scholarly journals Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Personal Safety Measures Adopted by Medical Practioners during the Covid-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 883-887
Author(s):  
Hemapriya L ◽  
Maureen Prativa Tigga ◽  
Anil Kumar M.R ◽  
Prathap T ◽  
Neha Wali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Personal Safety ◽  
Safety Measures

BACKGROUND A novel coronavirus (now termed as SARS-CoV-2) was detected as the causative agent of severe pneumonia in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in December 2019. Declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a global pandemic in March 2020, it has created profound changes in global economy and healthcare systems. This study evaluates the knowledge and practice with regard to various personal safety measures used by the healthcare professionals. METHODS We conducted a questionnaire study after obtaining approval, from the Institutional ethical committee. An online survey was conducted using a preformatted questionnaire consisting of multiple-choice questions which assessed the knowledge and practices adopted by various healthcare professionals. The survey was done between 1st and 30th of June 2020 and a total of 536 responses was analysed. RESULTS 58.4 % of the participants were females, 66 % of the healthcare workers worked at a private hospital / private medical college with 82.1 % being located in urban areas. Of the 536 respondents, 90.1 % practiced bathing immediately after returning home and 86.8 % sanitized their accessories. 86.9 % of the professionals used frequent sanitization with use of mask and gloves whereas only 12.3 % used full personal protective equipment. 58 % of females had used hydroxychloroquine as prophylaxis whereas only 41 % of males used it (statistically significant, P = 0.005). Healthcare workers in younger age group (23 - 40 years) were more likely to maintain distance with family members, and government doctors were significantly more likely to do so (P < 0.001) as compared to private practitioners. CONCLUSIONS With the medical professionals being at high risk for contracting the infection, the need to provide the healthcare professionals with adequate personal protective equipment is of utmost importance. There is also a need to maintain the well-being of the healthcare professionals as they are the weakest link in the chain. KEY WORDS Medical Practitioners, Personal Protective Equipment, Safety Measures

scholarly journals Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Personal Safety Measures Adopted by Medical Practioners During the COVID 19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hemapriya.L Kukreja ◽  
Maureen Prativa Tigga ◽  
Neha Wali ◽  
Prathap.T ◽  
Anil Kumar M R ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Personal Safety ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Attitude And Practice ◽  
Knowledge Attitude And Practice

Abstract Introduction: A novel coronavirus (now termed as SARS-CoV 2) was detected as causative agent of severe pneumonia in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in December 2019. Declared by the WHO as a global pandemic in March 2020, it has created profound changes in global economy and healthcare systems. COVID-19 is transmitted through close contact and droplets with healthcare professionals at significant risk of acquiring the infection, thus requiring to protect themselves. Various measures help in protecting the professionals from contracting the infection. These include hand hygiene, N95 masks, goggles, gloves, gowns, face shields, coveralls and frequent sanitization. Healthcare professionals need to be educated in these various modalities with proper protocols and policies enacted by the health institutions. This study evaluates the knowledge, attitude and practice of various personal safety measures used by the healthcare professionals.Materials and Methods: After institution ethical committee approval, we conducted an online survey with a preformatted questionnaire consisting of multiple choice questions which assessed the knowledge, attitude and practices adopted by the various healthcare professionals. The survey was done between 1st - 30th of June 2020 and a total of 536 responses were analyzed. Results: 58.4% of the participants were females, 66% of the healthcare workers worked at a private hospital/ private medical college with 82.1% being located in urban areas. Of the 536 respondents, 90.1% practiced bathing immediately after returning home and 86.8% sanitized their accessories. 86.9% of the professionals used frequent sanitization with use of mask and gloves whereas only 12.3% used full personal protective equipment. 58% of females had used Hydroxychloroquine as prophylaxis whereas only 41% of males used it ( statistically significant, p = 0.005 ). Healthcare workers in younger age group ( 23-40 years ) were more likely to maintain distance with family members and government doctors were significantly more likely to do so ( p< 0.001 ) as compared to private practitioners. Conclusion: With the medical professionals being at high risk for contracting the infection, the need to provide the healthcare professionals with adequate personal protective equipment is of utmost importance. There is also a need to maintain the well-being of the healthcare professionals as they are the weakest link in the chain.

scholarly journals Impact of enhanced personal protective equipment on the physical and mental well-being of healthcare workers during COVID-19

2020 ◽  
pp. postgradmedj-2020-139150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramanathan Swaminathan ◽  
Bimantha Perera Mukundadura ◽  
Shashi Prasad
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental Well Being

