Publications by authors named "Somville F"
Article Synopsis
- Terrorist attacks can lead to significant casualties, affecting emergency medical systems; this study compares events with high injury rates vs. high fatality rates.
- The analysis utilized data from the Global Terrorism Database, focusing on key factors like timing, location, and attack methods from the top 100 deadly and injurious events.
- Findings reveal that high injury rate attacks, particularly bombings and CBRN incidents, impose a heavier burden on healthcare systems than those with high fatalities, highlighting the need for improved preparedness in healthcare responses.
Objectives: Belgium is not only prone to inland terrorism but also attracts terrorist factions aiming at various political, diplomatic, military, and/or religious targets. This study aimed to identify and characterize all documented terrorist attacks in Belgium reported to the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) over a period of 50 years.
Methods: The GTD was searched for all terrorist attacks in Belgium between 1970 and 2019.
Aim Of The Study: First, to provide a synthesis and analysis of available scientific literature regarding the level of work stress and burnout among emergency physicians. Second, to identify the effect of the specific work situation-related factors.
Methods: A systematic search was performed in NCBI PubMed and Embase.
Background: Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, and the recent Russo-Ukrainian war that started in 2022, were triggers that radically changed the perception of security in the Nordic and Baltic countries. The on-going Russian hybrid war has resulted in a renewed global interest in the safety and security of many countries (eg, the Nordic-Baltic Eight). The prospective North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership of Finland and Sweden may drastically change the regional military and political landscape.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The on-going Russo-Ukrainian war has resulted in a renewed global interest in the safety and security of nuclear installations and the possibility of nuclear disasters caused by warfare and terrorism.The objective of this study was to identify and characterize all documented terrorist attacks against nuclear transport, nuclear facilities, and nuclear scientists as reported to the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) over a 50-year period.
Methods: The GTD was searched for all terrorist attacks against nuclear facilities, nuclear scientists, nuclear transport, and other nuclear industry-related targets in the period from 1970-2020.
Background: Mass gatherings are vulnerable to terrorist attacks and are considered soft targets with potential to inflict high numbers of casualties. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize all documented terrorist attacks targeted at concerts and festivals reported to the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) over a 50-year period.
Methods: The GTD was searched for all terrorist attacks against concerts and festivals that occurred world-wide from 1970 through 2019.
Article Synopsis
- The COVID-19 pandemic led to a rise in terrorist attacks with motives rooted in racism, anti-government sentiments, and conspiracy theories, impacting health care workers and patients.
- A study analyzed data from the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) for 2020, identifying 165 COVID-19-related terrorist incidents, with Western Europe as the most affected region.
- The most common attack type was arson against 5G towers, while armed assaults caused the most fatalities, indicating an evolving threat to healthcare facilities and vaccination centers.
Article Synopsis
- - Communication is crucial for disaster management, and past incidents show that failures in prehospital communication have led to serious issues like safety risks for responders and inefficient management during mass-casualty situations.
- - A review of major terrorist attacks from 1995 to 2017 identified communication failures as a common problem, often caused by outdated equipment, overwhelmed services, and infrastructure damage, which negatively affected casualty numbers.
- - To improve future responses, the text suggests that governments should enhance communication resources for emergency services and invest in comprehensive training, along with establishing a European registration system for better coordination.
Burnout, stress and Type D personality amongst hospital/emergency physicians.
Int Arch Occup Environ Health
March 2022
Article Synopsis
- Physicians, especially emergency doctors, face a high risk of burnout, influenced not only by their work environment but also by their personality traits, particularly Type D personality.
- This study aimed to explore the links between Type D personality, job conditions, and burnout among emergency and other hospital physicians through a survey of 531 Belgian doctors.
- Results showed that about 28.5% to 29.1% of physicians exhibited Type D traits, and those with this personality type had a sevenfold increase in the likelihood of experiencing high burnout risk, even when considering job-related factors.
Article Synopsis
- Medical and nursing staff faced increased challenges related to work and personal health during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to stress and psychosomatic symptoms.
- The study, involving 1,376 healthcare workers, used an online survey to explore the impact of positive and negative stress-reducing activities on mental and physical well-being.
- Results indicated that engaging in positive activities like reading, exercising, and hobbies reduced distress and somatization, particularly among those providing direct care to COVID-19 patients.
Health care organizations have been challenged by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic for some time, while in January 2020, it was not immediately suspected that it would take such a global expansion. In the past, other studies have already pointed out that health care systems, and more specifically hospitals, can be a so-called "soft target" for terrorist attacks. This report has now examined whether this is also the case in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWork stress-related problems in physicians in the time of COVID-19.
Int J Occup Med Environ Health
June 2021
Article Synopsis
- Healthcare workers in emergency departments face significant physical and psychosocial risks, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting a study to assess the perceived hazards and worries among emergency and hospital physicians in Belgium.
