•The average SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in healthcare workers of a a tertiary hospital, University Hospital Essen, Germany was 1.6 % in the period between March to April 2020.•The local hygiene ...standards seem to be effective to prevent patient-to-staff virus transmission at the designated COVID-19 units wards.•Awareness for COVID-19 infections is crucial even in non−COVID-19 wards.
The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is associated with a severe respiratory manifestation, COVID-19, and presents a challenge for healthcare systems worldwide. Healthcare workers are a vulnerable cohort for SARS-CoV-2 infection due to frequent and close contact to patients with COVID-19.
Serum samples from 316 healthcare workers of the University Hospital Essen, Germany were tested for SARS-CoV-2-IgG antibodies. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic and clinical data. Healthcare workers were grouped depending on the frequency of contact to COVID-19 patients in high-risk-group (n = 244) with daily contact to known or suspected SARS-CoV-2 positive patients, intermediated-risk-group (n = 37) with daily contact to patients without known or suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection at admission and low-risk-group (n = 35) without patient contact.
In 5 of 316 (1.6 %) healthcare workers SARS-CoV-2-IgG antibodies could be detected. The seroprevalence was higher in the intermediate-risk-group vs. high-risk-group (2/37 (5.4 %) vs. 3/244 (1.2 %), p = 0.13). Four of the five subject were tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 via PCR. One (20 %) subject was not tested via PCR since he was asymptomatic.
The overall seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers of a tertiary hospital in Germany is low (1.6 %). The data indicate that the local hygiene standard might be effective.
In the fight against COVID-19, vaccination is vital in achieving herd immunity. Many Asian countries are starting to vaccinate frontline workers; however, expedited vaccine development has led to ...hesitancy among the general population. We evaluated the willingness of healthcare workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
From 12 to 21 December 2020, we recruited 1720 healthcare workers from 6 countries: China, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and Bhutan. The self-administrated survey collected information on willingness to vaccinate, perception of COVID-19, vaccine concerns, COVID-19 risk profile, stigma, pro-socialness scale, and trust in health authorities.
More than 95% of the healthcare workers surveyed were willing to vaccinate. These respondents were more likely to perceive the pandemic as severe, consider the vaccine safe, have less financial concerns, less stigmatization regarding the vaccine, higher pro-socialness mindset and trust in health authorities. A high perceived pandemic risk index, low vaccine harm index and high pro-socialness index were independent predictors in multivariable analysis.
The majority of healthcare workers in Asia are willing to receive COVID-19 vaccination. Perceived COVID-19 susceptibility, low potential risk of vaccine harm and pro-socialness are the main drivers. These findings may help formulate vaccination strategies in other countries.
The sudden outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) plunged healthcare workers (HCWs) into warfare. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of burnout and the factors associated with ...it among frontline HCWs fighting COVID-19.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among frontline HCWs fighting against the COVID-19 in Wuhan, Harbin, and Shenzhen during the period from February 18 to March 4. Finally, HCWs were recruited using cluster sampling, 1,163 HCWs were included in the final analysis. Burnout was measured using a 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory scale (MBI scale).
Of the participants, 48.6% suffered from burnout, and 21.8% showed a high degree of burnout. Doctors (
= 3.954,
= 0.011) and nurses (
= 3.067,
= 0.042) showed higher emotional exhaustion (EE) than administrators. Participants who worked continuously for more than 8 h a day (
= 3.392,
= 0.000), those who were unable to eat three regular daily meals (
= 2.225,
= 0.008), whose daily water intake was no more than 800 ml (
= 3.007,
= 0.000), who slept for no more than 6 h (
= 1.609,
= 0.036), and who were infected or had colleagues who were infected with COVID-19 (
= 4.182,
= 0.000) experienced much higher levels of EE, while those who could adhere to infection control procedures (
= -5.992,
= 0.000), who were satisfied with their hospital's infection control measures(
= -3.709,
= 0.001), and who could receive sufficient psychological crisis intervention (
= -1.588,
= 0.039) reported lower levels of EE.
The study reveals that burnout is prevalent among frontline HCWs and that the known factors associated with burnout, such as workload, and the factors directly associated with COVID-19, such as having insufficient protection, can affect burnout symptoms in frontline HCWs. Synergized and comprehensive interventions should be targeted at reducing its occurrence among frontline HCWs fighting COVID-19.
