INTRODUCTION: Impostor phenomenon (IP) is a set of feelings encountered by individuals of being incompetent, despite experiencing successes. IP affects not only individuals on a personal level, but also organisations where the leadership diversity decreases due to employees' self-doubt. We aim to investigate the prevalence of IP and burnout among employees in the National University Health System (NUHS). METHODS: All permanently employed full-time NUHS employees aged 21 years and above were invited to participate in this self-administered cross-sectional study between April 2021 and August 2021. Mass emails with the embedded study link were sent every 2-3 weeks to the employees' corporate email accounts. RESULTS: In our study, 61% of our study respondents reported having IP experiences and 97% reported having burnout. The associations of IP with ethnicity and age group were significant. Post hoc tests, however, showed that the association was statistically significant only in the 21-29 years age group. CONCLUSION We found that there was no statistical significance between gender and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) profile types. However, we found that IP was significantly associated with individuals in the 21-29 years age group. This could be because younger individuals who just entered workforce may feel uncomfortable with their newfound independence and responsibility. Workplace support, such as workshops, and emotional support were found to be useful in helping individuals cope with IP. Future studies could be done post coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic among healthcare workers to have a larger sample size to determine true IP and burnout prevalence.
Humans ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Burnout, Professional/psychology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Prevalence ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Workplace/psychology*

INTRODUCTION: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, contact tracers were under immense pressure to deliver effective and timely contact tracing, raising concerns of higher susceptibility to burnout. Our study aimed to determine burnout prevalence among hospital-based contact tracers and associated risk factors, so that interventions to reduce burnout risk could be formulated. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-six active contact tracers across three hospitals within a healthcare cluster were invited to complete an anonymous online survey. To identify burntout, data such as demographics, work-related variables and contact tracing-related variables were collected using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. Associated factors were identified using multivariate statistics. Open-ended questions were included to understand the challenges and potential improvements through qualitative analysis. RESULTS: A total of 126 participants completed the survey, giving a completion rate of 64%, and almost half of these participants (42.9%) reported burnout. Protective factors included being on work-from-home arrangements (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.08-0.56), perception of being well supported by their institution (adjusted OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.08-0.80) and being married (adjusted OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.12-0.64). Risk factors included having an administrative role pre-COVID-19 (adjusted OR 3.62, 95% CI 1.33-9.83). Work-related burnout was related to being activated for more than 1 day in the preceding week (unadjusted OR 3.25, 95% CI 1.33-7.94) and multiple activations in a day (unadjusted OR 3.54, 95% CI 1.44-4.41). Biggest challenges identified by participants were language barrier (62.7%), followed by workflow-related issues (42.1%). CONCLUSION Our study demonstrated burnout and other challenges faced by a team of mostly hospital-based administrative staff redeployed on a part-time basis to ensure timely contact tracing. To mitigate burnout, we recommend choosing staff on work-from-home arrangements and ensuring adequate manpower and rostering arrangements.
Humans ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Burnout, Professional/epidemiology* ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Female ; Male ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Contact Tracing/methods* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Prevalence ; Pandemics

INTRODUCTION: Despite efforts to improve junior doctors' working conditions, burnout, distress and disillusionment persist, with implications for patient outcomes. This qualitative study analysed factors shaping the lived experiences of junior doctors in Singapore and their changes over time, thereby seeking to inform improvements to working conditions. METHOD: Thirty purposively sampled respondents who were junior doctors in Singapore between 1975 and 2022 were interviewed. Respondents were grouped into 3 cohorts: (1) junior, (2) middle and (3) senior. Employing the framework method of qualitative analysis, open coding was performed with reference to the individual, interpersonal, institutional, community and policy levels of the socioecological model (SEM). Four themes emerged: (1) inherent challenges of junior doctorship, (2) exacerbating factors, (3) alleviating factors and (4) responses of junior doctors to their experiences. Codes were reconstructed into a modified SEM, demonstrating trickle-down effects of interpersonal or structural forces on the individual doctor and pertinent factors evolving with time. RESULTS: Across cohorts, respondents echoed mental and physical challenges. While senior cohort doctors recounted higher patient-to-doctor ratios and longer working hours, junior cohort doctors cited new difficulties. These include a hostile medicolegal landscape, patients' increasingly complex needs and expectations, and higher administrative loads. Amid these difficulties, alleviating factors included good workplace relationships alongside institutional interventions. Doctors responded differently to their challenges. Some externalised difficulties through expression and advocacy; others internalised them, whether into fulfilment or distress. CONCLUSION While some facets of junior doctorship have improved with time, new challenges that warrant consideration are emerging. Junior doctors should be centred, listened to and empowered in shaping improvements to working conditions.
Singapore ; Humans ; Qualitative Research ; Medical Staff, Hospital/psychology* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Burnout, Professional/psychology* ; Workload/psychology* ; Attitude of Health Personnel ; Interviews as Topic ; Job Satisfaction