- A validated questionnaire was administered to 497 physicians, gathering data on their exposure to health threats such as infectious diseases, violence, and stress-related issues.
- Results revealed that a high percentage of physicians experienced workplace violence (32%), health problems (54%), and significant concern regarding exposure to COVID-19 (88%), indicating widespread anxiety about occupational hazards in their field.
Determinants of emergency physician wellness in Belgium.
J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open
October 2020
Objectives: This cross-sectional study examines first whether emergency physicians differ from a comparison group of surgeons, more specifically general surgeons and orthopedic surgeons, in terms of job and organizational characteristics and second to what extent these characteristics are determinants of professional well-being outcomes in emergency physicians.
Methods: Belgian emergency physicians (n = 346) were invited to participate in this study. Forty-three percent of the eligible participants completed a questionnaire.
Article Synopsis
- * There are limited documented cases, mostly occurring in tropical and rural settings.
- * This report details a 65-year-old patient with a history of parotid cancer who developed aural myiasis that spread to the mastoid, discussing symptoms, diagnostic processes, and treatment options for different infection stages.
Article Synopsis
- The review examines the long-term psychological and physical effects of terrorist attacks, focusing on issues such as stress-related disorders, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases.
- It highlights the impact of PTSD and the related brain changes in victims, rescue workers, and even witnesses, showing that many people can be affected beyond the immediate targets of the attack.
- Identifying risk factors for neurological disorders is crucial for creating early detection and prevention strategies, which could improve treatment outcomes for those affected by such traumatic events.
Objective and Importance Boerhaave's syndrome is a sudden and rare form of oesophageal rupture and is often complicated by local or systemic infection of the mediastinum or pleural cavity. Several micro-organisms are documented as cause of pleural empyema in patients with Boerhaave's syndrome. Intervention (& Technique) We report on a previously healthy 74-year-old male who was admitted at a regional hospital with severe retrosternal and abdominal pain after an episode of vigorous vomiting the morning after ingestion of large quantity of beer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - Gastric volvulus is a rare but serious condition that can be hard to diagnose due to its unusual symptoms, potentially leading to critical complications if not treated quickly.
- - A case study involved a 73-year-old man with Parkinson's disease who experienced severe stomach pain and high lipase levels, ultimately diagnosed with an organo-axial gastric volvulus.
- - The treatment included relieving the volvulus through a nasogastric tube and repairing an underlying para-esophageal hernia with a surgical procedure called Nissen-fundoplication.
Article Synopsis
- A 72-year-old woman experienced intermittent abdominal pain after having her gallbladder removed via laparoscopic surgery, leading to a consultation with gastroenterology.
- Imaging revealed that she had a subhepatic abscess caused by spilled gallstones that went unnoticed during surgery.
- The study reviewed existing literature on the incidence and complications of spilled gallstones, emphasizing the importance of removing spilt stones during surgery and informing patients about potential complications.
Article Synopsis
- - Neurologists are essential in managing victims of chemical warfare and terrorist attacks, highlighting the need for readiness in all regions due to the global risk posed by such events.
- - The paper emphasizes the expanded threat of terrorism beyond traditional conflict zones, underscoring the importance of preparedness among healthcare professionals.
- - It aims to offer guidelines specifically for the neurological care of victims affected by chemical and biological attacks, ensuring effective disaster response.
Article Synopsis
- A 73-year-old man with diabetes was admitted to the emergency department due to extreme pain in his genital and pubic areas.
- Physical exams showed significant swelling and air pockets in his abdomen, leading to a diagnosis of Fournier's gangrene, a severe infection.
- Despite treatment attempts, the patient unfortunately did not survive, highlighting the serious nature and high mortality associated with this type of infection.
Article Synopsis
- Spontaneous vertebral artery dissection is a rare condition affecting mainly young adults and can present with mild, non-specific symptoms.
- A case study details a 30-year-old woman with right neck pain, frontal headache, and vision issues, ultimately diagnosed with a right-sided vertebral artery dissection.
- The patient was treated with observation and antithrombotic medication, leading to complete revascularization after three months, alongside a literature review on symptoms and treatment options.
The impact of occupational hazards and traumatic events among Belgian emergency physicians.
Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med
April 2016
Article Synopsis
- Emergency Physicians face high rates of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and related psychological issues due to frequent exposure to traumatic events and challenging work conditions.
- The study surveyed Belgian Emergency Physicians to analyze factors like demographics, life events, and social support that influence PTSS, fatigue, and job satisfaction, revealing a 52.3% response rate.
- Results showed that many EPs experience anxiety and PTSD, with social support improving outcomes, while high fatigue levels were found to be unrelated to traumatic events, indicating the significance of workplace environment on mental health.
A 60-years old women with history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass presented with progressive abdominal pain, mainly at the left loin. Imaging was aspecific. Exploratory laparoscopy showed an internal herniation trough the Petersen space.
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