ABSTRACT
IntroductionHealth-care workers (HCW) are a working population known to be more highly exposed to infection by SARS-CoV-2 during their work. The aim of this study is to assess the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among HCW working with COVID-19 patients after the first wave of the pandemic and to study its promoting factors.Materials and MethodsA cross-sectional descriptive study involving HCW who worked in the same hospital with COVID-19 patients during the first epidemiological wave of the COVID-19. The data was collected by a questionnaire and by serum samples for qualitative SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing.ResultsA total of 216 HCW were included. The study population was slightly female predominant (61.1%), with a median age of 34 years old. The median length of work seniority was three years. One-hundred-eighty-eight HCW (87%) received trainings on COVID-19. The risk of infection was a source of anxiety for 72.6% of the respondents which was significantly correlated with the female sex (p=0.001<0.05). Working with COVID-19 patients, the majority was assigned to the consultation room (39.3%). They reported difficulties in handling personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly when dressing and undressing, in 20.7% and 31.3% of them respectively. Difficulty in undressing PPE was statistically associated with lack of training (p=0.02<0.05), with stress and anxiety (p=0.01<0.05). We identified nine seropositive HCW (4,2%). Having working more than four shifts (62 cas) was associated with a higher risk of being seropositive. Anxiety, sex and the lack of past training on COVID-19 were not statistically associated with seropositivity.ConclusionsIn our study, the seropositivity, as a determinant of past SARS-CoV-2 infection, in HCW was related to the degree of exposure to COVID-19 patients. This reinforces the importance of occupational medicine in its preventive role and the medical fitness decisions of workers having contact with infected patients.
ABSTRACT
IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic was marked, for healthcare workers (HCWs), by an urgent reform of the healthcare system and by a reinforcement of protective measures within healthcare structures. The aim of this study is to describe the socio-medico-professional characteristics and the degree of adherence to the wearing respiratory mask by HCWs when they worked outside the COVID-19 patient care departments during the first COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA cross-sectional descriptive study involving 416 HCWs working in the same hospital. Data collection was based on a questionnaire administered from 20 June to 20 July 2020.ResultsThe study population was slightly female predominant (63.5%), with a mean age of 38.2 years old, having household contacts in 89.1%. The mainly occupations were doctors (46.5%), workmen (19.2%) and nurses (16.8%). The mean length of work seniority was 8.7 years. During the COVID-19 pandemic and when working with non-suspect COVID-19 patients, 70.8% of the study population was always wearing a respiratory protection mask, which was significantly correlated with stress and anxiety (p=0.012<0.05) but not correlated with gender (p=0.1>0.05) or personal history of chronic disease (p=0.89>0.05). Not always wearing a mask was significantly associated with being a doctor (p=0.002<0.05). The most frequently worn was a surgical mask (91.3%). Wearing a NK95 mask (29%) was significantly associated with being a doctor (p<0.001), working in the intensive care unit (p=0.01<0.05) and working in the emergency department (p<0.001). Nevertheless, when working in COVID-19 circuits, 66 HCWs had difficulty putting on and taking off personal protective equipment, which was significantly associated with the absence of prior training (p<0.05).ConclusionThe wearing of PPE by HCWs was an emerging subject during the first pandemic COVID-19 wave. Occupational medicine, as a preventive discipline, had a crucial role in establishing the appropriate indications to ensure the protection of HCWs and avoid waste.
ABSTRACT
Introduction Le personnel hospitalier représente une population particulièrement exposée au risque de contracter le SARS-CoV-2. À la reprise de l’activité suite à une infection COVID-19, la qualité des soins pourrait être impactée. Objectif Évaluer l’impact de l’infection au SARS-CoV-2 chez le personnel hospitalier sur la qualité des soins prodigués et la relation avec l’environnement du travail. Méthode Étude descriptive transversale portant sur le personnel hospitalier du CHU La Rabta ayant été infecté par le SARS-CoV-2 entre avril 2020 et juin 2021. Le recueil de données s’est basé sur un questionnaire conduit dans les différents services d’affectation du personnel. Résultat Nous avons recensé 103 personnels hospitaliers ayant un âge moyen de 40,3 ± 9,5 ans avec une nette prédominance féminine (79,6 %). Ils occupaient les postes de médecin (22,3 %), infirmier (46,6 %), technicien supérieur (14,6 %), ouvrier (13,6 %) et agent administratif (2,9 %). La contamination a eu lieu sur les lieux du travail dans 56,3 % des cas. Il s’agissait soit d’un contact avec un patient atteint (34 %) ou avec des collègues contaminés (22,3 %). Le mode de contamination était extra-professionnel dans 24,3 % des cas. À la reprise de l’activité professionnelle, des difficultés pour réaliser certaines tâches habituelles ont été rapportées dans 20,4 % des cas. Des erreurs de soins et des oublis ont été signalés par respectivement 9,7 % et 64,1 % du personnel. Certains personnels (14,6 %) ont éprouvé des difficultés pour comprendre des situations cliniques ou consignes de travail. Des difficultés de concentration ont été rapportées dans 49,5 % des cas. Par ailleurs, 31,1 % du personnel étaient incapables de réaliser autant de tâches qu’auparavant pendant leur journée de travail. Le personnel hospitalier appréciait moins son milieu de travail dans 29,1 % des cas. Plus de distance dans leurs relations avec les patients a été instaurée dans 10,7 % des cas et 9,7 % étaient moins à l’écoute de leurs plaintes. Une moindre reconnaissance de la part des supérieurs hiérarchiques pour le travail accompli a été rapportée dans 8,7 %. Par ailleurs, ils rapportaient moins de soutien de la part de leurs collègues de travail dans 1,9 % des cas. Un besoin d’aménagement des horaires de travail a été formulé dans 50,5 % des cas. Conclusion De par ses symptômes souvent persistants, l’infection au SARS-CoV-2 affecte potentiellement la reprise de l’activité hospitalière du personnel atteint avec un impact non négligeable sur la qualité des soins. Une prise en charge spécifique avec réhabilitation en cas de besoin permettrait de réduire cet impact.