A cross-sectional study to assess job strain of emergency healthcare workers by Karasek questionnaire: The SEEK study

BackgroundEmergency healthcare workers (eHCWs) are particularly at risk of stress, but data using the gold standard questionnaire of Karasek are scarce. We assessed the level of stress of eHCWs and aimed to compare it with the general population.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional nationwide study in French Emergency Departments (EDs), using the job-content questionnaire of Karasek, compared with the 25,000 answers in the French general population (controls from the SUMER study). The descriptions of job demand, job control, and social support were described as well as the prevalence of job strain and isostrain. Putative factors were searched using mixed-method analysis.ResultsA total of 166 eHCWs (37.9 ± 10.5 years old, 42% men) from five French EDs were included: 53 emergency physicians and 104 emergency paramedics, compared to 25,000 workers with other occupations. Job demand was highest for physicians (28.3 ± 3.3) and paramedics (25.9 ± 3.8), compared to controls (36.0 ± 7.2; p < 0.001). Job control was the lowest for physicians (61.2 ± 5.8) and paramedics (59.1 ± 6.8), compared to controls (70.4 ± 11.7; p < 0.001). Mean social support did not differ between groups (23.6 ± 3.4 for physicians, 22.6 ± 2.9 for paramedics, and 23.7 ± 3.6 for controls). The prevalence of job strain was massively higher for physicians (95.8%) and paramedics (84.8%), compared to controls (23.9%; p < 0.001), as well as for isostrain (45.1% for physicians, 56.8% for paramedics, and 14.3% for controls, p < 0.001). We did not find any significant impact of sociodemographic characteristics on job control, job demand, or social support.ConclusionEmergency healthcare workers have a dramatic rate of job strain, necessitating urgent promotion of policy to take care of them

Perception de l’effort et performances de deux modes de propulsion lors d’un test de terrain effectué par des joueurs de basketball en fauteuil roulant

IF=0.51International audiencePurposeThis study aims to comparing, performance and perceived exertion of the synchronous versus asynchronous mode of wheelchair propulsion within the framework of a progressive aerobic field test.Materials and methodEight highly trained wheelchair basketball players have performed an incremental multistage field test in two separate sessions (synchronous and asynchronous). The number of exercise levels performed, maximal aerobic velocity, rating of perceived exertion and arm frequency were measured.ResultsThe number of exercise levels performed and maximal aerobic velocity are significantly increased in the synchronous mode (P<0.05) and arm frequency is significantly higher in synchronous versus asynchronous at 100% maximal aerobic velocity. There is a significant correlation between both modes of propulsion for the number of exercise levels performed (r2=0.80). However, normalized rating of perceived exertion values at each maximal aerobic velocity percentage shows no significant difference whatever the mode of propulsion, even if the absolute value of rating of perceived exertion tends to be higher in asynchronous versus synchronous at each stages.ConclusionSynchronous mode provides better performance than asynchronous, in terms of number of exercise levels performed and maximal aerobic velocity. Arm frequency could restrict athletes’ performance in asynchronous propulsion during the final stage. It would be interesting for futures studies to assess both physiological and biomechanical parameters simultaneously.ObjectifsCette étude vise à comparer les performances et la perception de l’effort lors de la propulsion en fauteuil roulant manuel en mode synchrone versus asynchrone dans le cadre d’un test de terrain progressif.Matériels et méthodeHuit joueurs de basketball en fauteuil roulant manuel ont effectué le Multistage Field Test selon les deux modes de propulsion (synchrone et asynchrone). Le nombre de paliers atteint, la vitesse maximale aérobie, l’évaluation de l’effort perçu et la fréquence de poussée ont été mesurés.RésultatsLe nombre de paliers atteint et la vitesse maximale aérobie sont significativement supérieurs en mode synchrone (p<0,05) et la fréquence de poussée est significativement plus élevée en synchrone à 100 % de la vitesse maximale aérobie. Il existe une corrélation significative entre les deux modes de propulsion pour le nombre de paliers atteint (r2=0,80). Cependant, les valeurs normalisées de l’effort perçu à chaque pourcentage de vitesse maximale aérobie ne montrent pas de différence significative, quel que soit le mode de propulsion, même si les valeurs absolues de l’effort perçu ont tendance à être plus élevées en asynchrone à chaque palier du test.ConclusionLe mode synchrone fournit de meilleures performances que le mode asynchrone, en termes de nombre de paliers atteint et vitesse maximale aérobie. La fréquence de poussée pourrait limiter la performance des athlètes en asynchrone pendant les derniers paliers. Il serait intéressant d’évaluer simultanément les paramètres physiologiques et biomécaniques lors de prochaines études