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BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers (HCW) may experience anxiety and prolonged work schedules during pandemics. The mental health status after a COVID-19 infection and the work ability of HCW are interesting criteria in assessing their fitness to work at the return to work (RTW) medical visit. OBJECTIVES: To assess mental health and work ability after a COVID-19 infection among HCW at the RTW medical visit. METHODS: An observational cross-sectional and descriptive study was carried out among HCW of Charles Nicolle Hospital of Tunisia infected with COVID-19 from September to December 2020. Anxiety and depression were screened using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). The perceived ability to work at RTW was measured using the Work Ability Index (WAI). RESULTS: We included 531 HCW. The median age was 40 years. HCW belonged to surgical departments (36.9%) and were nurses (32.4%). The median delay to RTW was 15 days (IQR: 13-18). At the RTW medical visit, certain anxiety and depression were found in 36.5% and 33.3% of the patients respectively. The perceived work ability was evaluated as good to very good in 37.8% of cases. The delay to RTW increased proportionally with a better-perceived work ability (p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Our study described the perceived work ability and the prevalence of anxiety and depression among the HCW at the RTW medical visit after COVID-19 infection in the early stages of the pandemic. Specific strategies for RTW after COVID-19 should take into consideration the mental health and work ability of HCW.

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BACKGROUND: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is frequently present among workers. This syndrome's professional and economic impact makes it a priority in occupational health. We aimed to describe the professional future of workers suffering from occupational CTS after surgery and the factors that could influence their retention at the job. -Methods: A retrospective descriptive study of workers operated on occupational CTS was conducted from 2014 to 2019. The data was collected using pre-established and phone questionnaires to determine their professional future after surgery. RESULTS: We included 99 workers with operated CTS. They had a mean age of 45±6.5 years, were predominantly female (97%), and had two dependent children in 72.7% of cases. They worked as a seamstress in 44.4% of patients with a mean professional seniority of 18±7.2 years. The professional future was a return to work with a job transfer at 44.4% and job maintenance with ergonomic adjustments at 39.4%. A job loss was noticed in 12.2% of cases. Early retirement was noticed in 8.2%, dismissal in 3%, and resignation in 1% of cases. The factors influencing the professional future were age 50 to 59 years (p=0.01) and dependent children (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In our survey, most operated-CTS workers benefited from a job transfer and kept their job with ergonomic adjustments to their work conditions. Therefore, interventions aiming to improve the professional future of workers operated on CTS by ensuring sufficient staff and adjusting workplaces are needed.

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BACKGROUND: Atypical working hours have raised serious concerns about health effects, such as sleep disorders and psychological repercussions. These schedules are frequent among health professionals having the obligation to ensure the permanence of health services. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of atypical working hours on sleep, sleepiness, and mood among health personnel (HP). METHODS: Comparative descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among HP of a regional hospital in Southern Tunisia from December 2019 to May 2020. Two groups were defined according to their work schedule: group A had a fixed-day work and group B had atypical working hours. The assessment of sleep, sleepiness, and mood was based respectively on the Spiegel questionnaire, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Disorder scale. RESULTS: A total of 101 HP in group A and 135 in group B were included. We found signs of pathological sleep in group B: greater delay in falling asleep (78.1% Vs 53.5%; p = 0.002), altered sleep quality (88.1% Vs 56.4%; p = 0.039), and more frequent occurrence of dreams (37% Vs 31.7%; p = 0.033). The quality of sleep was associated with the professional seniority (p = 0.01), the workplace (p = 0.02), and having dependent children (p = 0.04). The mean score of depression was higher in group B (p = 0.02). Depression was associated with the workplace (p = 0.04) and the quality of sleep (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that atypical working hours generate both sleep and mood disorders in HP. It is vital to encourage the occupational physicians to estimate sleep and mood disorders in HP.

