Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2021.02.002

Occupational Health Protection for Health Workers in China With Lessons Learned From the UK: Qualitative Interview and Policy Analysis  

Xu, Huan (Chevening Visiting Fellow, University of Oxford)
Zhang, Min (School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College)
Hudson, Alan (Programmes in Leadership and Public Policy, University of Oxford)
Publication Information
Safety and Health at Work / v.12, no.3, 2021 , pp. 304-310 More about this Journal
Abstract
Background: Healthcare settings have been recognized among the most hazardous places to work. Based on the five categories of occupational hazards that were identified by the ILO and WHO, this study aimed to analyze policy framework relevant to occupational health protection of health workers (HWs) in public health service in China, then discussed how to share the experience of the National Health Service (NHS) England for improvement. Methods: Based on policy learning theories, policy analysis and qualitative interview were used in this study. Results: In the Chinese public health service, at least five laws related to the regulation of occupational health protection for HWs; however, enforcement of relevant laws was separated and multi-centered; the national monitoring system, which targeted to occupational hazards and health outcome for HWs in China, had yet to be developed; the top three priorities were workplace violence, bloodborne pathogens, and musculoskeletal disorders; national strategies included Security Hospital, and Healthy China 2030. In NHS England, three laws were fundamental; several monitoring systems had been set up, including NHS Staff Survey, Commissioning for Quality and Innovation incentive scheme; mental health, musculoskeletal problem, and nutrition disorder and overweight were raised great concern; Health and Safety, and NHS Healthy Workforce Program were critical nationwide strategies. Conclusion: There were several similarities as well as differences between the Chinese public health system and NHS England, which laid foundation of learning by China. Recommendations of improving occupational health policies in China were provided, based on the lessons learned from the NHS England.
Keywords
China; health worker; National Health Service; occupational health and safety; public health service;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Zhang M, Lu Y, Du XY, Li WJ, Liu T, Shi CL, Chen L. Policies, laws, regulations, standards, and technical guidelines and tools on occupational health protection for healthcare workers: systematic evidence-based review and a coherent set of policy recommendations. Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases 2014 August;32(8):633-40.   DOI
2 National Health Commission of P. R. of China. Statistical Communique of the 2019 health and development in China [internet]; 2020 [cited 2020 June 8]. Available from, http://www.nhc.gov.cn/guihuaxxs/s10748/202006/ebfe31f24cc145b198dd730603ec4442.shtml [in Chinese)].
3 Zhang M, Xu LH, Liu T, Du XY, Chen L, Shi CL. Model of Hospital Initiative on Systematic Occupational Health: from advocacy to practice of health protection for healthcare workers. Chinese Nursing Management 2018;18(2):145-9.
4 China Daily. 1,716 medics infected by virus on Chinese mainland [internet]; 2020 [cited 2020 June 8]. Available from, http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202002/14/WS5e464aa1a3101282172779fe.html.
5 Zhang M. How to implement workplace violence prevention and control at hospital level? Chinese Nursing Management 2019;19(4):481-7.
6 Ministry of human resource and social security. Notice on financial support for health workers and other relevant staff who are infected by novel coronavirus on their duty [internet]; 2020 [cited 2020 June 8]. Available from, http://www.nhc.gov.cn/xcs/zhengcwj/202001/8ab546a09bbb4bbba27571775e102bf1.shtml [in Chinese)].
7 WHO. World health statistics 2017. Geneva: WHO; 2017. 72 p.
8 Anna Topakas, Admasachew Lul, Dawson Jeremy. Human resource management policies and employee health and well being in the NHS [internet]; 2010 [cited 2020 June 8]. Available from, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/215463/dh_129657.pdf.
9 FitzSimons D, Francois G, De Carli G, Shouval D, Pruss-Ustun A, Puro V, Williams I, Lavanchy D, De Schryver A, Kopka A, Ncube F, Ippolito G, Van Damme P. Hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and other blood-borne infections in healthcare workers: guidelines for prevention and management in industrialised countries. Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2008;65:446-51.   DOI
10 Zhang Min, Rantanen Jorma. Improving the law on the prevention and control of occupational diseases in China: an employer-supporting management perspective. Global Health Journal 2020;4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glohj.2020.04.004. Online publication.   DOI
11 National Health and Family Planning Commission of P. R. of China. Notification on implementation of the national campaign of Security Hospital [internet]; 2015 [cited 2020 December 2]Available from, http://www.nhc.gov.cn/yzygj/s3589/201510/a82f34b8e21c44ffa029c004e6152da1.shtml [In Chinese].
