Vlatka Brumen

Work environment influence on cytostatics-induced genotoxicity in oncologic nurses

The aim of the study was to point out the influence of workplace conditions on chromosomal damage incidence in nurses handling cytostatics. The study comprised two groups of 17 oncologic nurses each and the same number of matched controls. Sister chromatid exchange method (SCE) was used for genotoxicity assessment. In the group of nurses provided with a safe working environment, the SCE-frequency was insignificantly increased when compared to the controls (p > 0.8), although wide SCE-ranges were obtained. By contrast, in the group of nurses provided with neither such an environment nor with the appropriate personal protective equipment, the SCE-frequency was significantly higher, not only compared to the controls (p < 0.001), but also to the first test group (p < 0.001).

Are nurse presenteeism and patient safety culture associated: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Working as a nurse involves great dedication and sacrifice: working night shifts, working overtime, and coming to work sick. The last is also known as presenteeism. Research has shown that poor nurse performance can affect both caregiver’s and patient’s safety. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate whether nurse presenteeism affected patient safety culture and to look deeper into the characteristics of nurse presenteeism and patient safety culture in Croatia. The study was conducted in one general hospital in Croatia over April and May 2012 and specifically targeted medical nurses as one of the largest groups of healthcare professionals. They were asked to fill two questionnaires: the six-item Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS-6) and the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC). We found no association between presenteeism and patient safety culture. Overall positive perception of safety was our sample’s strength, but other dimensions were positively rated by less than 65 % of participants. The lowest positive response concerned “nonpunitive response to error”, which is consistent with previous studies. Presenteeist nurses did not differ in their characteristics from nurses without presenteeism (gender, age, years of experience, working hours, contact with patients and patient safety grades). Our future research will have to include a broader healthcare population for us to be able to identify weak spots and suggest improvements toward high-quality and cost-effective health care. Sažetak Zanimanje medicinske sestre uključuje veliku predanost i požrtvovnost: medicinske sestre rade noćne smjene, rade prekovremeno i dolaze na posao i kada su bolesne. Naziv za ovu zadnju pojavu je prezentizam. Neka su istraživanja pokazala da smanjena radna sposobnost medicinskih sestara zbog bolesti može ugroziti sigurnost pružatelja zdravstvene usluge i bolesnika. Cilj ovog presječnog istraživanja bio je ispitati obilježja prezentizma i kulture bolesničke sigurnosti u medicinskih sestara u Hrvatskoj te utječe li njihov prezentizam na kulturu bolesničke sigurnosti. Istraživanje je provedeno u jednoj općoj bolnici u Hrvatskoj tijekom travnja i svibnja 2012., i bilo je posebno ciljano prema medicinskim sestrama s obzirom na to da čine jednu od najvećih skupina zdravstvenih djelatnika. Ispitanici su zamoljeni da ispune dva upitnika: Stanfordsku ljestvicu prezentizma (SPS-6) i Upitnik o kulturi bolesničke sigurnosti u bolnici (HSOPSC). Nije nađena povezanost između prezentizma i kulture bolesničke sigurnosti. Najveći broj pozitivnih odgovora imala je dimenzija “Opća percepcija bolesničke sigurnosti”; ostale dimenzije imale su pozitivne odgovore ispod 65 %. Najmanji broj pozitivnih ocjena imala je dimenzija “Nekažnjavajući pristup neželjenom događaju”, što je u skladu s prethodnim istraživanjima. U pogledu spola, dobi, godina iskustva, radnih sati, kontakata s bolesnicima i njihove sigurnosti, medicinske sestre s prezentizmom nisu se nimalo razlikovale od medicinskih sestara bez prezentizma.

In vitro assessment of asbestos fibers genotoxicity

This study was carried out in order to assess the genotoxic effect of in vitro exposure to commercial chrysotile asbestos. V 79 cell line, known as a well-established cellular model, was used for detection of asbestos genotoxic potency. Conventional structural chromosomal aberration analysis and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) method were both used for asbestos genotoxicity assessment. Within the experimental protocol applied, V 79 cells were treated with asbestos in concentrations of 100 and 200 micrograms/ml F-10 (HAM) media during 90 days, respectively. Analysis of changes in chromosome structure as well as of cell ploidy was performed each tenth day of the experimental course, consecutively. Two hundred well spread metaphases were taken into account for chromosomal aberration analysis. Frequency of sister chromatid exchanges was observed in 50 cells per sample. The results of cytogenetic tests revealed structural chromosomal damages, SCE-elevation and changes in cell ploidy. Cytogenetic effect of asbestos obviously depended on the dose applied and on the period of incubation. The results of this study suggest that significant cytogenetic changes occurring after asbestos treatment might directly or indirectly be the part of the biological events responsible for eliciting asbestos-induced carcinogenesis.