Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the COVID-19 vaccination acceptance of emergency medical services (EMS) personnel as front-line health care workers (HCW) in Germany. Several studies have shown low willingness for vaccination (e.g., seasonal influenza) among HCWs and EMS personnel. Methods: We created a web-based survey. The questions were closed and standardized. Demographic data were collected (age, sex, federal state, profession). Experience with own COVID-19 infection, or infection in personal environment (family, friends) as well as willingness to vaccinate was queried. Results: The sample includes n = 1296 participants. A willingness to be vaccinated exists in 57%, 27.6% participants were undecided. Our results show a higher propensity to vaccinate among the following groups: male gender, higher medical education level, older age, own burden caused by the pandemic (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Due to the low overall acceptance of vaccination by HCWs, we recommend that the groups with vaccination hesitancy, in particular, be recruited for vaccination through interventions such as continuing education and awareness campaigns.
(1) Background: Approximately 73 countries worldwide implemented a daylight saving time (DST) policy: setting their clocks forward in spring and back in fall. The main purpose of this practice is to save electricity. The aim of the present study was to find out how DST affects the incidence and impact of seriously injured patients. (2) Methods: In a retrospective, multi-center study, we used the data recorded in the TraumaRegister DGU® (TR-DGU) between 2003 and 2017 from Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. We compared the included cases 1 week before and after DST. (3) Results: After DST from standard time to summertime, we found an increased incidence of accidents of motorcyclists up to 51.58%. The result is consistent with other studies. (4) Conclusion: However, our results should be interpreted as a tendency. Other influencing factors, such as time of day and weather conditions, were not considered.
(1) Background: The COVID-19 vaccination has caused uncertainty among employees and employers regarding vaccination reactions and incapacitation. At the time of our study, three vaccines are licensed in Germany to combat the COVID-19 pandemic (BioNTech/Pfizer (Comirnaty), AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), and Moderna (Spikevax). We aim to assess how often and to what extent frontline healthcare workers had vaccination reactions after the first and second vaccination. The main focus is on the amount of sick leave after the vaccinations. (2) Methods: We create a web-based online questionnaire and deliver it to 270 medical directors in emergency medical services all over Germany. They are asked to make the questionnaire public to employees in their area of responsibility. To assess the association between independent variables and adverse effects of vaccination, we use log-binomial regression to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) for dichotomous outcomes (sick leave). (3) Results: A total of 3909 individuals participate in the survey for the first vaccination, of whom 3657 (94%) also provide data on the second vaccination. Compared to the first vaccination, mRNA-related vaccine reactions are more intense after the second vaccination, while vaccination reactions are less intense for vector vaccines. (4) Conclusion: Most vaccination reactions are physiological (local or systemic). Our results can help to anticipate the extent to which personnel will be unable to work after vaccination. Even among vaccinated HCWs, there seems to be some skepticism about future vaccinations. Therefore, continuous education and training should be provided to all professionals, especially regarding vaccination boosters. Our results contribute to a better understanding and can therefore support the control of the pandemic.
verfügbar. QR-Code scannen & Beitrag online lesen Zusammenfassung Hintergrund: Die COVID-19-Pandemie (coronavirus disease-2019) hat auch den deutschen Rettungsdienst deutlich belastet und gefordert. Die persönliche Schutzausrüstung (PSA) und die AHA-L-Regel (Abstand halten, Hygiene beachten, Maske tragen, regelmäßig lüften) spielen hierbei eine wichtige Rolle, um eine Verbreitung der COVID-19-Infektionen zu reduzieren. Ziel: Mit dieser Studie möchten wir die Akzeptanz und Compliance von PSA und Schutzmaßnahmen beim Rettungsdienstpersonal in Deutschland in Pandemiezeiten evaluieren. Methode: Über 270 ÄLRD wurden angeschrieben. Diese wurden gebeten, eine webbasierte Onlineumfrage an die Rettungswachen weiterzuleiten. Die Teilnehmer wurden zu Akzeptanz und Compliance im Alltag, in der Rettungswache, im Einsatz ohne COVID-19, im Einsatz mit COVID-19 befragt. Ergebnisse: Es haben n = 1295 Personen teilgenommen. Die Akzeptanz und Compliance von PSA und Schutzmaßnahmen ist insgesamt hoch. Die geringste Akzeptanz und Compliance findet sich bei den Fragen Akzeptanz (MW = 4,16; ±1,01) und Compliance (MW = 4,26; ±0,89) in der Rettungswache. Fazit: Wir empfehlen gezielte Schulungsmaßnahmen in Bezug auf PSA in Pandemien und die Bereitstellung von entsprechenden Räumlichkeiten zur konfliktlosen Einhaltung der AHA-L-Regeln.
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