Questionnaire survey on occupational exposure of health care workers working in COVID-19 isolation wards of designated hospitals in 2020

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the status of occupational exposure of health care workers working in the COVID-19 isolation wards of designated hospitals so as to take targeted measures for occupational protection. METHODS By means of convenient sampling method, a self-designed questionnaire was applied to investigate the status of occupational exposure of health care workers who supported or worked in the designated hospitals for patients with COVID-19 from Mar. 1, to Mar. 5, 2020. RESULTS: Among the 293 health care workers working in the COVID-19 isolation wards, 28.00% had occupational exposure. The skin or hair' contacting with contaminated outer surface of personal protective equipment(PPE)(65.85%) was the most common type of occupational exposure. The removal of PPE(60.98%) and the operations that may generate aerosol(47.56%) were the major links where the occupational exposure took place. After the occupational exposure occurred, 68.29% of the health care workers carried out emergency treatment, and 71.95% of the health care workers were able to report the exposure according to standard procedures. The top 3 medical operations that were most likely to cause exposure were tracheotomy, bronchoscopy and endotracheal intubation. The top 3 nursing operations that were most likely to cause occupational exposure were artificial airway nursing, sputum suction and throat swab collection. The top 3 risk factors that were most likely to cause occupational exposure of health care workers were the implementation of operations that may generate aerosol, failure to comply with disinfection and isolation system, and sudden changes in the patients' condition for emergency rescue. CONCLUSION: There are varying degrees of occupational exposure among the health care workers working in the COVID-19 isolation wards of designated hospitals. It is necessary for the management department of medical institutions to formulate practical prevention and control measures according to the high frequency types, operation links and risk factors of the occupational exposure so as to reduce the risk of occupational exposure among the health care workers.