The COVID-19 outbreak has placed extraordinary demands upon healthcare systems worldwide. Italy's hospitals have been among the most severely overwhelmed, and as a result, Italian healthcare workers' ...(HCWs) well-being has been at risk. The aim of this study is to explore the relationships between dimensions of burnout and various psychological features among Italian healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 emergency. A group of 267 HCWs from a hospital in the Lazio Region completed self-administered questionnaires online through Google Forms, including the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Resilience Scale, and Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale Short Form (IU). Cluster analysis highlighted two opposite burnout risk profiles: low burnout and high-risk burnout. The high-risk group had lower resilience and greater difficulties in tolerating the uncertainty than the low-burnout group. A set of general linear models confirmed that both IU subscales, prospective and inhibition, moderated the relationship between resilience and burnout (specifically in the depersonalization dimension). In conclusion, the results showed that individual levels of resilience and one's ability to tolerate uncertainty have been significant factors in determining the impact of the COVID-19 emergency on HCWs. The use of emotional strategies that allow individuals to stay in a critical situation without the need to control it appears to protect against burnout in these circumstances.
Healthcare workers are at high risk of developing sleep disorders during an outbreak. This study aimed to measure severity of sleep difficulty and its correlation with duration of deal with ...suspected/confirmed cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in physicians.
In this cross-sectional study, 268 physicians from different medical settings were included during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The mean age and experience of physicians were 35.06 (33–70 years) and 10.13 years. The median duration of dealing with suspected/confirmed cases of COVID-19 was 1.0 (0–30 days). The mean sleep score and stress of physicians were 8.43 of 24.0 and 4.20 of 10, respectively. More than two-thirds of the physicians were sleepless (68.3%) and majority had stress (93.7%). The study did not find a significant difference in sleep score of physicians with different specialties (P = 0.059). However, most physicians were sleepless; including anesthesia and intensive care (77.8%); general physicians (80.8%), and obstetrics and gynecology (80.0%). They were sleepless in morning (58.7%); evening (77.8%); night (100%); and multi-shift (70.9%). The physicians who dealt with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 or with stress had more escalated sleep compared to those who did not deal with patients or without stress (9.39 vs. 7.17 and 8.78 vs. 2.69 P < 0.001). The sleep of physicians was escalated with increasing stress (r = 0.558; P < 0.001) and a number of days that physicians dealt with suspected/confirmed cases of COVID-19 (r = 0.210; P = 0.001), respectively.
The study confirmed that working with COVID-19 patients has a negative effect on the sleep of physicians.
•Sleep quality of physicians is poor during the COVID-19 outbreak.•Most of the physicians are sleepless during the COVID-19 outbreak.•Physicians sleep is escalated with duration of COVID-19 patient interaction.•Physicians sleep is escalated with stress during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Objective: To identify the profile of tertiary healthcare workers who were working at the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic. Method: This is a quantitative study involving 155 tertiary ...healthcare professionals who participated in a web survey, and the analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. Results: The group consisted mainly of nurses, social workers, doctors, psychologists, and nutritionists. All identified as heterosexual, cisgender, between the ages of 25 and 49, self-identified as white, Catholic, married or in a stable relationship, with a postgraduate education, a legal professional affiliation, more than one school-age child, and living with three to four people in the same household. Conclusion: The characterized profile may be useful for engaging in studies on workers’ health, occupational risk, paid work, and private activities of health professionals
To describe the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers (HCWs) at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
A prospective ...cross-sectional study of HCWs confirmed to have COVID-19 infection from March 1st, 2020 to December 31st, 2022.
A total of 746 HCWs were diagnosed with COVID-19. Patients’ age ranged from 22-60 years with a mean ± standard deviation of 37.4 ± 8.7 years. The infection was community-acquired in 584 (78.3%) HCWs. The vast majority (82.6%) of the infected HCWs had no comorbidities. Nurses (400/746 or 53.6 %) represented the largest professional group, followed by physicians (128/746 or 17.2%), administrative staff (125/746 or 16.8%), respiratory therapists (54/746 or 7.2%), and physiotherapists (39/746 or 5.2%). Symptoms included fever (64.1%), cough (55.6%), sore throat (44.6%), headache (22.9%), runny nose (19.6%), shortness of breath (19.0%), fatigue (12.7%), body aches (11.4%), diarrhea (10.9%), vomiting (4.4%), and abdominal pain (2.8%). Most (647 or 86.7%) patients were managed as outpatients. Four (0.5%) HCWs died.