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the use of enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE) in healthcare workers in patient-facing roles. We describe the impact on the physical and mental well-being of healthcare professionals who use enhanced PPE consistently.MethodsWe conducted a single-centre, cross-sectional study among healthcare professionals who use enhanced PPE. A web-based questionnaire was disseminated to evaluate the effects on individuals’ physical and mental well-being. Physical and mental impact was assessed through a visual analogue scale.ResultsProspective analysis of the views of 72 respondents is reported. 63.9% were women and 36.1% were men. Physical impact included exhaustion, headache, skin changes, breathlessness and a negative impact on vision. Communication difficulties, somnolence, negative impact on overall performance and difficulties in using surgical instrumentation were reported.ConclusionOur study demonstrates the undeniable negative impact on the front-line healthcare workers using enhanced PPE and lays the ground for larger multicentric assessments given for it to potentially be the norm for the foreseeable future.

scholarly journals How COVID-19 Affected Burnout and Job Satisfaction Levels Among the Healthcare Workers in Jordanian Hospitals

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 664-667
Author(s):  
Bani Ahmad Amer, RN, MHA, Ph.D.
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Health Organization

Aim: To establish how COVID-19 affected the burnout and job satisfaction levels among the health care provider in Jordan hospitals. Methodology: The online survey questionnaire was distributed to 160 nurses, doctors, and specialists and 152 responses were captured in the Google form feedback from healthcare workers from Jordan hospitals. The survey questions wanted responses related to establishment of job satisfaction and burnout levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire contained questions investigating the nurses' and doctors' demographic factors, work-related variables, and personal experiences. Additionally, the provision of basic needs at the workplace were investigated, and the world Health Organization-5 well-being index was established through the questionnaires (Hamdam et al., 2020). Different statistics measurements were used. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize both the background information about the healthcare providers and burnout levels. Results: From the 152 healthcare professionals filed their responses, 32.6% were males, and the rest were females. Approximately 48%.13% and 16% were nurses, doctors, and pharmacists. Burnout was caused by exhaustion, depression, anxiety, and overtime working time. 7% of the nurses were satisfied with the work, while 72.5% were not satisfied. Approximately 24% of the male healthcare providers demonstrated resilience in employment, while 5% of the female healthcare professionals demonstrated burnout and total withdrawal due to the scourging effects of COVID-19 (Abujilban et al., 2021). The healthcare providers that received psychological support from their families seemed strong and suffered lower burnout levels. The fear of infection created anxiety that led to stress, and high burnout levels. Conclusions: COVID -19 led to increased levels of burnout and lack of job satisfaction. The hospitals in Jordan were not prepared, and the fear of nurses and doctors getting infected created more anxiety. The healthcare motivation and energy to work reduced to a bare minimum.

scholarly journals Personal Protective Equipment for Healthcare Workers

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 1420-1425
Author(s):  
Chinmay Mahatme
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Base ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Viral Disease ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Personal Safety ◽  
Appropriate Care ◽  
The World ◽  
Precautionary Measures

COVID is a highly contagious viral disease that has caused massive outbreaks throughout the world causing a pandemic. The need to curtail its spread is quite evident in the numbers itself, with over 10.5 million cases worldwide as of today. The healthcare professionals face a multitude of problems in a scenario like this and their protection is of utmost importance. This unprecedented scenario requires them to form new habits that ensure their safety and therefore it is of great importance that information regarding personal safety be reviewed from time to time as knowledge takes time and repetition to get converted into actions and even more so to get converted to habit. A lot of misconceptions also exist regarding the equipment and practices that need to be implemented that require clarification. This article reviews strategies to be used by the healthcare workers and the hospital to tackle cases effectively, provide appropriate care and at the same time ensure their own safety and safety of all other personnel at the hospital as well as patients. An important aspect covered here is personal protective. Information regarding the equipment, it’s uses, and protocols are explored with the aim of strengthening the knowledge base of the healthcare force and to reinforce precautionary measures to be taken during these tough times. 

Recomendações de equipamentos de proteção individual no combate ao COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (31) ◽  
pp. 87-95
Author(s):  
Nicole Maria Miyamoto Bettini ◽  
Fabiana Tomé Ramos ◽  
Priscila Masquetto Vieira de Almeida
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Personnel ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
World Health ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Effective Strategy ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

