Miscellaneous 1
Tuesday 7 October 2025, 16.00 – 17.00 Fluor
Chairs: Dick Heederik, Norvil Antonio Mera Chu
Workplace stress in nursing students: Implications for well-being and patient safety
Jaana Sepp (presenter)
Jandra, Sule; Kristi, Puusepp; Tormi, Kool
Abstract
The demanding nature of healthcare work exposes students to high levels of stress, which can affect their psychosocial well-being and professional performance. This pilot study aims to investigate the impact of workplace stress and psychosocial factors on nursing students’ mental health and their readiness for professional practice after completing their nursing programme. A total of 124 nursing students (out of 148 invited), who had successfully completed their nursing programme and defended their theses, participated in the study. The Work-Related Quality of Life (WRQoL) Scale, a 23-item psychometric tool, was used to assess students’ perceptions of their future work environment. The survey measured six key psychosocial sub-factors: general well-being (GWB), home-work interface (HWI), job and career satisfaction (JCS), control at work (CAL), working conditions (WCS), and stress at work (SAW). The results indicated that 75% of students felt confident in their future roles, yet 35% reported experiencing work-related stress. Additionally, 9% of students acknowledged feelings of unhappiness or depression. Regarding patient safety, 63.7% agreed that even experienced professionals make mistakes, while 56.5% and 51.6% respectively believed that long working hours and the lack of regular breaks increase the likelihood of errors. 90% of students felt their education had prepared them to understand the causes of harm and to prevent mistakes, and 81% confirmed they had the knowledge to report errors and take appropriate actions following them. The study highlights the positive influence of academic training on students’ confidence and preparedness for professional roles. However, it also emphasizes the need to address workplace stress and error management in nursing education. Targeted interventions, including stress management strategies and mental health support, should be incorporated into nursing curricula to better prepare students for the emotional and professional challenges they will face in clinical practice.
Occupational rabies exposure on a dairy farm – Minnesota, 2024
Carrie Klumb (presenter)
Malia Ireland, Bonnie Miller, Erik Jopp, Betsy Lempelius, Albert Rovira, Hemant Naikare, Carly Bauer, Katie Harry, Scott Cunningham, Gongping Liu, Thomas Czeck, Ryan Wallace, Brian Hoefs, Stacy Holzbauer
Abstract
Objective Rabies clusters in domestic livestock are rare but can result in occupational rabies exposures and significant economic losses for farmers. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Minnesota Board of Animal Health (BAH) were notified of a rabid steer on a dairy farm and began a joint investigation. Materials and Methods MDH and BAH investigated human and animal exposures through interviews and site visits to provide recommendations and impose quarantines. Whole genome sequencings of rabies viruses were performed. Direct costs to the farmers and the medical sector were estimated from veterinary charges and rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) estimates. Results Between May 11 and June 9, 2024, five of 35 steers on a Minnesota dairy farm developed neurologic signs consistent with rabies. Three of the five affected steers had brain specimens sent in for rabies testing, which confirmed the North Central Skunk rabies virus variant in all three tested steers. On May 13, a second steer exhibited similar neurologic signs, was tested and came back positive for rabies on May 16. BAH placed the herd under a 45-day quarantine. On May 18, the herd received a rabies vaccine, and two additional steers developed neurologic signs (May 24, May 27) and tested positive for rabies. BAH extended the quarantine to 120 days. The second rabies vaccine was administered on June 1 and on June 9th a fifth steer became symptomatic and died. MDH epidemiologists conducted interviews with potentially exposed persons and five people were recommended to receive PEP. Conclusion This outbreak, likely attributable to a single rabid skunk, put farmers at risk of a fatal disease. Total costs to the farmers and medical sector from loss of livestock and PEP exceeded $47,000, compared to $310 for preventive vaccination of the herd. Vaccination of cattle can be considered in areas with high terrestrial rabies activity, high-value animals, and potential for human exposure. Funding for this work was made possible in part by the cooperative agreement award CK24-0002 for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Program and from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Safety grant (MCOHS)T42OH008434.
