Moodley Saiendhra Vasudevan, Zungu Muzimkhulu, Malotle Molebogeng, Voyi Kuku, Claassen Nico, Ramodike Jonathan, Thunzi Nkululeko, Mlangeni Nosimilo
School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
National Institute for Occupational Health, A division of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa.
BMC Infect Dis. 2021 Feb 1;21(1):138. doi: 10.1186/s12879-021-05812-6.
Health workers are crucial to the successful implementation of infection prevention and control strategies to limit the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at healthcare facilities. The aim of our study was to determine SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention and control knowledge and attitudes of frontline health workers in four provinces of South Africa as well as explore some elements of health worker and health facility infection prevention and control practices.
A cross-sectional study design was utilised. The study population comprised both clinical and non-clinical staff working in casualty departments, outpatient departments, and entrance points of health facilities. A structured self-administered questionnaire was developed using the World Health Organization guidance as the basis for the knowledge questions. COVID-19 protocols were observed during data collection.
A total of 286 health workers from 47 health facilities at different levels of care participated in the survey. The mean score on the 10 knowledge items was 6.3 (SD = 1.6). Approximately two-thirds of participants (67.4%) answered six or more questions correctly while less than a quarter of all participants (24.1%) managed to score eight or more. A knowledge score of 8 or more was significantly associated with occupational category (being either a medical doctor or nurse), age (< 40 years) and level of hospital (tertiary level). Only half of participants (50.7%) felt adequately prepared to deal with patients with COVD-19 at the time of the survey. The health workers displaying attitudes that would put themselves or others at risk were in the minority. Only 55.6% of participants had received infection prevention and control training. Some participants indicated they did not have access to medical masks (11.8%) and gloves (9.9%) in their departments.
The attitudes of participants reflected a willingness to engage in appropriate SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention and control practices as well as a commitment to be involved in COVID-19 patient care. Ensuring adequate infection prevention and control training for all staff and universal access to appropriate PPE were identified as key areas that needed to be addressed. Interim and final reports which identified key shortcomings that needed to be addressed were provided to the relevant provincial departments of health.
卫生工作者对于成功实施感染预防与控制策略以限制严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）在医疗机构内的传播至关重要。我们研究的目的是确定南非四个省份一线卫生工作者对SARS-CoV-2感染预防与控制的知识和态度，并探索卫生工作者及医疗机构感染预防与控制措施的一些要素。
采用横断面研究设计。研究人群包括在急诊科、门诊部及医疗机构入口处工作的临床和非临床工作人员。以世界卫生组织的指南为知识问题的基础，编制了一份结构化的自填式问卷。在数据收集过程中遵守了新型冠状病毒肺炎防控方案。
来自47家不同护理级别的医疗机构的286名卫生工作者参与了调查。10项知识题目的平均得分是6.3（标准差=1.6）。约三分之二的参与者（67.4%）正确回答了6道或更多问题，而所有参与者中不到四分之一（24.1%）的得分达到或超过8分。知识得分达到或超过8分与职业类别（医生或护士）、年龄（<40岁）及医院级别（三级医院）显著相关。调查时，只有一半的参与者（50.7%）认为自己有足够的准备来应对新型冠状病毒肺炎患者。表现出可能使自己或他人面临风险态度的卫生工作者占少数。只有55.6%的参与者接受过感染预防与控制培训。一些参与者表示，他们所在科室无法获得医用口罩（11.8%）和手套（9.9%）。
参与者的态度反映出他们愿意采取适当的SARS-CoV-2感染预防与控制措施，并致力于参与新型冠状病毒肺炎患者的护理工作。确保为所有工作人员提供充分的感染预防与控制培训以及普遍提供适当的个人防护装备被确定为需要解决的关键领域。已向相关省级卫生部门提供了确定需要解决的关键缺陷的中期和最终报告。
