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VOLUME 13 , ISSUE 3 ( July-September, 2020 ) > List of Articles

Original Article

Healthcare Workers’ Workplace Readiness during COVID-19 Pandemic in Northern India: A Cross-sectional e-Survey

Mahendra K Saini, Sachin Dwivedi, Shelly Dhawan, Anindita Mandal

Citation Information : Saini MK, Dwivedi S, Dhawan S, Mandal A. Healthcare Workers’ Workplace Readiness during COVID-19 Pandemic in Northern India: A Cross-sectional e-Survey. 2020; 13 (3):54-59.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10084-12163

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 18-01-2021

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2020; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background: There is a high risk for healthcare workers (HCWs) to get infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during the ongoing pandemic, which may last for many months. Inadequate preparedness of the healthcare delivery system, such as shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), lack of hand hygiene facilities, insufficient manpower capacity building may compromise the safety of HCWs and quality of care. Therefore, it is essential to ensure efficient workplace readiness for the HCWs for their safety and thereby the continued quality of care. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted to assess workplace preparedness at healthcare facilities in northern India, especially the availability of PPE, HCWs capacity building, and mitigation effort taken by institutions. A 20-item structured, prevalidated questionnaire was circulated among nurses, doctors, premedical, and other categories of healthcare workers deployed at different level of healthcare facilities in conveniently selected states of northern India. This web-based survey was conducted during the month of April–June 2020, where 1,218 HCWs voluntarily participated. Results: Out of 1,218 participants, the majority of them reported adequate supply of PPE (804; 66%), availability of sufficient hand hygiene facility (802; 65.8%), organization of capability building and upskilling training program on COVID-19 for them (896; 73.6%), and perceived institute's excellent to good level of support while working with patients of COVID-19 (890; 73.1%). Conclusion: There was provision of adequate PPE, infection control facilities, upskilling of HCWs, and support system for the healthcare warriors in northern India to maintain adequate safety of HCWs and functionality of the healthcare system in this crucial time.

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