Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center, North Hills, CA, USA.
University of Memphis School of Public Health, Memphis, TN, USA.
J Prim Care Community Health. 2021 Jan-Dec;12:21501327211004738. doi: 10.1177/21501327211004738.
An infectious disease outbreak can place a significant burden on healthcare systems, however, our understanding of the broader healthcare workforce's preparedness during a pandemic is limited. This study examines factors that influence perceived workforce preparedness at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) during a pandemic.
The VA Preparedness Survey was a random, anonymous, web-based survey fielded nationwide October to December 2018. Multivariate statistical analyses examined the effects of study relevant factors (sociodemographic, work-related, general health, and household-related characteristics of VA employees) on perceptions of workforce preparedness, including institutional readiness and understanding of individual roles during a pandemic.
Four thousand and twenty-six VA employees responded. Overall, 55% were confident in their VA medical facility's ability to respond; 49% understood their role; and 68% reported their role to be important during a pandemic. After controlling for study-relevant factors, household preparedness, having plans that address the health care needs of family members, and higher self-reported health status were associated with all 3 workforce preparedness variables. Clinical staff (compared to non-clinical staff) were likely (OR:0.80, 95% CI:0.68-0.94, < .01) to have confidence in their medical facility's ability to respond but likely (OR:1.77, 95% CI:1.49-2.10, < .001) to believe their role was important. Employees who have been at the VA longer (OR:1.07, 95% CI:1.01-1.14, < .05) or have experienced a disaster while working at the VA (OR:1.29, 95% CI:1.04-1.59, < .05) were likely to understand their role during a pandemic.
The findings from this study suggest the need for identifying ways to increase VA employees' confidence in their medical facility's ability to respond to a pandemic; develop trainings to improve understanding of their different yet critical roles, for both clinical and non-clinical staff, during a pandemic; create different workforce trainings for newly hired employees; and identify ways to improve household preparedness for a pandemic outbreak.
传染病的爆发会给医疗系统带来巨大的负担，然而，我们对大流行期间更广泛的医疗保健劳动力的准备情况的了解是有限的。本研究调查了美国退伍军人事务部（VA）在大流行期间影响劳动力准备情况的因素。
VA 准备情况调查是一项全国范围内于 2018 年 10 月至 12 月进行的随机、匿名、基于网络的调查。多变量统计分析检查了研究相关因素（社会人口统计学、工作相关、一般健康和退伍军人事务部员工家庭相关特征）对劳动力准备情况的感知的影响，包括机构准备情况和大流行期间对个人角色的理解。
4026 名退伍军人事务部员工做出了回应。总体而言，55%的人对他们的退伍军人事务部医疗设施应对能力有信心；49%的人了解自己的角色；68%的人报告说他们的角色在大流行期间很重要。在控制了研究相关因素后，家庭准备情况、有应对家庭成员医疗需求的计划以及自我报告的健康状况与所有 3 个劳动力准备变量相关。与非临床人员相比，临床人员（OR：0.80，95%CI：0.68-0.94，<0.01）更有可能对其医疗设施应对能力有信心，但更有可能（OR：1.77，95%CI：1.49-2.10，<0.001）认为其角色很重要。在退伍军人事务部工作时间较长的员工（OR：1.07，95%CI：1.01-1.14，<0.05）或在退伍军人事务部工作期间经历过灾难的员工（OR：1.29，95%CI：1.04-1.59，<0.05）更有可能在大流行期间了解自己的角色。
本研究的结果表明，需要确定增加退伍军人事务部员工对其医疗设施应对大流行能力的信心的方法；为临床和非临床人员制定培训，以提高他们在大流行期间对不同但关键角色的理解；为新入职员工制定不同的劳动力培训；并确定改善家庭对大流行爆发准备的方法。
