Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus epidemic impact on healthcare workers’ risk perceptions, work and personal lives

Introduction: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) continues to cause frequent outbreaks in hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Since healthcare workers (HCWs) have a higher risk of acquiring and spreading MERS-CoV, we aimed to evaluate the perceived risk and anxiety level of HCWs in Saud...

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Main Authors: Sarah Alsubaie, Mohamad Hani Temsah, Ayman A Al-Eyadhy, Ibrahim Gossady, Gamal M Hasan, Abdulkarim Al-rabiaah, Amr A Jamal, Ali AN Alhaboob, Fahad Alsohime, Ali M Somily
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2019-10-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/11753
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author Sarah Alsubaie
Mohamad Hani Temsah
Ayman A Al-Eyadhy
Ibrahim Gossady
Gamal M Hasan
Abdulkarim Al-rabiaah
Amr A Jamal
Ali AN Alhaboob
Fahad Alsohime
Ali M Somily
author_facet Sarah Alsubaie
Mohamad Hani Temsah
Ayman A Al-Eyadhy
Ibrahim Gossady
Gamal M Hasan
Abdulkarim Al-rabiaah
Amr A Jamal
Ali AN Alhaboob
Fahad Alsohime
Ali M Somily
author_sort Sarah Alsubaie
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) continues to cause frequent outbreaks in hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Since healthcare workers (HCWs) have a higher risk of acquiring and spreading MERS-CoV, we aimed to evaluate the perceived risk and anxiety level of HCWs in Saudi Arabia regarding MERS. Methodology: An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was sent online to HCWs at King Khalid University Hospital in Saudi Arabia. The total knowledge and anxiety scores were calculated. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of high anxiety scores. Results: Of 591 (70%) HCWs that responded, 284 (55%), 164 (32%), and 68 (13.2%) were physicians, nurses, and technicians, respectively. Physicians obtained a lower median knowledge score (6/9) compared to other professions (7/9). The mean anxiety score was similar for physicians and other HCWs (3/5); however, non-physicians expressed higher levels of anxiety toward the risk of transmitting MERS-CoV to their families, with an anxiety score of 4/5. The ability of the virus to cause severe disease or death was the most frequently reported reason for worry by physicians (89.7%) and non-physicians (87.2%). Overall, 80% of physicians and 90% of non-physicians reported improvement in adherence to hand hygiene and standard precautions while in hospital (p = 0.002). Concern over transmitting MERS-CoV to family members was the most predictive factor for anxiety among non-physician HCWs. Conclusion: A significant proportion of HCWs expressed anxiety about the risk of acquiring MERS-CoV infection. Healthcare institutions need to develop an integrated psychological response for HCWs to the occupational and psychological challenge of MERS-CoV outbreaks.
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spelling doaj-art-ab5d6549f2f849f783f6fa6054232ceb2025-08-20T03:52:41ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802019-10-01131010.3855/jidc.11753Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus epidemic impact on healthcare workers’ risk perceptions, work and personal livesSarah Alsubaie0Mohamad Hani Temsah1Ayman A Al-Eyadhy2Ibrahim Gossady3Gamal M Hasan4Abdulkarim Al-rabiaah5Amr A Jamal6Ali AN Alhaboob7Fahad Alsohime8Ali M Somily9College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaDepartments of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi ArabiaPediatric Department, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Introduction: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) continues to cause frequent outbreaks in hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Since healthcare workers (HCWs) have a higher risk of acquiring and spreading MERS-CoV, we aimed to evaluate the perceived risk and anxiety level of HCWs in Saudi Arabia regarding MERS. Methodology: An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was sent online to HCWs at King Khalid University Hospital in Saudi Arabia. The total knowledge and anxiety scores were calculated. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of high anxiety scores. Results: Of 591 (70%) HCWs that responded, 284 (55%), 164 (32%), and 68 (13.2%) were physicians, nurses, and technicians, respectively. Physicians obtained a lower median knowledge score (6/9) compared to other professions (7/9). The mean anxiety score was similar for physicians and other HCWs (3/5); however, non-physicians expressed higher levels of anxiety toward the risk of transmitting MERS-CoV to their families, with an anxiety score of 4/5. The ability of the virus to cause severe disease or death was the most frequently reported reason for worry by physicians (89.7%) and non-physicians (87.2%). Overall, 80% of physicians and 90% of non-physicians reported improvement in adherence to hand hygiene and standard precautions while in hospital (p = 0.002). Concern over transmitting MERS-CoV to family members was the most predictive factor for anxiety among non-physician HCWs. Conclusion: A significant proportion of HCWs expressed anxiety about the risk of acquiring MERS-CoV infection. Healthcare institutions need to develop an integrated psychological response for HCWs to the occupational and psychological challenge of MERS-CoV outbreaks. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/11753Risk perceptionAttitudeanxietyHealth-care workerMERS-CoVSaudi Arabia
spellingShingle Sarah Alsubaie
Mohamad Hani Temsah
Ayman A Al-Eyadhy
Ibrahim Gossady
Gamal M Hasan
Abdulkarim Al-rabiaah
Amr A Jamal
Ali AN Alhaboob
Fahad Alsohime
Ali M Somily
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus epidemic impact on healthcare workers’ risk perceptions, work and personal lives
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Risk perception
Attitude
anxiety
Health-care worker
MERS-CoV
Saudi Arabia
title Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus epidemic impact on healthcare workers’ risk perceptions, work and personal lives
title_full Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus epidemic impact on healthcare workers’ risk perceptions, work and personal lives
title_fullStr Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus epidemic impact on healthcare workers’ risk perceptions, work and personal lives
title_full_unstemmed Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus epidemic impact on healthcare workers’ risk perceptions, work and personal lives
title_short Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus epidemic impact on healthcare workers’ risk perceptions, work and personal lives
title_sort middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus epidemic impact on healthcare workers risk perceptions work and personal lives
topic Risk perception
Attitude
anxiety
Health-care worker
MERS-CoV
Saudi Arabia
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/11753
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