HCWs face a dual risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, both from community exposure and within the hospital setting. Comprehensive infection control strategies are needed to protect HCWs both inside and outside the hospital environment.
•Among 746 healthcare workers with COVID-19, the infection was community-acquired in 78.3%.•The vast majority (82.6%) of the infected healthcare workers had no comorbidities.•Nurses (53.6 %) represented the largest professional group, followed by physicians (17.2%).•Most (86.7%) patients were managed as outpatients and 4 (0.5%) patients died.•Healthcare workers face a dual risk of infection, both from community and hospital exposures.
Objective: To assess the acceptance of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine among healthcare workers at two general hospitals in Vietnam when it is available.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was ...conducted using a convenience sampling from January to February 2021 among 410 healthcare workers at two general hospitals in Vietnam via a self-administered questionnaire. A multivariable regression analysis was performed to determine predictors of vaccine acceptance including the demographic factors, COVID-19 knowledge, and vaccine beliefs based on the domains of Health Belief Model.
Results: Among 410 healthcare workers, 76.10% showed vaccination willingness. Predictors of acceptance were determined that the group reporting as "vaccine acceptance" was more likely to be positive towards the perceived susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 (OR 2.45; 95% CI 1.48-4.06, P<0.05), perceived benefits of vaccination, and cues to action (OR 4.36; 95% CI 2.35-8.09, and OR 5.49; 95% CI 2.84-10.61, respectively, all P<0.001), but less likely to have the perceived barriers to vaccination (OR 0.19; 95% CI 0.09-0.38; P<0.001) compared with the no acceptance group. Besides, people who had a good knowledge regarding the severity of illness were 3.37 times more likely to have identified as vaccine acceptance (OR 3.37; 95% CI 1.04-10.86, P<0.05). The demographic factors were also associated with willingness to receive the vaccine, with participants who were staff and received COVID-19 information from relatives were less likely to accept the vaccine over those who were doctors and not receiving information from relatives (OR 0.36; 95% CI 0.13-0.96, and OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.17-0.78, respectively, all P<0.05).
Conclusions: A rate of willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19 was relatively high with discrepancies between occupation, receiving information from relatives, knowledge toward the severity of illness, and the elements of Health Belief Model. The findings will provide information for the management authorities to develop relevant interventions to promote COVID-19 vaccination uptake.
Abstract
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), which originated in Wuhan, China, has caused many healthcare workers (HCWs) to be infected. Seventy-two HCWs manifested with acute respiratory illness ...were retrospectively enrolled to analyze the risk factors. The high-risk department, longer duty hours, and suboptimal hand hygiene after contacting with patients were linked to COVID-19.
The literature shows the negative psychological impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak on frontline healthcare workers. However, few are known about the mental health of ...physicians and nurses working in general hospitals during the outbreak, caring for patients with COVID-19 or not.
This survey assessed differences in mental health in physicians and nurses working in COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 medical care units.
A cross-sectional mixed-mode survey was used to assess burnout, insomnia, depression, anxiety, and stress.
A total of 1,244 physicians and nurses from five general hospitals in Belgium, working in COVID-19 care units (CCU), non-COVID-19 care units (NCCU), or both (CCU + NCCU) were informed of the study.
Six hundred forty-seven healthcare workers participated in the survey (response rate = 52%).
Validated instruments were used to assess the outcomes: the
(burnout/professional fulfillment), the
(insomnia), and the
(depression, anxiety, and stress).
Results showed high prevalence of burnout, insomnia, depression, and anxiety among participants. After adjusting for confounders, multivariate analysis of variance showed no differences between CCU, NCCU, and CCU + NCCU workers. Univariate general linear models showed higher level of burnout, insomnia, and anxiety among nurses in comparison to physicians. Being a nurse, young, isolated, with an increased workload were risk factors for worse mental health outcomes.
The mental health of the tested sample, before the outbreak, is unknown. Moreover, this cross-sectional design provides no information on the evolution of the mental health outcomes over time.
Directly caring for patients with COVID-19 is not associated with worse mental health outcomes among healthcare workers in general hospitals. High prevalence of burnout, insomnia, depression, and anxiety among physicians and nurses requires special attention, and specific interventions need to be implemented.
ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04344145.
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