Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding Ebola disease in healthcare workers from a tertiary care hospital in Romania

Readiness To Manage Ebola Virus Disease Among Emergency Healthcare Workers in Uganda: A Nationwide Multicenter Survey

Background

Emerging infectious diseases like the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) pose significant global public health threats. Uganda has experienced multiple EVD outbreaks, the latest occurring in 2022. Frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk, yet there isn't sufficient evidence of existing knowledge of EVD of these health workers. We aimed to assess the readiness of Uganda's emergency healthcare workers to manage Ebola virus disease (EVD) and identify their training needs to inform targeted capacity-building interventions for future outbreaks.

Methods

This multicentre nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted from July to August 2023 among 691 HCWs providing emergency care in 14 secondary and tertiary hospitals across Uganda. Participants were consecutively recruited using the probability-proportional-to-size sampling technique, and data was collected using a self-reported questionnaire. Factors associated with EVD knowledge were identified through a mixed-effect linear model.

Results

Data from 691 eligible HCWs with a median age of 32 (IQR: 28-38) was analyzed (response rate: 92%). Only one-third (34.4%, n = 238) had received EVD training in the past year. The median EVD knowledge score was 77.4% (IQR: 71.2% - 83.4%). EVD knowledge was associated with longer professional experience in years (β: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.39, p = 0.024) and higher level of education: diploma (β: 3.37, 95% CI: 1.49 to 5.25, p < 0.001), undergraduate degree (β: 6.45, 95% CI: 4.11 to 8.79) and postgraduate degree (β: 7.13, 95% CI: 4.01 to 10.25, p < 0.001). Being a doctor (β: 2.55, 95% CI: 0.35 to 4.74, p = 0.023), providing care in the obstetrics/gynecology department (β: -1.90, 95% CI: -3.47 to - 0.32, p = 0.018), previous EVD training (β: 2.27, 95% CI: 0.96 to 3.59, p = 0.001) and accessing EVD information through social media (β: 2.52, 95% CI: 1.17 to 3.88, p < 0.001) were also significantly associated with EVD knowledge.

Conclusion

Our study reveals that Ugandan HCWs' EVD response readiness varies by individual factors and information sources. We recommend targeted training and suggest future research on educational innovations and social media's potential to fill knowledge gaps.

Vaccination and Factors Related to the Clinical Outcome of COVID-19 in Healthcare Workers-A Romanian Front-Line Hospital's Experience

The study aims to describe the frequency of COVID-19 in healthcare workers (HCWs) in a designated hospital for COVID-19 treatment in Bucharest, Romania, and to explore COVID-19 vaccination and other factors associated with the clinical outcome. We actively surveyed all HCWs from 26 February 2020 to 31 December 2021. Cases were laboratory-confirmed with RT-PCR or rapid test antigen. Epidemiological, demographic, clinical outcomes, vaccination status, and co-morbidities data were collected. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, SPSS, and MedCalc. A total of 490 cases of COVID-19 in HCWs were diagnosed. The comparison groups were related to the severity of the clinical outcome: the non-severe group (279, 64.65%) included mild and asymptomatic cases, and the potentially severe group included moderate and severe cases. Significant differences between groups were registered for high-risk departments (p = 0.0003), exposure to COVID-19 patients (p = 0.0003, vaccination (p = 0.0003), and the presence of co-morbidities (p < 0.0001). Age, obesity, anemia, and exposure to COVID-19 patients predicted the severity of the clinical outcomes (χ² (4, n = 425) = 65.69, p < 0.001). The strongest predictors were anemia and obesity (OR 5.82 and 4.94, respectively). In HCWs, mild COVID-19 cases were more frequent than severe cases. Vaccination history, exposure, and individual risk influenced the clinical outcome suggesting that measures to protect HCWs and occupational medicine are important for pandemic preparedness.

Australian dentists' knowledge, preparedness, and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 is a global health crisis. Close contact with the mucous membranes and respiratory secretions of patients and aerosol-generating procedures renders dentists and other oral health professionals at high risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2. We examined dentists' knowledge, preparedness, and experiences of managing COVID-19 in Australia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online survey of dentists with a current membership with The Australian Dental Association (ADA) was conducted between March and April 2021.

