Emergency clinicians’ knowledge, preparedness and experiences of managing COVID-19 during the 2020 global pandemic in Australian healthcare settings

Abstract

Background Emergency clinicians have a crucial role during public health emergencies and have been at the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the knowledge, preparedness and experiences of Australian emergency nurses, emergency physicians and paramedics in managing COVID-19. Methods A voluntary cross-sectional study of members of the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine, and the Australasian College of Paramedicine was conducted using an online survey (June-September 2020). Results Of the 159 emergency nurses, 110 emergency physicians and 161 paramedics, 67.3-78% from each group indicated that their current knowledge of COVID-19 was ‘good to very good’. The most frequently accessed source of COVID-19 information was from state department of health websites. Most of the respondents in each group (77.6-86.4%) received COVID-19 specific training and education, including personal protective equipment (PPE) usage. One-third of paramedics reported that their workload ‘had lessened’ while 36.4-40% of emergency nurses and physicians stated that their workload had ‘considerably increased’. Common concerns raised included disease transmission to family, public complacency, and PPE availability. Conclusions Extensive training and education and adequate support helped prepare emergency clinicians to manage COVID-19 patients. Challenges included inconsistent and rapidly changing communications and availability of PPE.

“We will have to learn to live with it”: Australian dentists’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Such findings have also been reported in our previous studies of other frontline healthcare workers in Australia, where clinicians reflected on their hardships of catching up with the most updated guidelines and protocols. (24)(25)(26)(27). Findings from an international, multi-site study reported that there was a lack of preparedness and/or confidence from general dentists with regard to implementation of infection prevention and control measures, and providing services to patients with confirmed/suspected COVID-19.…”

“…(8,23) Some studies identified and reported the learning experiences and knowledge acquisitions among frontline healthcare workers during the pandemic. (24)(25)(26)(27). We previously reported the knowledge, preparedness and experiences of Australian dentists during COVID-19 pandemic (28).…”

“…Many, but not all, studies reflect on negative constructs in the experience of frontline healthcare workers practicing during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 8 , 23 ]. Some studies identified and reported the learning experiences and knowledge acquisitions among frontline healthcare workers during the pandemic [ [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] ]. We previously reported the knowledge, preparedness and experiences of Australian dentists during COVID-19 pandemic [ 28 ].…”

A multidisciplinary, cross-sectional survey of burnout and wellbeing in emergency department staff during COVID-19

“…These findings are in accordance with previous research in which health care workers in designated COVID-19 hospitals perceived higher levels of discriminatory behaviours from the community [24] , [25] . COVID -19 was identified as a source of increased stress and anxiety for emergency clinicians in Australia and New Zealand with concerns about transmission of the disease to family members [16] , [26] . The direct influence of COVID-19-associated discrimination on ED staff is an important finding of this study.…”

Australian dentists’ knowledge, preparedness, and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…We have previously reported the knowledge, preparedness and experiences of emergency nurses and physicians 18 , paramedics 18 , general practitioners 19 , infectious diseases physicians 20 , infection control professionals 20 , and intensive care nurses 21 in managing the COVID-19 pandemic in Australian healthcare settings. This paper adds evidence regarding an additional professional craft group, namely dentists.…”