12 ILO, WHO. HealthWISE-Trainer's Guide. Work improvement in health services. Geneva: ILO; 2014. p. 3-4.
13 Marta T, Gilles D. How can a country learn from the experience of another? Expanding nurses' scope of practice in Portugal: lessons from England. Health Policy 2015 April;119(4):475-87.   DOI
14 NHS. Introducing NHS health at work [internet]; 2020 [cited 2020 June 8]. Available from, http://www.nhshealthatwork.co.uk/.
15 National Health Commission of P.R. of China. Healthy China action plan (2019-2030) [internet]; 2019 [cited 2020 December 2]Available from, http://www.nhc.gov.cn/guihuaxxs/s3585u/201907/e9275fb95d5b4295be8308415d4cd1b2.shtml [In Chinese].
16 NHS England. Briefing Note: issues highlighted by the 2016 NHS staff survey in England [internet]; 2017 [cited 2020 June 8]. Available from, http://www.nhsstaffsurveys.com/Caches/Files/20170306_ST16_National%20Briefing_v6.0.pdf.
17 NHS England. Health and safety policy (2016) [internet]; 2017 [cited 2020 June 8]. Available from, https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/pol-1002-health-safety-policy.pdf.
18 Timmins Nicholas. The five giants: a biography of the welfare state. London: William Collins; 2017. p. 101-26.
19 Rice BD, Tomkins SE, Ncube FM. Sharp truth: health care workers remain at risk of bloodborne infection. Occupational Medicine 2015;65:210-4.   DOI
20 World Bank, WHO, Ministries of P.R. of China. Deepening health reform in China: building high-quality and value-based service delivery. New York: World Bank; 2016. p. 1-15.
21 Bevan Gwyn, Skellern Mattew. Competition between hospitals and clinical quality. British Medical Journal 2018;343:940-3.
22 Bevan Gwyn. Incentives and models of governance. Health Econ Policy Law 2015;10:345-50.   DOI
23 Huang J, Zhang M, Liu X. Correlation between patient and visitor violence and workload among public healthcare workers in China: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2020;10:e034605.   DOI
24 Hall LH, Johnson J, Watt I, Tsipa A, O'Connor DB. Healthcare staff wellbeing, burnout, and patient safety: a systematic review. PloS One 2016;11(7):e0159015.   DOI
25 World Health Organization. World patient safety day 2020- health worker safety: a priority for patient safety [cited 2020 September 17]. Available from, https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-patient-safety-day/2020.
26 Zhang M, Liu T, Chen L, Shi CL. Fifteen-year experience on occupational health protection for healthcare workers in China. ICOH Newsletter 2018;3:17-23.
27 The Lancet. Protecting Chinese doctors. The Lancet 2020;395:90.
28 Zhang M. Protecting healthcare workers in China during the coronavirus outbreak [internet]. BMJ Opinion. 2020 [cited 2020 June 8]. Available from, https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/02/14/min-zhang-protecting-healthcareworkers-china-coronavirus-outbreak/.
29 [internet]Working for health and growth, report of the high-level commission on health employment and economic growth. WHO. 2016 [cited 2020 June 8]. Available from, http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/250047/1/9789241511308-eng.pdf?ua=1.
30 National Health and Family Planning Commission of P. R. of China. The updated compilation of laws on health and family planning. Beijing: Law press China; 2018. P.16-29, 45-59, 93-103.In Chinese.
31 The Department of Health. NHS constitution for England (2015) [internet]; 2015 [cited 2020 June 8]. Available from, https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/480482/NHS_Constitution_WEB.pdf., https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhsconstitution-for-england.
32 Majeed Azeem, Asanati Kaveh. Improving workplace health in the NHSvol. 368. BMJ; 2020m850.
33 The National Peoples' Congress of P. R. of China. The law of the People's Republic of China on basic Medicare and health promotion [internet]; 2019 [cited 2020 December 2] Available from, http://www.npc.gov.cn/npc/c30834/201912/15b7b1cfda374666a2d4c43d1e15457c.shtml [In Chinese].
34 Zhang M, Xu LH, Liu T, Li Q, Chen L, Shi CL. Study on occupational health protection system for healthcare workers in China. Journal of Safety Science and Technology 2018;5:25-60.   DOI
35 Jiang L. Chinese Youth Daily. Precious treasure left from anti-SARS battle [internet]; 2016 [cited 2020 June 8]. Available from, http://health.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0929/c14739-28748518.html [in Chinese)].
36 NHS England. NHS staff health & wellbeing: CQUIN 2017-19 Indicator 1 Implementation Support [internet]; 2018 [cited 2020 June 8].Available from, https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/staff-healthwellbeing-cquin-2017-19-implementation-support.pdf.