Emergency Department Workers' Perceptions of Effectiveness and Reported Compliance of Infection Control Measures after Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Outbreaks.
- Author:
Gabyong JEONG
1
;
Tae Rim LEE
;
Sung Yeon HWANG
;
Won Chul CHA
;
Tae Gun SHIN
;
Min Sub SIM
;
Ik Joon JO
;
Keun Jeong SONG
;
Joong Eui RHEE
;
Yeon Kwon JEONG
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. minsub01.sim@samsung.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Compliance;
Hand hygiene;
Middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus;
Personal protective equipment
- MeSH:
Compliance*;
Coronavirus Infections*;
Delivery of Health Care;
Disease Outbreaks;
Emergencies*;
Emergency Service, Hospital*;
Fever;
Hand Disinfection;
Hand Hygiene;
Humans;
Infection Control*;
Korea;
Masks;
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus;
Middle East*;
Personal Protective Equipment;
Surveys and Questionnaires
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
2016;27(4):328-335
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreaks occurred in Korea during the year 2015, with the involvement of 186 patients in a relatively short period of time. The epidemiological pattern in South Korea was hospital-associated. Infection control plans for all hospitals were implemented to stop the spread of and to protect the healthcare workers from MERS infection. Such enhanced guidelines for infection control measures might affect healthcare workers. The purpose of this study was to determine the changes of tertiary emergency department healthcare workers' perception and compliance to hand hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE) before and after the MERS outbreak. METHODS: A written questionnaire was administered to members in the emergency department at Samsung Medical Center. Participants were asked to rate the combined overall effectiveness of hand hygiene and PPE and to report their compliance on a 5-point scale. This survey was conducted between 11th and 26th of September 2015. RESULTS: The total number of participants was 123. Perception of effectiveness before and after the MERS outbreak was improved on hand hygiene, N-95 masks, gowns, eye protection, and gloves, except surgical masks (3.65 vs. 3.68, p=0.714). Respondents showed a statistically higher compliance with hand washing and PPE. Compliance with hand hygiene and PPE showed a dependency on their patients' symptoms; symptoms of fever or fever with upper respiratory symptoms were reported with statistically increased compliance, with the exception of surgical masks. CONCLUSION: Infection control measures except surgical masks were perceived to be more effective post the MERS outbreaks. The emergency department's workers reported increased compliance on hand hygiene and PPE, except surgical masks.