A Organização Mundial da Saúde - OMS confirmou a circulação internacional do novo Coronavírus em janeiro de 2020, nomeando-o como COVID-19 e, declarando uma pandemia. É de extrema importância que durante a pandemia, os profissionais de saúde tenham acesso e conhecimento sobre o uso correto dos Equipamentos de Proteção Individual (EPIs) e suas indicações, tomando assim, as devidas precauções na prevenção de infecções. O presente estudo buscou identificar a padronização mundial quanto ao uso dos EPIs utilizados no atendimento a pacientes suspeitos e/ou confirmados de COVID-19 no Brasil, EUA, China, Espanha, Itália e demais países europeus. Os guidelines apresentam a padronização quanto ao uso dos EPIs utilizados no atendimento a suspeitos e/ou confirmados de COVID-19, indo ao encontro das recomendações fornecidas pela OMS. Até o momento, o uso de EPIs é sem dúvida a estratégia mais importante e eficaz para proteger os profissionais de saúde durante a assistência ao paciente com COVID-19.Descritores: Infecções por Coronavírus, Equipamento de Proteção Individual, Pessoal de Saúde, Enfermagem. Recommendations for personal protective equipment to combat COVID-19Abstract: The World Health Organization - WHO confirmed the international circulation of the new Coronavirus in January 2020, naming it as COVID-19 and declaring a pandemic. It is extremely important that during the pandemic, health professionals have access and knowledge about the correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and its indications, thus taking appropriate precautions to prevent infections. The present study sought to identify the worldwide standardization regarding the use of PPE utilized to take care of suspected and confirmed patients with COVID-19 in Brazil, USA, China, Spain, Italy and other European countries. The guidelines present a standardization regarding the use of PPE utilized to take care of suspected and confirmed with COVID-19, in line with the recommendations provided by WHO. To date, the use of PPE is undoubtedly the most important and effective strategy to protect healthcare professionals during care for patients with COVID-19.Descriptors: Coronavirus Infections, Personal Protective Equipment, Health Personnel, Nursing. Recomendaciones para el equipo de protección personal para combatir COVID-19Resumen: La Organización Mundial de la Salud - La OMS confirmó la circulación internacional del nuevo Coronavirus en enero de 2020, nombrándolo COVID-19 y declarando una pandemia. Es extremadamente importante que durante la pandemia, los profesionales de la salud tengan acceso y conocimiento sobre el uso correcto del Equipo de Protección Personal (EPP) y sus indicaciones, tomando así las precauciones adecuadas para prevenir infecciones. El presente estudio buscó identificar la estandarización mundial con respecto al uso de EPP utilizado para atender a pacientes sospechosos y/o confirmados con COVID-19 en Brasil, Estados Unidos, China, España, Italia y otros países europeos. Las pautas presentan la estandarización con respecto al uso de EPP utilizado para cuidar COVID-19 sospechoso y/o confirmado, de acuerdo con las recomendaciones proporcionadas por la OMS. Hasta la fecha, el uso de EPP es, sin duda, la estrategia más importante y efectiva para proteger a los profesionales de la salud durante la atención de pacientes con COVID-19.Descriptores: Infecciones por Coronavirus, Equipo de Protección Personal, Personal de Salud, Enfermería.

scholarly journals Stress, Burnout, and Resilience among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Emergency: The Role of Defense Mechanisms

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5258
Author(s):  
Mariagrazia Di Giuseppe ◽  
Gianni Nepa ◽  
Tracy A. Prout ◽  
Fabrizio Albertini ◽  
Stefano Marcelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Personal Accomplishment ◽  
Traumatic Experience ◽  
Psychological Resources ◽  
Defensive Functioning ◽  
The Impact

The experience of working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 healthcare crisis has presented a cumulative traumatic experience that affects healthcare professionals’ well-being. Psychological resources such as resilience and adaptive defense mechanisms are essential in protecting individuals from severe stress and burnout. During September 2020, 233 healthcare workers responded to an online survey to test the impact of demographic variables, COVID-19 exposure, and psychological resources in determining stress and burnout during the COVID-19 emergency. Frontline workers reported higher scores for stress, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization (p < 0.001) as compared to colleagues working in units not directly serving patients with COVID-19. Mature defensive functioning was associated with resilience and personal accomplishment (r = 0.320; p < 0.001), while neurotic and immature defenses were related to perceived stress and burnout. Stress and burnout were predicted by lower age, female gender, greater exposure to COVID-19, lower resilience, and immature defensive functioning among healthcare professionals (R2 = 463; p < 0.001). Working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic appears to provoke greater stress and burnout. On the other hand, resilience and adaptive defense mechanisms predicted better adjustment. Future reaction plans should promote effective programs offering support for healthcare workers who provide direct care to patients with COVID-19.

scholarly journals Adverse Effects of Personal Protective Equipment Among Intensive Care Unit Healthcare Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 237796082110261
Author(s):  
Takeshi Unoki ◽  
Hideaki Sakuramoto ◽  
Ryuhei Sato ◽  
Akira Ouchi ◽  
Tomoki Kuribara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
World Health ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Medical Database ◽  
Publication Type ◽  
Skin Injuries

