scholarly journals A COVID-19 infection risk model for frontline health care workers

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louie Florendo Dy ◽  
Jomar Fajardo Rabajante
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Risk Model ◽  
Infection Risk ◽  
Care Workers

scholarly journals A COVID-19 Infection Risk Model for Frontline Health Care Workers

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louie Florendo Dy ◽  
Jomar Fajardo Rabajante
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Worker ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Infection Risk ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Interaction Time ◽  
Work Shift ◽  
Crowd Density ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Care Worker

AbstractThe number of confirmed COVID-19 cases admitted in hospitals is continuously increasing in the Philippines. Frontline health care workers are faced with imminent risks of getting infected. In this study, we formulate a theoretical model to calculate the risk of being infected in health care facilities considering the following factors: the average number of encounters with a suspected COVID-19 patient per hour; interaction time for each encounter; work shift duration or exposure time; crowd density, which may depend on the amount of space available in a given location; and availability and effectiveness of protective gears and facilities provided for the frontline health care workers. Based on the simulation results, a set of risk assessment criteria is proposed to classify risks as ‘low’, ‘moderate’, or ‘high’. We recommend the following: (i) decrease the rate of patient encounter per frontline health care worker, e.g., maximum of three encounters per hour in a 12-hour work shift duration; (ii) decrease the interaction time between the frontline health care worker and the patients, e.g., less than 40 minutes for the whole day; (iii) increase the clean and safe space for social distancing, e.g., maximum of 10% crowd density, and if possible, implement compartmentalization of patients; and/or (iv) provide effective protective gears and facilities, e.g., 95% effective, that the frontline health care workers can use during their shift. Moreover, the formulated model can be used for other similar scenarios, such as identifying infection risk in public transportation, school classroom settings, offices, and mass gatherings.

scholarly journals The experience of European hospital-based health care workers on following infection prevention and control procedures for COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise van Hout ◽  
Paul Hutchinson ◽  
Marta Wanat ◽  
Caitlin Pilbeam ◽  
Herman Goossens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Infection Risk ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Emotional Wellbeing ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTBackgroundWorking under pandemic conditions exposes health care workers (HCWs) to infection risk and psychological strain. Protecting the physical and psychological health of HCWs is a key priority. This study assessed the perceptions of European hospital HCWs of local infection prevention and control (IPC) procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on their emotional wellbeing.MethodsWe performed two rounds of an international cross-sectional survey, between 31 March and 17 April 2020 via existing research networks (round 1), and between 14 May and 31 August 2020 via online convenience sampling (round 2). Main outcome measures were (1) behavioural determinants of HCW adherence with IPC procedures, (2) WHO-5 Well-Being Index, a validated scale of 0-100 reflecting emotional wellbeing. The WHO-5 was interpreted as a score below or above 50 points, a cut-off score used in previous literature to screen for depression.Results2,289 HCWs (round 1: n=190, round 2: n=2,099) from 40 countries in Europe participated. Mean age of respondents was 42 (±11) years, 66% were female, 47% and 39% were medical doctors and nurses, respectively. 74% (n=1699) of HCWs were directly treating patients with COVID-19, of which 32% (n=527) reported they were fearful of caring for these patients. HCWs reported high levels of concern about COVID-19 infection risk to themselves (71%) and their family (82%) as a result of their job. 40% of HCWs considered that getting infected with COVID-19 was not within their control. This was more common among junior than senior HCWs (46% versus 38%, P value <.01). Sufficient COVID-19-specific IPC training, confidence in PPE use and institutional trust were positively associated with the feeling that becoming infected with COVID-19 was within their control. Female HCWs were more likely than males to report a WHO-5 score below 50 points (aOR 1.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-1.8).ConclusionsIn Europe, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a differential impact on those providing direct COVID-19 patient care, junior staff and women. Health facilities must be aware of these differential impacts, build trust and provide tailored support for this vital workforce during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Fatigue among health care workers during emergency interventions using biological personal protective equipment: an observational simulation study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Martín-Rodríguez ◽  
Ancor Sanz-García ◽  
Raúl López-Izquierdo ◽  
Juan F. Delgado Benito ◽  
José L. Martín-Conty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Simulation Study ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Risk Model ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Emergency Team ◽  
Physiological Tolerance ◽  
Care Workers