Environmental Microbiology, as a compulsory foundational course for the major of environmental and ecological engineering. Its knowledge system not only lays a profound theoretical foundation but also evinces a close-knit nexus to practical applications in environmental protection and ecological restoration. This course thus serves as an outstanding platform facilitating both teaching reforms and practical innovations of professional courses. With Environmental Microbiology as a paradigmatic illustration, this paper concentrates on addressing issues like archaic course contents and enervating teaching approaches, with the aspiration of augmenting students' professional acuities, practical dexterities, and innovation and entrepreneurial aptitudes. In light of the aforesaid aim, we initiated an all-encompassing probe into the teaching reform and practicable paradigms from the perspective of amalgamating professional education with innovation-steered stratagems. Across multiple fronts, comprehensive reformative undertakings were implemented, subsuming the optimization and reconfiguration of course contents, the exploration of sundry teaching methodologies, and the scientific erection of an evaluation system. Ultimately, a nascent teaching model dubbed "three-dimensional, six-loop and five-collaborative" was formed. This series of comprehensive and innovative reform measures has not only substantially augmented the profundity and extensiveness of professional knowledge, permeating into the core of disciplinary essence, but also remarkably bolstered students' practical operational capabilities and innovative thinking patterns, thereby catalyzing their transformation into well-rounded individuals with a competitive edge. By virtue of these efforts, a solid foundation has been firmly laid for the teaching reform of Environmental Microbiology and the cultivation of high-caliber environmental professionals in the contemporary era, heralding a new chapter in the development of environmental education.
Environmental Microbiology ; Teaching ; Education, Professional/methods* ; Curriculum

Background: Midwives have been frontline health professionals at the grassroots level, especially in rural communities. Their role was expanded from maternal and child healthcare providers to primary healthcare services providers. Despite their expanded functions, there have been limited studies investigating the professional practice of midwifery in the Philippines in a rural setting. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the professional practice of midwives in selected rural areas in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines. Methods: This research is a qualitative pilot study using a semi-structured interview guide to collect the data. Key informant interviews were conducted through mobile phone calls convenient for the participants from September to October 2021. Data were analyzed through qualitative content analysis. Results: A total of seven rural health midwives participated in this study. From the data analysis, six themes emerged related to the professional functions of rural Filipino midwives: 1) antenatal and postnatal care, 2) basic emergency obstetrical and newborn care, 3) health education and counseling, 4) treating common children and adult infections, 5) health promotion, and 6) beyond midwifery role. Conclusion Rural midwives play a role in providing several primary healthcare services mandated by the government and the profession. They also offer health services beyond their scope as midwives because of geographical difficulties and logistic issues. The findings inform the policymaker to review and amend the expanded roles of practicing midwives so that they will be empowered in providing quality and legal healthcare services. The study results will also be important in preparing midwives for rural midwifery practice.
midwives ; professional practice

The "new engineering" concept requires that in addition to laying a solid professional foundation, engineering colleges and universities in China should also pay attention to improving the humanistic quality and developing a professional ethics education in training the engineering and technical talents. One important way is to carry out the engineering ethics education. By referring to the mature case-teaching ideas around the world and combining the practical experience accumulated in recent years, this paper focuses on the curriculum development and teaching reform of engineering ethics for students studying biological and medical engineering, from the perspectives of case selection and teaching method innovation. It also introduces some typical case studies, and summarizes the teaching effect analyzed from questionnaire.
Humans ; Curriculum ; Engineering/education* ; Students ; Ethics, Professional ; Biology/education*

Objective: To analyze the equity of national stomatologist resource allocation from 2016 to 2020, providing relevantly referenced basis for further stomatologist resource allocation. Methods: Collect data of domestic and international stomatologist resources in 2016, 2018 and 2020, and analyze the relevant data by using the health resources agglomeration degree and population agglomeration degree. Results: At present, at the international level, the number of dentists per 10 000 people ranks 46th in 2010-2019. The quantity of domestic dental resources is on the rise, with a balanced gender distribution and a concentrated age distribution mainly in 25-44 years old. At the specialized technical level, the proportion of junior titles can reach 79.5%-83.0%. The ratio of resource agglomeration of dental practitioners and assistants calculated based on geographical area and population density shows that the ratio of HRAD to PAD in the eastern provinces is greater than 1, while the ratios of most provinces in the central and western regions are less than 1. The eastern regions have excessive allocations, while ones in the central and western regions are insufficient. Conclusions: Unfairness still exists in the allocation of resources for dentists in China. At the national level, it is necessary to continue to cultivate high-quality stomatologists and intensify efforts to support the grass-roots and remote areas. The ability, quality and work competence of on-the-job personnel should be comprehensively improved. Multi-point practice of stomatologists should be standardized and popularized, promoting the rational flow of oral health personnel.
Humans ; Adult ; Dentists ; Professional Role ; Health Resources ; Resource Allocation ; China