RESULTS

Of the 368 survey responses, most dentists (72.3%) reported having a good level of knowledge about COVID-19, with most visiting the ADA Federal COVID-19 (74.7%) and state/territory department of health websites (62.8%), respectively to source up-to-date information. Most dentists (87.6%) felt prepared to manage COVID-19 into the future, although 66% reported not receiving training or certification in the use of PPE. Over half (58.7%) reported not being concerned about contracting SARS-CoV-2 at work, with some (28.9%, n = 98/339) feeling more stressed than usual and having heavier workloads.

CONCLUSION

COVID-19 had significant impact in oral healthcare in Australia. Dentistry has adapted to the varied challenges raised by the pandemic. Comprehensive training and detailed guidelines were fundamental for successful patient management during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Are nurses prepared to respond to next infectious disease outbreak: A narrative synthesis

Aim

The review aimed to present a synthesis of nurses' preparedness for infectious disease and the components of emergency preparedness.

Design

Narrative synthesis.

Methods

A systematic search and screening for relevant studies were conducted to locate the relevant articles. The included studies were examined for scientific quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. The findings of included studies were synthesized by a narrative synthesis approach.

Results

Totally 15 studies were included, and 4 themes associated with nurses' preparedness for pandemic were identified: knowledge and skills, psychological preparation, external resources, and attitude and intention.

Conclusions

Most nurses express a positive willingness to respond to epidemics, although they do not believe they are adequately prepared. Some measures should be taken for improving nurses' emergency preparedness, including providing ongoing training, protective equipment, safe working environment and psychological intervention, improving nurses' resilience and accelerating the sharing of scientific information about epidemics.

"We will have to learn to live with it": Australian dentists' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Australian dentists are among the frontline healthcare workers providing dental and oral health care during the COVID-19 pandemic, and therefore have been affected in multiple ways. In this study, we explore their experiences of practising and living in this pandemic.

METHODS

A qualitative study analysed responses of 333 Australian dentists' who participated in a survey with open-ended questions about the challenges and positive outcomes of practising during the COVID-19 pandemic. The questions were embedded in a national online survey of Australian dentists' knowledge, preparedness and experiences conducted between March and April 2021. Data were analysed using content analysis.

RESULTS

Australian dentists reported their challenging experiences to be four-fold, including 'public health orders and restrictions', 'Infection prevention and control measures (IPC), 'Personal concerns about COVID-19' and 'Detracting opinions about COVID-19'. Conversely, they reported positive outcomes in relation to their practice during COVID-19, including 'Awareness of and adherence to IPC practices', 'Teamwork and interpersonal dynamics', 'Decompressed workload', 'Perceived support' and 'unintended positive outcomes'.

CONCLUSION

The COVID-19 pandemic generated several challenges for Australian dentists, but it also engendered some positive outcomes. Understanding of these can help tailor the professional support plans to address the needs and priorities of Australian dentists during the current and future pandemics.

Knowledge of and preparedness for COVID-19 among Somali healthcare professionals: A cross-sectional study

Background

Somalia is considered severely underprepared to contain an outbreak of COVID-19, with critical shortages in healthcare personnel and treatment resources. In limited-resource settings such as Somalia, providing healthcare workers with adequate information on COVID-19 is crucial to improve patient outcomes and mitigate the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This study assessed the knowledge of, preparedness for, and perceptions toward COVID-19 prevention and treatment among Somali healthcare workers.

Methods

A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was completed by 364 Somali healthcare workers in summer of 2020 utilizing a convenience sampling method.

Results

Participants’ most accessed sources of COVID-19 information were from social media (64.8%), official government and international health organization websites (51.1%,), and traditional media sources such as radio, TV, and newspapers (48.1%). A majority of participants demonstrated strong knowledge of treatment of COVID-19, the severity of COVID-19, and the possible outcomes of COVID-19, but only 5 out of 10 symptoms listed were correctly identified by more than 75% of participants. Although participants indicated seeing a median number of 10 patients per week with COVID-19 related symptoms, access to essential medical resources, such as N95 masks (30.2%), facial protective shields (24.5%), and disposable gowns (21.4%), were limited. Moreover, 31.3% agreed that Somalia was in a good position to contain an emerging outbreak of COVID-19. In addition, 40.4% of participants agreed that the Somali government’s response to the pandemic was sufficient to protect Somali healthcare professionals.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence for the need to equip Somali healthcare providers with more information, personal protective equipment, and treatment resources such that they can safely and adequately care for COVID-19 patients and contain the spread of the virus. Social media and traditional news outlets may be effective outlets to communicate information regarding COVID-19 and the Somali government’s response to frontline healthcare workers.