Abstract Background : Biohazard incidents are ordinary situations usually managed by health systems with the mandatory priority of preventing the spread of the pathogen. Health care workers in charge of dealing with these situations must be equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) for her/his own security. The main objective of this study was developing a risk model to predict whether health care workers will tolerate wearing PPE, III category, 4B / 5B / 6B type, against biological risks during a 30 minutes intervention. Methods : A preliminary, prospective, simulation study, without intervention was conducted at the Advanced Simulation Center at the Medicine Faculty of Valladolid University (Spain) from April 3rd to 28th, 2017. Students and professional's health care were equipped with a PPE and performed a 30 minutes-long biohazard simulation. Anthropometric, physiological, analytical variables, and anxiety levels were measured pre- and post-simulation. A scoring model was constructed by using the estimate regression coefficients of the significant variables obtained from a multivariate model of the logistic regression for the outcome variable. Results : 96 volunteers with median age of 26 years (25th-75th percentile: 22-41 years) of which 56 (58.3%) were women enter into the test. Half of the sample presented metabolic fatigue after 20 minutes of finishing the simulation. The predictive model included female sex, height, both muscle and bone mass and moderate level of physical activity. The validity of the main model using all the variables presented an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.86 (95%CI: 0.786-0.935), and the validity of the model presented an AUC of 0.725 (95%CI: 0.559-0.89). Conclusions : Decision-making in biohazard incidents is a challenge for emergency team leaders. An a priori knowledge of physiological tolerance of wearing a PPE of the health care workers could improve their performance. The model presented here could help in the assessment of the worker response under biohazard conditions.

A European risk model for hepatitis among health care workers

1995 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 245-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. VAN DAMME ◽  
G. TORMANS ◽  
E. VAN DOORSLAER ◽  
M. KANE ◽  
C. ROURE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Risk Model ◽  
Care Workers

HIV INFECTION RISK TO HEALTH-CARE WORKERS

AIHAJ ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 51 (12) ◽  
pp. A-802-A-806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robyn M. Gershon ◽  
David Vlahov
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Infection Risk ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Hiv Infection Risk

scholarly journals Estimating Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection Risk in Health Care Workers

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. e209687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Chi-Chung Cheng ◽  
Shuk-Ching Wong ◽  
Kwok-Yung Yuen
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Infection Risk ◽  
Care Workers

scholarly journals Predictors of HIV Infection Risk among Health-Care Workers in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-191
Author(s):  
David Nzioka Mutisya
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Infection Risk ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Knowledge Attitude And Practice ◽  
Hiv Infection Risk

The study set out to investigate the determinants of HIV infection risk among healthcare workers in SSA through a systematic review. The aim of the study was to identify, collect and systematically review and synthesize existing literature articles on the determinants of HIV infection risk among healthcare workers in SSA. The objectives of the study were to: determine the prevalence of health care workers' exposure to HIV risky conditions in health care settings in SSA; identify selected determinants of HIV infection risk among Health care workers in SSA (major focus in Nigeria, South Africa, and Tanzania) and apply effective strategies to prevent issues associated with HIV infection risk among Health care workers.  The study conceptualizes that HCWs in the SSA region are at risk of HIV infection due to factors related to lack of healthcare resources, their knowledge, attitude and practice, and barriers to reporting. The combined effect of these factors is that hoped to determine the propensity of HCWs to be infected by HIV/AIDS.  The key themes guiding the systematic review were:  risk to exposure to HIV among HCWs; lack of health care resources and facilities. The findings of the study confirmed all the three alternative study hypotheses that: there is a significant relationship between lack of health care resources and facilities and the risk of HIV infection among HCWs in SSA; there is a significant relationship between HCWs’ knowledge, attitude, and practice on HIV and their risk of HIV infection in SSA and; there is a significant relationship between barriers to reporting and the risk of HIV infection among HCWs in SSA. In this regard, the study found out that HCWs in SSA are at high risk of HIV exposure whilst working. In this regard, this is a result of lack of enough equipment, poor practices at work and barriers to reporting, including stigmatization and lack of well-stipulated reporting guidelines.  As such, the following recommendations were made:: there is a need to increase funding in the health care sector to enhance access to the right equipment, microbicides, vaccination, and PEP for HCWs; there is a need for psychosocial support systems to make it easy for HCWs to report infection with ease and that; the government should adopt recommended global best standards to enhance protection of HCWs while at work in SSA. Two areas for further study were also recommended. As such, there is a need for studies on each of the study objectives, and; there is a need for a descriptive study on the topic under investigation in this study for correlation purposes. 

Organizational Factors and Health Care Workers' Physical Safety

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Lipscomb ◽  
Jeanne Geiger-Brown ◽  
Katherine McPhaul ◽  
Karen Calabro
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Organizational Factors ◽  
Care Workers
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