Peritoneal mesothelioma and asbestos exposure: a population-based case-control study in Italy, 2000-2021
Dario Consonni (presenter)
Susan Peters; Hans Kromhout; Alessandra Binazzi; Alessandro Marinaccio; Carolina Mensi; ReNaM Working Group
Abstract
Objective Using a nationwide case-control design, we examined the association between occupational asbestos exposure and peritoneal mesothelioma (PM) risk in the general population in Italy. Material and Methods PM cases diagnosed in 2000-2021 and their life-time occupational history collected through interview were extracted from the National Mesothelioma Registry. Controls were 3,045 from three case-control studies performed in six regions in 2002-2004 (2,116 population controls) and 2012-2016 (718 population and 211 hospital controls). Individual exposure assignment was based on a quantitative job-exposure matrix (SYN-JEM). Expert-based exposure assignment was available for cases and controls for the period 2011-2021. Odds ratios (OR) and 90% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using logistic regression models adjusted for geographical area (North-East, North-West, Centre, South) or region, gender, period (2000-2010, 2011-2021), and age. Results In a complete analysis (1,591 cases in all years and areas, 2000-2021) OR for ever exposure to asbestos was 3.66 (CI: 3.21-4.18, 45.4% cases and 27.8% controls exposed); and the OR for cumulative exposure was 2.87 (CI: 2.57-3.20) per natural log transformed fibres/mL-years. In analyses restricted to 290 cases enrolled in the same years (2002-2004, 2012-2016) and regions of controls, ORs were very similar: 3.35 (CI: 2.57-4.37, 43.8% cases exposed) and 2.74 (CI: 2.24-3.36) per ln(fibres/mL-years). ORs for ever exposed to asbestos based on expert assessment were 4.32 (CI: 3.50-5.34, 53.9% cases and 26.4% controls exposed) in complete analysis (778 cases, 2011-2021) and 6.35 (CI: 4.58-8.81, 57.1% cases exposed) in restricted analysis (245 cases, 2012-2016). Conclusion In a nationwide population-based study we found clear positive associations between PM and occupational asbestos exposure using different exposure metrics. These results are relevant for compensation of affected individuals independently of the industrial sectors in which they were exposed.
Exposure to dust and fibres and risk of lung cancer in 25,000 offshore oil industry workers
Jo Stenehjem (presenter)
Leon AM Berge , Nita K Shala , Ronnie Babigumira , Niki Marjerrison Sara Nafisi , Tom K Grimsrud , Marit B Veierød
Abstract
Objective: In the offshore working environment, exposure to crystalline silica dust (CSD), asbestos and refractory ceramic fibres (RCF) may occur during offshore maintenance and drilling activities. Yet, no assessment of lung cancer risk according to job exposure matrices (JEMs) of these agents has been performed in offshore petroleum workers. Considering the ongoing debate about banning CSD-containing engineered stone products, we aimed to investigate the relationship between CSD and lung cancer risk using causal inference methodology. Material and Methods: A case-cohort study was conducted on 475 lung cancer cases and 2015 randomly drawn non-cases in the Norwegian Offshore Petroleum Workers cohort followed up for cancer in the Cancer Registry of Norway 1999–2022. CSD, asbestos, and RCF exposure were assessed with expert-made JEMs. Cumulative incidence of lung cancer with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was estimated, with death as a competing event, adjusted for age, first year of offshore employment, tobacco smoking, asbestos, and welding fumes using inverse probability of treatment weights. Additional analyses for histological subtypes were conducted. Results: Among workers with the highest cumulative CSD exposure, an increased absolute risk of overall lung cancer was found after 5 years (0.8%, 95% CI: 0.4–2.1%) and 22 years of follow-up (4.2%, 95% CI: 2.6–6.7%). In workers unexposed to CSD, the corresponding estimates were 0.3% (95% CI: 0.2–0.4%) and 1.9% (95% CI: 1.6–2.4%). Similar results were found for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) after 5 years (SCC=0.2% (95% CI: 0.03–1.7%), SCLC=0.3% (95% CI: 0.09–1.2%)) and 22 years (SCC=1.1% (95% CI: 0.5–2.3%), SCLC=0.8% (95% CI: 0.3–1.8%)). No increased risk was found for asbestos or RCF. Conclusion: High cumulative exposure to CSD may increase the absolute risk of lung cancer, overall and by histological subtypes, in offshore petroleum workers.