General practitioners' knowledge, preparedness, and experiences of managing COVID-19 in Australia

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 has brought unprecedented demands to general practitioners (GPs) worldwide. We examined their knowledge, preparedness, and experiences managing COVID-19 in Australia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online survey of GPs members of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) was conducted between June and September 2020.

RESULTS

Out of 244 survey responses, a majority of GPs (76.6%) indicated having good knowledge of COVID-19, relying mostly on state/territory department of health (84.4%) and the RACGP (76.2%) websites to source up-to-date information. Most felt prepared to manage patients with COVID-19 (75.7%), yet over half reported not receiving training in the use of PPE. The majority were concerned about contracting SARS-CoV-2, more stressed than usual, and have heavier workloads. Their greatest challenges included scarcity of PPE, personal distress, and information overload.

CONCLUSION

Access to PPE, training, accurate information, and preparedness are fundamental for the successful role of general practices during outbreaks.

Infection control professionals' and infectious diseases physicians' knowledge, preparedness, and experiences of managing COVID-19 in Australian healthcare settings

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 has placed unprecedented demands on infection control professionals (ICPs) and infectious disease (ID) physicians. This study examined their knowledge, preparedness, and experiences managing COVID-19 in the Australian healthcare settings.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of ICPs and ID physician members of the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC) and the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases (ASID) was conducted using an online survey. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise and report data.

RESULTS

A total of 103 survey responses were included in the analysis for ICPs and 45 for ID physicians. A majority of ICPs (78.7%) and ID physicians (77.8%) indicated having 'very good' or 'good' level of knowledge of COVID-19. Almost all ICPs (94.2%) relied on state or territory's department of health websites to source up-to-date information While most ID physicians (84.4%) used scientific literature and journals. A majority of ICPs (96%) and ID physicians (73.3%) reported feeling 'moderately prepared' or 'extremely prepared' for managing COVID-19. Most respondents had received specific training about COVID-19 within their workplace (ICPs: 75%; ID physicians: 66.7%), particularly training/certification in PPE use, which made them feel 'mostly or entirely confident' in using it. Most ICPs (84.5%) and ID physicians (76.2%) reported having 'considerably' or 'moderately more' work added to their daily duties. Their biggest concerns included the uncertainties under a rapidly changing landscape, PPE availability, and the community's compliance.

CONCLUSION

Harmonised information, specific COVID-19 training and education, and adequate support for front-line workers are key to successfully managing COVID-19 and other future outbreaks.

Xenophobia in the Time of a Pandemic: Social Media Use, Stereotypes, and Prejudice against Immigrants during the COVID-19 Crisis

This study examines the relationship between social media use, disease risk perception, social and political trust, and out-group stereotyping and prejudice during a social upheaval. Analyses of primary data collected during the COVID-19 outbreak in Singapore found that disease risk perception is positively related to stereotyping and prejudice against Chinese immigrants. Individuals who used social media for news were more likely to stereotype and express prejudice. However, those who engaged in frequent heterogenous discussions, and had more extensive social networks, were less likely to stereotype and express prejudice. Higher social and political trust was also associated with lower stereotyping and prejudice. Finally, moderation effects of network characteristics on the relationship between risk perception, social trust, and prejudice were observed.

Perceived Benefits and Challenges of Ebola Preparation Among Hospitals in Developed Countries: A Systematic Literature Review

The 2014–2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa provided an opportunity to improve our response to highly infectious diseases. We performed a systematic literature review in PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Web of Science of research articles that evaluated benefits and challenges of hospital Ebola preparation in developed countries. We excluded studies performed in non-developed countries, and those limited to primary care settings, the public health sector, and pediatric populations. Thirty-five articles were included. Preparedness activities were beneficial for identifying gaps in hospital readiness. Training improved health-care workers’ (HCW) infection control practices and personal protective equipment (PPE) use. The biggest challenge was related to PPE, followed by problems with hospital infrastructure and resources. HCWs feared managing Ebola patients, affecting their willingness to care for them. Standardizing protocols, PPE types, and frequency of training and providing financial support will improve future preparedness. It is unclear whether preparations resulted in sustained improvements.

Prospero Registration. CRD42018090988.