School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University.
Aust N Z J Public Health. 2022 Feb;46(1):25-31. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.13188. Epub 2021 Dec 13.
This research sought to gauge the extent to which doctors, nurses and paramedics in Australia were concerned about contracting SARS-CoV-2 during the country's first wave of the virus in April 2020.
Australian registered doctors, nurses and paramedics (n=580) completed an online questionnaire during April 16-30, 2020 (period immediately following the highest four-week period (first wave) of SARS-CoV-2 confirmed cases in Australia).
During April 2020, two-thirds of participants felt it was likely they would contract SARS-CoV-2 at work. Half the participants suggested Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplies were inadequate for them to safely perform their job, with two-thirds suggesting management advised them to alter normal PPE use. One-third of participants suggested they were dissatisfied with their employer's communication of COVID-19 related information. Conclusions and implications for public health: After reports of PPE shortages during Australia's first SARS-CoV-2 wave, and suggestions access to PPE was still limited during Australia's second wave five months later, we must forecast for this and future pandemics ensuring adequate access to PPE for frontline healthcare workers. Further, ensuring consistent and standardised pathways for communication to staff (acknowledging the reality that information may rapidly change) will help alleviate frustration and anxiety.
本研究旨在评估澳大利亚的医生、护士和护理人员在该国 2020 年 4 月首次出现病毒期间对感染 SARS-CoV-2 的担忧程度。
2020 年 4 月 16 日至 30 日，澳大利亚注册医生、护士和护理人员（n=580）完成了在线问卷调查（正值澳大利亚 SARS-CoV-2 确诊病例最高四周期（第一波）之后）。
2020 年 4 月，三分之二的参与者认为他们在工作中很可能会感染 SARS-CoV-2。一半的参与者表示个人防护设备（PPE）供应不足，无法安全完成工作，三分之二的参与者表示管理层建议他们改变正常的 PPE 使用方式。三分之一的参与者表示对雇主关于 COVID-19 相关信息的沟通不满意。结论和对公共卫生的意义：在澳大利亚第一波 SARS-CoV-2 期间报告 PPE 短缺之后，并且五个月后澳大利亚第二波疫情期间仍有人建议 PPE 供应有限，我们必须为未来的大流行做好预测，确保为一线医护人员提供足够的 PPE。此外，确保为员工提供一致和标准化的沟通途径（承认信息可能会迅速变化的现实）将有助于减轻沮丧和焦虑。
