A cross-sectional study on prevalence and predictors of burnout among a sample of pharmacists employed in pharmacies in Central Italy

Burnout is defined as an occupational phenomenon linked to chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed and included among the factors influencing health status or contact with health services. Although several studies were performed for assessing this phenomenon, there is a lack of data on the prevalence of burnout and associated predictors, due to different definitions of the syndrome and heterogeneity of assessment methods. One of the well-known evidences on burnout is related to the highest risk professions, which include policemen, firemen, teachers, psychologists, medical students, nurses, physicians, and other health professionals, such as pharmacists. Objective. The aims of the present study were to (1) assess the occurrence of burnout syndrome among a sample of pharmacists employed in public and private pharmacies located in Rome province (Latium Region; central Italy); (2) evaluate the role of some potential predictors for the development of the syndrome. Materials and Methods. A questionnaire elaborated ad hoc was administered online to 2,000 members of the Association of Professional Pharmacists of Rome and its province and employed in public or private pharmacies. The questionnaire included the 14-item Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure (SMBM) tool and questions on demographic characteristics and working conditions. Results. Physical exhaustion was the burnout dimension with the highest score; besides, approximately 11% of the studied pharmacists were categorized as having clinically relevant burnout levels (≥4.40). Several of the investigated variables significantly influenced the single burnout dimensions at the univariate analyses; multivariate analyses demonstrated that alcohol consumption and workplace location have a significant independent role on the overall SMBM index, while working time significantly influences clinically relevant burnout level. Conclusions. The results revealed that pharmacists are at risk of burnout, and thus, it is necessary to perform specific preventive intervention for managing this occupational threat

The Impact of COVID-19 on doctors well-being: Results of a web survey during the lockdown in Italy

OBJECTIVE: On March 12, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of a new Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), to be a pandemic. From the be- ginning, Italy (in particular the Northern re- gions) was the first large European country to be hit and one of the most affected coun- tries worldwide. This had a significant impact on the workload and psychological health of health workers. The aim of this web-based cross-sectional study is to assess the con- sequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on Ital- ian doctors’ well-being and psychological dis- tress, in respect of demographic and occu- pational characteristics, lifestyle and habits during the lockdown period.PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a web-based cross-sectional survey based on Google® Forms to collect data. The participa- tion was available during the lockdown period that started in Italy on March 9, 2020 and it was voluntary and anonymous. The question- naire explored demographic and occupational variables, lifestyle and habits during the lock- down, perceived well-being and psychological distress. Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted. RESULTS: Our study reported the very alarm- ing psychological conditions of Italian doctors, especially among those who worked in the most affected regions, where a level of psychological distress of 93.8% and poor well-being of 58.9% were registered. These percentages were even higher in the case of female hospital workers with low job seniority, and those caring for COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reported a sig- nificant psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on Italian doctors, particularly among those working in the most affected regions of the country. Further studies are necessary to better understand the effects of the COVID-1

Alcohol consumption and employment: a cross-sectional study of office workers and unemployed people

Background. Alcohol is a psychoactive substance with toxic and addictive properties. Biomarkers like GGT, AST, ALT and MCV are influenced by excessive ethanol consumption. Alcohol consumption represents a health risk and it has been linked to unemployment. The aim of this study how working status predict alcohol consumption through a cross sectional study comparing alcohol-related biomarkers levels in office workers and unemployed people. Methods. This study includes 157 office workers and 157 unemployed people, who were recruited from January to December 2018. A propensity score matching procedure was applied to obtain two homogenous groups in terms of age and gender. A non- parametric analysis was performed on serum biomarkers that are generally altered by alcohol consumption. Logistic regression models were designed to evaluate how working status predict abnormal biomarker levels related with alcohol consumption. Results. No differences in median biomarker values were found between groups. Lo- gistic regression analysis showed that office work is a negative predictor of pathological biomarker levels. Office workers had a significant relation with the levels of GGT (OR 0.48; 95% CI [0.28-0.84]), AST (OR 0.42; 95% CI [0.22-0.78]), ALT (OR 0.39; 95% CI [0.23-0.66]), and MCV (OR 0.37; 95% CI [0.19-0.70]). Conclusion. Office workers had lower absolute frequencies of pathological values of alcohol consumption biomarkers, after matching for age and gender compared with unemployed people. In addition, a significant negative association between office work is a negative predictor of biomarker levels of alcohol consumption. These results showed that work is an important determinant of health and that can represent a benefit for workers in terms of reducing the risk of consuming alcohol

Pharmacists' mental health during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Italy

