Healthcare Workers’ Experiences Protecting Themselves and Their Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020–2021

Details

• Journal Article:
  Annals of Work Exposures and Health
• Personal Author:
  Ceballos, Diana M. ; Vasquez, Diana ; Ceballos, Lina M. ; Noguchi, Julia E. ; Levy, Jonathan I. ; Green, Jennifer Greif ; Baker, William E. ; Schechter-Perkins, Elissa M. ; Leibler, Jessica H.
• Description:
  We characterized experiences and strategies used by frontline healthcare workers to prevent severe-acute-respiratory-syndrome-related coronavirus transmission at work and to household members during the coronavirus disease pandemic. Alongside an online questionnaire (n = 234), remote semi-structured interviews (n = 23: 15 clinicians, 8 non-clinicians) were conducted in 2021. Mitigation challenges and facilitators were identified from data to represent experiences as a process considering the before, during, and after work shifts. Journey mapping was utilized to visually describe how healthcare workers experienced the stages of the work environment, leaving work, commuting home, and the home environment, and strategies implemented to stay safe. Major facilitators included the uptake of coronavirus disease vaccines and testing, information regarding virus transmission, and adequate personal protective equipment. The most critical challenges identified included a lack of designated areas for end-of-day disinfection, changing rooms, showers, and lockers in the leaving work stage. Psychosocial and environmental factors must be considered in future hospital pandemic preparations.
• Subjects:
  Communicable Diseases Family Health Personnel Occupational Health Safety Surveys And Questionnaires
• Keywords:
  COVID-19 Disease Prevention Disease Transmission Experiences Families Family Healthcare Health Care Workers Journey Maps Pandemic Protective Measures Questionnaires SARS-CoV-2 Take-home Pathway Workers

  More +
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxae064
• ISSN:
  2398-7308
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Boston Region [OSHA] ; Massachusetts ; San Francisco Region [OSHA] ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  68
• Issue:
  9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20070000
• Citation:
  Ann Work Expo Health 2024 Nov; 68(9):919-939
• Email:
  dmco25@uw.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Performing Organization:
  University of Washington
• Start Date:
  20050701
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:34afedae2af51c7582f08598d307c335eb80c0718beacf23b385d12e1790afef7c2a85cb3a5f0eabebfb381618621569639360a5d4d48ab6178a7d7c7ce4bf88
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/208311/cdc_208311_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 5.31 MB ]