Introduction To avoid exposure to SARS-COV-2, healthcare professionals use personal protective equipment (PPE) while treating COVID-19 patients. Prior studies have revealed the adverse effects (AEs) of PPE on healthcare workers (HCWs); however, no review has focused on the AEs of PPE on HCWs in intensive care units (ICUs). This review aimed to identify the AEs of PPE on HCWs working in ICUs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A scoping review was conducted. MEDLINE, CINAHL, the World Health Organization (WHO) global literature on COVID-19, and Igaku-chuo-zasshi (a Japanese medical database), Google Scholar, medRxiv, and Health Research Board (HRB) open research were searched from January 25–28, 2021. The extracted data included author(s) name, year of publication, country, language, article title, journal name, publication type, study methodology, population, outcome, and key findings. Results The initial search identified 691 articles and abstracts. Twenty-five articles were included in the analysis. The analysis comprised four key topics: studies focusing on PPE-related headache, voice disorders, skin manifestations, and miscellaneous AEs of PPE. The majority of AEs for HCWs in ICUs were induced by prolonged use of masks. Conclusion The AEs of PPE among HCWs in ICUs included heat, headaches, skin injuries, chest discomfort, and dyspnea. Studies with a focus on specific diseases were on skin injuries. Moreover, many AEs were induced by prolonged use of masks.

scholarly journals What healthcare professionals owe us: why their duty to treat during a pandemic is contingent on personal protective equipment (PPE)

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 432-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Udo Schuklenk
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Short Supply ◽  
Universal Precautions ◽  
Tax Regimes ◽  
Global North ◽  
Allocation Decisions

Healthcare professionals’ capacity to protect themselves, while caring for infected patients during an infectious disease pandemic, depends on their ability to practise universal precautions. In turn, universal precautions rely on the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE). During the SARS-CoV2 outbreak many healthcare workers across the globe have been reluctant to provide patient care because crucial PPE components are in short supply. The lack of such equipment during the pandemic was not a result of careful resource allocation decisions in the global north, where the short supply could be explained through their high cost. Instead, they were the result of democratically elected governments prioritising low tax regimes over an adequate resourcing of their healthcare delivery systems. Such decisions were made despite global health experts warning about the high probability of pandemics like SARS-CoV2 occurring during our lifetimes. Avoidable allocation decisions by democratically elected political leaders resulted in a lack of sufficient PPE for healthcare professionals. After discussing and discounting various ethical arguments in support of a professional obligation to treat, even without or with suboptimal PPE, I conclude that these policy decisions were sufficiently grave that they provide a sound ethical rationale to justify healthcare workers’ refusal to provide care to infected patients.

scholarly journals The psychological impacts of COVID-19: a study of frontline physicians and nurses in the Arab world

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
N. Al Mahyijari ◽  
A. Badahdah ◽  
F. Khamis
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Arab World ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sultanate Of Oman ◽  
Stress Scale ◽  
Harmful Effects

Objectives: The COVID-19 (SARS-CoV2) pandemic is wreaking havoc on healthcare systems and causing serious economic, social, and psychological anguish around the globe. Healthcare workers (HCWs) who diagnose and care for COVID-19 patients have been shown to suffer burnout, stress, and anxiety. Methods: In this study, we collected data from 150 frontline HCWs who had close contact with COVID-19 patients at several health facilities in the Sultanate of Oman. The participants completed an online survey that included the Perceived Stress Scale, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index. Results: The study found that a substantial number of healthcare professionals experienced relatively high levels of stress and anxiety, as well as suboptimal levels of well-being. Perceived stress and anxiety were significant predictors of HCWs’ well-being. Conclusions: This study adds to the increasing literature indicating harmful effects of COVID-19 on the mental health of HCWs.

scholarly journals WILLINGNESS TO WORK AMONGST AUSTRALIAN FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS DURING AUSTRALIA’S FIRST WAVE OF COVID-19 COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION: RESULTS OF AN ONLINE SURVEY

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Michella Hill ◽  
Erin Smith ◽  
Brennen Mills
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
Community Transmission ◽  
Frontline Healthcare Workers ◽  
Insight Into

Abstract Objectives The majority of research investigating healthcare workers’ (HCWs) willingness to work during public health emergencies asks participants to forecast their perceptions based on hypothetical emergencies, rather than in response to actual public health emergencies they have experienced. This research explored frontline HCWs willingness to work during Australia’s first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic among frontline HCWs. Methods Participants (n=580) completed an online questionnaire regarding their willingness to work during the pandemic. Results Forty-two percent of participants reported being less willing to work during the pandemic compared to before. Availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), concern expressed by family members, and viral exposure were significant barriers. One-third of participants disagreed that some level of occupational risk for exposure to infectious disease was acceptable. One-quarter of participants had received communications from their workplace concerning obligations to work during COVID-19. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Australian frontline HCWs’ willingness to work. Scarcity of PPE and exposure to the virus were the most cited reasons impacting on willingness to work. Appropriate policies and practices should be implemented and communicated efficiently to frontline HCW’s. This research provides insight into the lived experiences of Australian healthcare professionals’ willingness to work during a pandemic.

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