OBJECTIVES: Health workers are at risk of workplace violence, which can seriously affects their mental health and work status. This study aims to explore the mediating role of depression between workplace violence and job burnout among healthcare workers. METHODS: From January 10 to February 5, 2019, a questionnaire was distributed to frontline healthcare workers through the wenjuanxing platform using convenient sampling (snowball sampling). The questionnaire included the Chinese version of the Workplace Violence Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Patient Health Questionnaires (PHQ-2). Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and mediation model tests were conducted on the cross-sectional data collection. RESULTS: The study included 3 684 participants, with (31.63±7.69) years old. Among them 2 079(56.43%) were experienced workplace violence, 687(18.65%) were screened positive for depression, and 2 247(60.99%) were experienced high levels of occupational burnout. Correlation analysis showed positive association between workplace violence and depression, workplace violence and occupational burnout, depression and occupational burnout (r=0.135, r=0.107, r=0.335, respectively, all P<0.001). After controlling for covariates, workplace violence had an indirect effect on occupational burnout through depression, with a standardized coefficient of 0.25 (SE=0.02, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.28), accounting for 13.87% of the total effect. CONCLUSIONS The study highlights the close relationship between workplace violence, depression, and occupational burnout among healthcare workers, with depression acting as a mediator between workplace violence and occupational burnout. This study suggests that it is necessary to improve the communication skills of healthcare workers, increase the installation of security systems and emergency plans, use new media platforms to convey positive energy between doctors and patients, and open channels for medical consultation and complaints. It is also necessary to provide guidance for healthcare workers' depressive emotions. Addressing depression among health care workers will help reduce the harm caused by workplace violence, protect the physical and mental health of healthcare workers, and reduce work burnout.
Humans ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Burnout, Professional ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression/epidemiology* ; Workplace Violence ; Burnout, Psychological ; Health Personnel

INTRODUCTION: The aim was to study the prevalence of burnout among various groups of healthcare professionals in Singapore. METHODS: An anonymous online survey questionnaire was conducted using the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services to measure three categories of burnout: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalisation (DP) and personal accomplishment (PA) from July 2019 to January 2020 in a healthcare cluster in Singapore. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 6,048 healthcare professionals out of a target survey population of 15,000 (response rate 40.3%). The study revealed 37.8% of respondents had high EE score ≥27, 29.7% of respondents had high DP score ≥10, and 55.3% of respondents had low PA score ≤33. Respondents with either high EE score or high DP score constituted 43.9% (n=2,654). The Allied Health group had the highest mean EE score, which was significantly higher than those of Medical, Nursing and Non-clinical groups (P<0.05). The Medical group had the highest mean DP score and this was significantly higher than the Nursing, Allied Health and Non-clinical groups (P<0.05). The Non-clinical group had the lowest PA, which was significantly lower than the Medical, Nursing and Allied Health groups (P<0.005). CONCLUSION There was high prevalence of burnout among healthcare professionals in Singapore, especially the allied health professionals. There were significant differences in the 3 categories of burnout (EE, DP and PA) among the different groups of healthcare professionals. There is an urgent need to address the high burnout rate.
Burnout, Professional/psychology* ; Delivery of Health Care ; Health Personnel/psychology* ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) is a biologic-based treatment modality for immature permanent teeth diagnosed with pulp necrosis. The ultimate objective of REPs is to regenerate the pulp-dentin complex, extend the tooth longevity and restore the normal function. Scientific evidence has demonstrated the efficacy of REPs in promotion of root development through case reports, case series, cohort studies, and randomized controlled studies. However, variations in clinical protocols for REPs exist due to the empirical nature of the original protocols and rapid advancements in the research field of regenerative endodontics. The heterogeneity in protocols may cause confusion among dental practitioners, thus guidelines and considerations of REPs should be explicated. This expert consensus mainly discusses the biological foundation, the available clinical protocols and current status of REPs in treating immature teeth with pulp necrosis, as well as the main complications of this treatment, aiming at refining the clinical management of REPs in accordance with the progress of basic researches and clinical studies, suggesting REPs may become a more consistently evidence-based option in dental treatment.
Humans ; Consensus ; Regenerative Endodontics ; Dental Pulp Necrosis/therapy* ; Dentists ; Professional Role ; Dental Care