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AIM: Describe the epidemiological characteristics of occupational diseases (OD) recognized by the Central Medical Commission (CMC) of the first ministry during the period from 2012 to 2019. METHODS: It was a descriptive and retrospective study covering all cases of diseases declared and recognized as occupational diseases by the CMC of the first ministry in the public sector and their repair during the period from the first of January 2012 to December 31, 2019. RESULTS: During the study period, 294 OD were declared, of which, 213 were recognized by the CMC (72.4%). The average age of the population was 45.8 ± 10.9 years. A female predominance was noted (61%). Most employees (56%) were part of the health sector. Tuberculosis was the most common occupational disease (21.1%). Cancers were present in 5.6% of cases. In this series, 99 workers had a temporary total disability (TTD) (46.5%). A partial permanent disability rate (PPD) was attributed to 20 victims of OD (9.4%) with an average rate of 29% and extremes ranging from 8% to 70%. CONCLUSION: The OD recognized in the public sector seemed to be low. This encourages better information for workers on occupational risks and better awareness of attending physicians to report the professional nature of PD.

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INTRODUCTION: During the COVID-19(coronavirus-19 disease) pandemic, health care workers (HCWs) faced the risk of infection and distressing work to meet health requirements. The aim of the present stud ywas to evaluate perceptions of HCWs of their security at work in COVID-19 units and their coping strategies, at the military hospital of Tunis, during the second wave of COVID-19. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted via an auto-questionnaire on February 2021.HCWs of the military hospital of Tunis were included. Participants were asked about their perceived security at work in COVID-19 units and their coping behaviors. Mental disorders were assessed, via qualitative questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 110 HCWs' responses were collected. Fifty-eight participants (52.7%) were females. The mean age was 33.7 years (SD 9.3). They were doctors at 45.5% and nurses at 39.1%. HCWs declared having worked in COVID-19 units in 81.8% of cases. The participants reported their fears about being infected in 58.2% and infecting family members in 85.5% of cases. Protective factors included information about the disease (80%), availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) (80.9%), support from colleagues(72.7%)or superiors at work (50.9%), and ability to communicate with others (63.6%). Depression, anxiety, and insomnia were found in respectively 25.5%, 30%, and 41.8% of HCWs. In multivariate analysis, suffering from a traumatic distress was significantly associated with anxiety and depression (p (p<0.01 and, p<0.05 respectively). In addition, insomnia severity was linked to age (p=0.05) and having colleagues infected with COVID-19 (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In the present study, HCWs of the military hospital of Tunis stated having high levels of insomnia, anxiety, and depression since the early outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. These mental disorders may have a negative impact on the quality of life of HCWs and should be enhanced by psychological support and preventive measures.

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INTRODUCTION: few research studies about mental health problems in medical staff during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic have been reported. The Aim of the study is to assess the prevalence of anxiety and insomnia, affecting the professional quality of life of physicians during COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: doctors answered an online questionnaire regarding their perception of insomnia, anxiety and professional quality of life during COVID-19 pandemic with psychological parameters including the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and Professional quality of life version 5 (ProQOL5). RESULTS: anxiety was found in 64.8% of the participants. This disorder was respectively moderate and severe in 12.4% and 6.7% of cases. Insomnia was found in 51.4% of respondents, 29.5% of whom worked in the COVID circuit (p=0.17). Insomnia was assessed as mild, moderate and severe in respectively 38.1%, 11.4% and 1.9% of cases. Compassion satisfaction was moderate in 72.4 of cases and high in 24.8% of cases. The entire population with low CS belonged to the 20-29 age group (p=0.019). Compassion satisfaction was statistically higher in married people (32.7%) (p=0.004). This entity varied significantly with occupational grade (p=0.003), seniority in grade (p=0.011) and working in the private health sector (p=0.046). Burnout was moderate in 73.3% and low in 26.7% of cases. Burnout was significantly higher among single people (p=0.03) and statistically altered in the staff working in the COVID unit (p=0.028). Secondary traumatic disorder was above moderate in 69.6%. CONCLUSION: a high prevalence of psychological symptoms was found among doctors during COVID-19. Medical health workers are in need of health protection and adequate working conditions.

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