at a national level. Respondents noted that they were coping well with the crisis while expressing negative perceptions of how the crisis was managed. A regression model showed that the low self-assessment of medical staff of coping with the crisis, deep concerns at the organizational level, negative perceptions of crisis management, and providing care for COVID-19 patients were predictors of burnout. The findings emphasize the importance of developing a supportive organizational culture for hospital workers. Awareness of their concerns and perceptions is essential to improve organizational culture and healthcare systems’ ability to continue fighting the virus and confront future health crises.
Osnat Bashkin; Nadav Davidovitch; Noam Asna; Doron Schwartz; Keren Dopelt. The Organizational Atmosphere in Israeli Hospital during COVID-19: Concerns, Perceptions, and Burnout. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 5544 .
AMA StyleOsnat Bashkin, Nadav Davidovitch, Noam Asna, Doron Schwartz, Keren Dopelt. The Organizational Atmosphere in Israeli Hospital during COVID-19: Concerns, Perceptions, and Burnout. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (11):5544.
Chicago/Turabian StyleOsnat Bashkin; Nadav Davidovitch; Noam Asna; Doron Schwartz; Keren Dopelt. 2021. "The Organizational Atmosphere in Israeli Hospital during COVID-19: Concerns, Perceptions, and Burnout." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 11: 5544.
Background: Medical staff, who care for patients at their own risk, are on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19. The aim of this study is to describe the feelings and experiences of medical staff working in hospitals during the coronavirus crisis.Methods: Data were collected as part of a mixed-methods study that included an online survey completed by 263 hospital staff members, as well as 10 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with doctors, nurses and medical technicians working on coronavirus wards.Results: The survey findings revealed that respondents expressed extremely high rates of concern for family members and at a national level, but that they were less apprehensive about their own health and safety. At the same time, burnout was lower than the rates of concern. Nurses displayed more apprehension and burnout compared to medical staff in other professional roles. The in-depth interviews reinforced and supplemented the survey findings and deepened our understanding of the feelings of medical staff directly involved in coronavirus patient care.Conclusions: The study’s findings revealed the main concerns of hospital staff during the coronavirus crisis and deepened our understanding of the issues that require systemic attention in order to strengthen the mental resilience of hospital staff, in particular those working on coronavirus wards. The steps required to continue coping with and fighting the virus include the development of a mental and emotional support network for medical staff, to safeguard them and their health as they care for patients, and to provide ongoing psychosocial support.
Keren Dopelt; Osnat Bashkin; Nadav Davidovitch; Noam Asna. Facing the Unknown: Healthcare Workers’ Concerns, Attitudes and Burnout During the COVID-19 Pandemic - A Mixed Methods Study. 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleKeren Dopelt, Osnat Bashkin, Nadav Davidovitch, Noam Asna. Facing the Unknown: Healthcare Workers’ Concerns, Attitudes and Burnout During the COVID-19 Pandemic - A Mixed Methods Study. . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKeren Dopelt; Osnat Bashkin; Nadav Davidovitch; Noam Asna. 2020. "Facing the Unknown: Healthcare Workers’ Concerns, Attitudes and Burnout During the COVID-19 Pandemic - A Mixed Methods Study." , no. : 1.
The livestock industry has numerous and diverse impacts on the environment. In a cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire, 361 students were asked about their knowledge, attitudes, and behavior related to the environmental impact caused by livestock industry. The data were analyzed using correlations, t-tests for independent samples, and linear regression models. We found that students have almost no knowledge about the environmental impact of the food they consume, their attitudes are moderately pro-environmental, yet they are not strict about pro-environmental behavior. Students with higher levels of environmental knowledge demonstrated more pro-environmental attitudes and behavior; attitudes mediate the relationship between level of knowledge and behavior with respect to environmental pollution caused by the livestock industry. In addition, participants that rear/reared animals demonstrated more knowledge and pro-environmental attitudes and behavior, and women demonstrated more pro-environmental attitudes and behavior than men. There is a need to raise awareness of the environmental and health impacts caused by livestock industry. An introductory course on environmental science should be integrated into different academic study programs. Further research should be conducted among additional population sectors.
Keren Dopelt; Pnina Radon; Nadav Davidovitch. Environmental Effects of the Livestock Industry: The Relationship between Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior among Students in Israel. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2019, 16, 1359 .
AMA StyleKeren Dopelt, Pnina Radon, Nadav Davidovitch. Environmental Effects of the Livestock Industry: The Relationship between Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior among Students in Israel. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; 16 (8):1359.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKeren Dopelt; Pnina Radon; Nadav Davidovitch. 2019. "Environmental Effects of the Livestock Industry: The Relationship between Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior among Students in Israel." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 8: 1359.
K Dopelt; O Wacht; R Strugo; R Miller; T Kushnir. Between sense of mission and professional burnout: Integrating paramedics into healthcare systems. The European Journal of Public Health 2016, 26, 1 .
AMA StyleK Dopelt, O Wacht, R Strugo, R Miller, T Kushnir. Between sense of mission and professional burnout: Integrating paramedics into healthcare systems. The European Journal of Public Health. 2016; 26 (suppl_1):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleK Dopelt; O Wacht; R Strugo; R Miller; T Kushnir. 2016. "Between sense of mission and professional burnout: Integrating paramedics into healthcare systems." The European Journal of Public Health 26, no. suppl_1: 1.
K Dopelt; Z Yahav; J Urkin; Y Bachner; N Davidovitch. Reducing health inequalities: predictors of social and community involvement among physicians in israel. The European Journal of Public Health 2013, 23, 1 .
AMA StyleK Dopelt, Z Yahav, J Urkin, Y Bachner, N Davidovitch. Reducing health inequalities: predictors of social and community involvement among physicians in israel. The European Journal of Public Health. 2013; 23 (suppl_1):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleK Dopelt; Z Yahav; J Urkin; Y Bachner; N Davidovitch. 2013. "Reducing health inequalities: predictors of social and community involvement among physicians in israel." The European Journal of Public Health 23, no. suppl_1: 1.
K Dopelt; N Davidovitch; Gabi bin Nun. [Facing health inequities: the Negev as a case study--Center for Health Policy Research in the Negev and the Department of Health Systems Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University, June 2010]. Harefuah 2010, 149, 1 .
AMA StyleK Dopelt, N Davidovitch, Gabi bin Nun. [Facing health inequities: the Negev as a case study--Center for Health Policy Research in the Negev and the Department of Health Systems Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University, June 2010]. Harefuah. 2010; 149 (11):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleK Dopelt; N Davidovitch; Gabi bin Nun. 2010. "[Facing health inequities: the Negev as a case study--Center for Health Policy Research in the Negev and the Department of Health Systems Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University, June 2010]." Harefuah 149, no. 11: 1.