[First wave of COVID-19 in Quebec: Healthcare workers' motivation to treat infected patients]. / Première vague de la COVID-19 au Québec : motivation du personnel soignant à traiter des patients infectés.
Sante Publique
; Vol. 33(6): 853-862, 2022 Mar 11.
Article
in French
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1903551
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Retention of healthcare workers (HCWs) in the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic could become a challenge. It is therefore important to better understand what are the motivational elements that could explain a greater or lesser motivation to care for infected patients.OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate factors modulating HCWs' willingness to treat COVID-19 infected patients.METHODS:
HCWs from Québec, Canada, were invited to complete an online survey during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic between the months of April and July 2020. The survey focused on the intention to avoid treating infected patients, prior experiences in treating COVID-19 patients and anxiety levels. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used to assess which factors explained differences in HCWs intention to avoid treating patients.RESULTS:
A total of 430 HCW completed the survey. A majority were women (87%) and nurses (50%). Of those, 12% indicated having considered measures to avoid working with COVID-19 infected patients and 5% indicated having taken actions to avoid working with infected patients. A further 18% indicated that they would use a hypothetical opportunity to avoid working with infected patients. Having previously treated infected patients was associated with a significant reduction in the intention to avoid work (OR 0.56 CI 0.36-0.86). Amongst HCWs, physicians had a significantly reduced intention to avoid treating infected patients (OR 0.47 CI 0.23-0.94). We also found that an increase in anxiety score was associated with a greater intention to avoid treating COVID-19 infected patients (OR 1.06 CI 1.04-1.08).CONCLUSION:
Study results suggest that previous experience in treating COVID-19 infected patients is protective in terms of work-avoidance intentions. We also found that amongst HCWs, physicians had a significantly lower intention to avoid working with COVID-19 infected patients. Finally, our results show that increase in anxiety is associated with a higher intention to avoid treating infected patients. Characterization of factors associated with low anxiety levels and low reluctance to work during the COVID-19 pandemic could be useful in staffing facilities during the present and future healthcare crisis.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Influenza, Human
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
French
Journal:
Sante Publique
Journal subject:
Public Health
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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