A Descriptive Study of the Situation of Coronavirus Disease 2019 among Healthcare Workers in General Hospital in Central Region of Thailand

Abstract

Purpose : To study the situation, risks, and improve measures or guidelines to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers in a general hospital.

Study Design : Retrospective descriptive study

Materials and Methods : 50 of participants of coronavirus disease 2019 patient healthcare workers. The study was conducted from July - December 2021. Data were collected reviewing a questionnaire from investigation documents for medical and public health personnel of the Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation.

Main findings : Total of 50 healthcare workers infected with SARS-CoV-2, mostly were 30 women (60.0%), mean age of 41years ( =11.0), stretchers (24.0%), stretcher department (24.0%), had signs and symptoms (76.0%), had normal chest X - ray (52.0%). The risks that healthcare workers infected with SARS-CoV-2 were a general exposure history 14 days before the healthcare workers became ill, most of them lived in or traveled from outbreak areas (98.0%) and had a history of contacting with confirmed cases outside the hospital (14.0%). For the specific risk history of healthcare workers were a history of close contacted with patients in hospital (46.0%), contacted with colleague worked with a confirmed patients without wearing personal protective equipment (32.0%) and never attended infection prevention and control training in hospital (32.0%) respectively

Conclusion and recommendations : The healthcare workers are more at risk of being exposed to SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, they should always be aware of their protection, and hospital should promote them to receive full vaccination, and workplaces, provide adequate personal protective equipment.