Healthcare Professionals’ Willingness and Preparedness to Work During COVID-19 in Selected Hospitals of Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Background Many healthcare professionals are dying of COVID-19 while trying to save others. The loss in the healthcare workforce due to sickness and absence will double the risk of a crisis. Identifying barriers of willingness to work during epidemics outbreak and preparedness of healthcare professionals is important to minimize the shortage of human power. Methods Facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare professionals working in the selected hospitals of Southwest Ethiopia from June 1–30/2020. The data entry was done by Epi-Data Manager version 4.4.1.0 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis with a backward stepwise approach was done to identify independent predictors of poor preparedness and willingness of the healthcare professionals to work during COVID-19 and Variables with P-value <0.05 were considered as a statistically significant determinant. Results Of 407 healthcare professionals who participated in the study, 246 (60.4%) were male. The mean age of the respondents was 28.47±5.60 years. Forty-seven (11.55%) Physicians, 59 (14.50%) pharmacy personnel, 52 (12.78%) Laboratory personnel, 31 (7.62%) Midwives, and 195 (47.91%) Nurses were included in the study. The healthcare professionals who were not prepared for the provision of services during COVID-19 and not willing to work during COVID-19 were 165 (40.5%) and 86 (21.1%) respectively. Having 6 to10 years’ experience (AOR=4.046, CI: 1.05–15.58), and divorced marital status (AOR=7.855, CI: 1.781–34.65) were independent predictors of not willing to work during COVID-19. Similarly, lack of personal protective equipment (AOR=28.089, CI: 13.9–56.67) and shortage of infrastructure at the work place (AOR=28.1, CI: 13.9–56.67) were independent predictors of poor preparedness. Conclusion and Recommendations Healthcare professionals’ willingness and preparedness to work during COVID-19 was low. Use of Telemedicine, provision of personal protective equipment, increasing hospital’s safety with adequate infection control policy, and assigning staff who have experience of more than ten years in the risky wards of the hospitals may decrease staffs absentee and increase in the provision of continuous service.

COVID-19: Knowledge, Perception of Risk, Preparedness and Vaccine Acceptability among Healthcare Workers in Kenya

“…However, some gaps such as inadequate PPE and training for COVID-19 infection control were identified. In comparison with a study in Ethiopia, the participants who reported that they were prepared for COVID-19 were lower (59.5%) (20) than in our study. Health workers may feel a sense of preparedness to handle a pandemic when they are trained adequately and provided with the necessary PPE.…”

The Role of Perceived Organizational Support in Mental Health of Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…The study by Zhang et al ( 7 ), identified three organizational factors, namely “work support,” “personal support,” and “risk support,” which were negatively associated with anxiety, whereas “work support” and “personal support” predicted higher life satisfaction in HCWs. A study in Ethiopia reported that protection and support of the needs of HCWs is a crucial factor toward their engagement to work, and provision of optimal care to patients ( 22 ).…”

Stockpiled personal protective equipment and knowledge of pandemic plans as predictors of perceived pandemic preparedness among German general practitioners

“…Within a few weeks, social and work life changed. The healthcare sector was one of the most affected areas [ 1 – 3 ]. Pandemic plans were activated [ 4 ], and emergency measures were taken in hospitals and intensive care units to treat a large number of patients with COVID-19 [ 5 ].…”

“…Pandemic plans were activated [ 4 ], and emergency measures were taken in hospitals and intensive care units to treat a large number of patients with COVID-19 [ 5 ]. However, general practitioners (GPs) are often the first to have contact with potential patients with COVID-19 [ 3 , 6 ] and the majority of patients with COVID-19 –mostly with mild and moderate symptoms [ 7 , 8 ]–are treated in GP practices. Apart from the additional workload of treating patients with COVID-19, GPs have to maintain regular primary health care [ 2 , 3 , 9 , 10 ].…”

“…However, general practitioners (GPs) are often the first to have contact with potential patients with COVID-19 [ 3 , 6 ] and the majority of patients with COVID-19 –mostly with mild and moderate symptoms [ 7 , 8 ]–are treated in GP practices. Apart from the additional workload of treating patients with COVID-19, GPs have to maintain regular primary health care [ 2 , 3 , 9 , 10 ]. General practitioners have been facing multiple challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as a high risk of being infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) themselves [ 11 ], including the risk of mortality [ 12 ] and psychological impacts with regard to work and personal life [ 13 ].…”