Qazi Ibtisam, Althobaiti Sultan S, Darwish Manal M, Althobaiti Yusuf S, Alzahrani Abdullah S, Mazi Waleed A, Awaji Sameer Y
Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia.
Public Health Department, Infection Prevention and Control Administration, Taif MOH Branch, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia.
Healthcare (Basel). 2025 Jun 23;13(13):1494. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13131494.
: Infectious disease outbreaks are a major challenge for public health systems worldwide, especially for healthcare workers (HCWs). Taif city, in Saudi Arabia, has a high population density and is a tourist destination, which puts it at a high risk of infectious disease outbreaks. Despite its geographical importance, no previous study has been conducted that focuses on assessing the preparedness of healthcare workers in Taif city for managing infectious disease outbreaks. Therefore, we aimed to assess the overall level of preparedness among HCWs in healthcare facilities across Taif city and identify the challenges they face when managing infectious disease outbreaks. : We conducted a cross-sectional study from October to December 2024 among 294 healthcare workers, using a structured questionnaire. We assessed the sociodemographic characteristics, infection prevention and control (IPC) training received by HCWs, the level of preparedness for managing infectious disease outbreaks, and their level of knowledge (low, moderate, or high). The association between sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge from having received IPC training and the level of preparedness was assessed using binary logistic regression. A -value of ≤ 0.05 was considered as significant. : Around 31.7% of the participants were aged 31-40 years, with 59.2% of them being female. Among the HCWs we assessed, 44.6% were nurses and 31.3% of the HCWs were from hospitals with a bed capacity of over 500. Only 16.3% of HCWs felt fully prepared on a personal level and only 20.7% believed their facility was fully prepared for managing an outbreak. A low level of knowledge was reported among 71.8% of the participants. The odds of having received IPC training were significantly higher among HCWs aged 41-50 years (AOR = 15.7; 95% CI = 4.26-58.1), for those working in the inpatient department (AOR = 6.3; 95% CI = 1.46-27.05), and for those with a moderate level of knowledge (AOR = 0.12; 95% CI = 0.03-0.5). The odds of being fully prepared for an infectious disease outbreak were significantly higher for males (AOR = 2.58; 95% CI = 1.18-5.63) and those working in the in-patient department (AOR = 6.87; 95% CI = 1.7-27.8) and significantly lower for those with a low level of knowledge (AOR = 0.19; 95% CI = 0.06-0.61). : Even though many HCWs have undergone IPC training, our findings highlight gaps in both knowledge and overall preparedness among healthcare workers in Taif city. Regular refresher courses, improved resource allocation, and implementing scenario-based emergency drills may help in improving the overall knowledge and preparedness of HCWs.
传染病爆发是全球公共卫生系统面临的重大挑战，对医护人员（HCWs）而言尤甚。沙特阿拉伯的塔伊夫市人口密度高，是一个旅游目的地，这使其面临传染病爆发的高风险。尽管其地理位置重要，但此前尚未有研究专注于评估塔伊夫市医护人员应对传染病爆发的准备情况。因此，我们旨在评估塔伊夫市各医疗机构医护人员的总体准备水平，并确定他们在应对传染病爆发时所面临的挑战。
我们于2024年10月至12月对294名医护人员进行了一项横断面研究，使用结构化问卷。我们评估了医护人员的社会人口学特征、接受的感染预防与控制（IPC）培训、应对传染病爆发的准备水平以及他们的知识水平（低、中或高）。使用二元逻辑回归评估社会人口学特征与接受IPC培训所获知识以及准备水平之间的关联。P值≤0.05被视为具有统计学意义。
约31.7%的参与者年龄在31 - 40岁之间，其中59.2%为女性。在我们评估的医护人员中，44.6%是护士，31.3%的医护人员来自床位超过500张的医院。只有16.3%的医护人员在个人层面感觉完全有准备，只有20.7%的人认为其所在机构完全有准备应对疫情爆发。71.8%的参与者报告知识水平较低。41 - 50岁的医护人员接受IPC培训的几率显著更高（比值比[AOR]=15.7；95%置信区间[CI]=4.26 - 58.1），在住院部工作的人员（AOR = 6.3；95% CI = 1.46 - 27.05）以及知识水平中等的人员（AOR = 0.12；95% CI = 0.03 - 0.5）也是如此。男性（AOR = 2.58；95% CI = 1.18 - 5.63）和在住院部工作的人员（AOR = 6.87；95% CI = 1.7 - 27.8）应对传染病爆发完全有准备的几率显著更高，而知识水平低的人员几率显著更低（AOR = 0.19；95% CI = 0.06 - 0.61）。
尽管许多医护人员接受了IPC培训，但我们的研究结果凸显了塔伊夫市医护人员在知识和总体准备方面的差距。定期复习课程、改善资源分配以及开展基于情景的应急演练可能有助于提高医护人员的总体知识水平和准备程度。
