Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, Korea.
J Korean Med Sci. 2022 Feb 14;37(6):e49. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2022.37.e49.
As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is ongoing, heavy workload of healthcare workers (HCWs) is a concern. This study investigated the workload of HCWs responding to the COVID-19 outbreak in South Korea.
A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted from September 16 to October 15, 2020, involving 16 healthcare facilities (4 public medical centers, 12 tertiary-care hospitals) that provide treatment for COVID-19 patients.
Public medical centers provided the majority (69.4%) of total hospital beds for COVID-19 patients (n = 611), on the other hand, tertiary care hospitals provided the majority (78.9%) of critical care beds (n = 57). The number of beds per doctor (median [IQR]) in public medical centers was higher than in tertiary care hospitals (20.2 [13.0, 29.4] versus 3.0 [1.3, 6.6], = 0.006). Infectious Diseases physicians are mostly (80%) involved among attending physicians. The number of nurses per patient (median [interquartile range, IQR]) in tertiary-care hospitals was higher than in public medical centers (4.6 [3.4-5] vs. 1.1 [0.8-2.1], = 0.089). The median number of nurses per patient for COVID-19 patients was higher than the highest national standard in South Korea (3.8 vs. 2 for critical care). All participating healthcare facilities were also operating screening centers, for which a median of 2 doctors, 5 nurses, and 2 administrating staff were necessary.
As the severity of COVID-19 patients increases, the number of HCWs required increases. Because the workload of HCWs responding to the COVID-19 outbreak is much greater than other situations, a workforce management plan regarding this perspective is required to prevent burnout of HCWs.
随着 2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行的持续，医护人员（HCW）的工作量很大，这令人担忧。本研究调查了韩国应对 COVID-19 疫情的 HCW 的工作量。
2020 年 9 月 16 日至 10 月 15 日，对 16 家医疗设施（4 家公立医疗中心，12 家三级保健医院）进行了一项全国性的横断面调查，这些医疗设施为 COVID-19 患者提供治疗。
公立医疗中心提供了 COVID-19 患者（n = 611）总数的大部分（69.4%）床位，而三级保健医院提供了大部分（78.9%）重症监护床位（n = 57）。公立医疗中心每医生床位数（中位数[IQR]）高于三级保健医院（20.2 [13.0, 29.4]与 3.0 [1.3, 6.6]， = 0.006）。主治医生中，传染病医生大多（80%）参与。三级保健医院每患者护士数（中位数[四分位距，IQR]）高于公立医疗中心（4.6 [3.4-5]与 1.1 [0.8-2.1]， = 0.089）。三级保健医院 COVID-19 患者的护士人均数高于韩国的最高国家标准（3.8 与 2 用于重症监护）。所有参与的医疗设施也都设有筛查中心，每个筛查中心需要配备中位数为 2 名医生、5 名护士和 2 名管理人员。
随着 COVID-19 患者病情的加重，所需 HCW 的数量也会增加。由于应对 COVID-19 疫情的 HCW 的工作量比其他情况大得多，因此需要从这一角度制定 HCW 劳动力管理计划，以防止 HCW burnout。