OBJECTIVE: The year 2020 was characterized by the outbreak of a new pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus named SARSCoV- 2. To face the pandemic, many countries worldwide imposed general lockdowns, closing all non-essential businesses. As primary care services, pharmacies had to remain open, thus putting pharmacy staff at significant risk of viral infection and overwork. This study aimed to assess the mental health of Italian Pharmacists, considering demographic and occupational characteristics, lifestyle, and habits, during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak and the subsequent lockdown period (March-May 2020). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A web-based survey was created using Google® Forms to collect data from March 30, 2020, to June 1, 2020. The questionnaire consisted of three sections investigating: (1) demographic and occupational variables, (2) lifestyle and habits variables, (3) psychological distress and perceived well-being. RESULTS: A total of 401 participants completed the questionnaire. Older workers and those with more work experience reported more psychological stress. Older and female workers, who felt lonely at home and reported psychological stress, perceived poor well-being. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that the Sars-CoV-2 outbreak and subsequent lockdown rules affected pharmacists' mental health and that it is important to put in place preventive measures against the occurrence of mental disorders among them

Psychophysical exams as early indicators of diabetic retinopathy

Retinopathy is a serious and common complication of diabetes that represents the leading cause of blindness, among people of working age, in developed countries. It is estimated that the number of people with diabetic retinopathy (DR) will increase from 126.6 million in 2011 to 191 million by 2030. The visual function that seems to be affected first in the course of DR is probably the contrast sensitivity; in addition, being mainly a macular function, the perception of colour is also compromised. Moreover, the duration of the disease, the levels of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and the presence of cystoid macular oedema are strongly associated with the impairment of fixation stability in patients with diabetes with clinically significant macular oedema, suggesting the possible diagnostic role of microperimetry. The test of contrast sensitivity and the microperimetry and the chromatic sensitivity tests have proved to be useful, safe, reproducible and inexpensive tools to diagnose the disease early

METALLOPROTEINASES AND EYE DISEASES

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endopeptidases involved in many physiological and physical processes. They synthesize and secrete numerous cytokines, growth factors, hormone receptors and cell adhesion molecules The use of metalloproteinase inhibitors has been surmised in the treatment of important diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases and various types of inflammatory diseases. With regard to the eyes, metalloproteinases and their inhibitors are implicated in the pathogenesis of diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, primary open-angle glaucoma, pseudoexfoliative glaucoma, corneal neovascularization and ulcerations (viral and bacterial), superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis, and climatic droplet keratopathy (CDK); they are secreted by the cells of the trabecular meshwork and their secretion increases after trabeculectomy surgery. They also take part in causing damage in the case of dry eye disease, pterygium, choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Age-Related Visual Signal Changes Induced by Hypoxemic Hypoxia: A Study on Aircraft Pilots of Different Ages

PURPOSE: Exposure to high altitude leads to a series of alterations of higher nervous functions because of hypobaric hypoxia. Sensory systems, mainly the visual one, seem to be particularly involved. This study aimed to assess the effects of hypoxemic hypoxia on the transmission of the visual stimulus simulating a condition of breathing at an altitude of 18,000 feet (5,486 m) through the administration of an air mixture with 10% O2. METHODS: The subjects involved in the study were 98 pilots of military aircraft (male, acclimated, healthy, 20/20 Uncorrected Visual Acuity (UCVA)/Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA), and aged between 26 and 49 years) divided into 2 groups according to age (A: 26-36 years; B: 37-49 years). The visual evoked potentials were initially recorded at sea level (760 mm Hg) and subsequently at a simulated altitude of 18,000 feet (5,486 m) through the administration of an air mixture with 10% O2 that induced a blood saturation of 80% O2 after 15 minutes. The analys

Intravitreal Injections and Diabetic Macular Edema: Actual and New Therapeutic Options.

The management of diabetic macular edema (DME) has been revolutionized in recent years. Focal and focal/grid laser photocoagulation have been the mainstay of treatment for DME for much time. However, nowadays, there is growing evidence that intravitreal VEGF-inhibitors (combined or not with laser photocoagulation) provide better visual outcome in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Hence, anti-VEGF injections are considered the new gold standard to treat diabetic macular edema and eyes with a reduced visual function. Further studies assessing different treatment regimens are underway to define better clinical care pathways

Salvare anni di vista: l'importanza dello screening per la retinopatia diabetica

La retinopatia diabetica (RD) è la più importante complicanza oculare del diabete mellito e costituisce la principale causa di cecità legale tra i soggetti in età lavorativa nei Paesi industrializzati. Dati epidemiologici suggeriscono che il 4% della popolazione italiana è affetta da diabete di tipo 2 e che questa percentuale è destinata ad aumentare nei prossimi anni. La sintomatologia soggettiva (calo del visus) può essere scarsa o talora assente anche in presenza di gravi lesioni retiniche: si stima che da un terzo a metà dei casi di RD nei pazienti affetti da diabete di tipo 2 già insorto non sia ancora diagnosticato in quanto asintomatico. Per tali ragioni emerge la necessità di intraprendere efficaci programmi di screening, con strumenti di dimostrata efficacia su grandi numeri, che siano di facile esecuzione, affidabili e a basso costo, rendendo possibile la diagnosi precoce della RD e il rispetto delle linee guida (LG) nazionali e internazionali