Jafri Lena, Ahmed Sibtain, Siddiqui Imran
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, P.O. Box 3500, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan.
Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2020 Jul 18;57:70-75. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2020.07.022. eCollection 2020 Sep.
The lab professionals at one end are at increased risk of contracting the infection while on the other end have to deal with the various challenges during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. This survey was undertaken to analyze the lab professionals' perspectives, in terms of the challenges, financial implications, fears, motivation and satisfaction from organizational processes and policies adopted, amid the COVID-19 crisis.
MATERIAL & METHODS: The study utilized a cross-sectional survey design. The survey was administered online via the google docs survey tool from medical laboratory professionals (n = 64) serving at the section of Clinical Chemistry, department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, the Aga Khan University (AKU), Pakistan from June 4th to 14th 2020. A team consisting of three Clinical Chemistry consultants serving as faculty at the section, designed the survey questionnaire. The responses were recorded on a five-point Likert Scale (1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = neutral, 4 = agree and 5 = strongly agree). The statistical analysis was performed using the Microsoft Excel 2013. Frequency and percentages were calculated for gender, experience and designation while descriptive results based on the responses were also recorded.
The response rate was 78% (n = 50). 60% responded that the current lifestyle adopted during the pandemic was not better than the traditional one. The fear of employment termination and financial challenges were being faced by 42% and 78% respondents respectively. The quality of family life was improved in 54% cases while 96% were of the view that their social activities at work have suffered. Whereas, 22% were not satisfied by the measures taking by the management during the outbreak.
The findings of this survey provide laboratorians' perspective, in times of such crisis and provides us certain lessons to prepare for such unpredicted situations in future.
一方面，实验室专业人员感染风险增加；另一方面，在2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19）疫情期间，他们必须应对各种挑战。本次调查旨在分析在COVID-19危机期间，实验室专业人员对所面临的挑战、财务影响、恐惧、动力以及对所采用的组织流程和政策的满意度的看法。
本研究采用横断面调查设计。2020年6月4日至14日，通过谷歌文档调查工具对巴基斯坦阿迦汗大学（AKU）病理学和检验医学系临床化学科的医学检验专业人员（n = 64）进行了在线调查。由该科室的三名临床化学顾问组成的团队设计了调查问卷。回答记录在五点李克特量表上（1 = 强烈不同意，2 = 不同意，3 = 中立，4 = 同意，5 = 强烈同意）。使用Microsoft Excel 2013进行统计分析。计算了性别、经验和职位的频率及百分比，并记录了基于回答的描述性结果。
回复率为78%（n = 50）。60%的人表示疫情期间采用的当前生活方式并不比传统方式好。分别有42%和78%的受访者面临失业恐惧和财务挑战。54%的情况下家庭生活质量得到改善，而96%的人认为他们在工作中的社交活动受到了影响。此外，22%的人对疫情期间管理层采取的措施不满意。
本次调查结果提供了危机时期实验室工作人员的观点，并为我们今后应对此类不可预测的情况提供了一些经验教训。
