Impact of SARS on Avian Influenza Preparedness in Healthcare Workers

Abstract

Healthcare workers who had been actively involved in SARS work were more "positive" in responding to the impending avian influenza epidemic. Whether the level of preparedness can be sustained would need to be further explored.

Factors Associated with the Willingness of Health Care Personnel to Work During an Influenza Public Health Emergency: An Integrative Review

“…Twenty-two studies reported the ethical clearance of their study. [3][4][5][6]13,15,20,[22][23][24][25][26][27]29,[31][32][33][35][36][37][39][40] Nurses in the ''post-SARS'' group were more willing to provide care for patients with SARS and agreed more with the general SARS control measures than those in the ''during-SARS'' group . The nurses' levels of agreement with general SARS infection control measures and the need for quarantine after providing care for infected patients were significant predictors of nurses' commitment to their professional obligation. 2004 Gullion 14 20.2% of respondents were not at all willing to care for a patient infected with a communicable respiratory infection such as SARS.…”

“…13 Tam et al concurred with these findings and reported that nurses who had previously worked during an influenza public health emergency were less likely to avoid caring for patients with influenza. 23 Understanding the factors that might influence the HCP's willingness to report to work during an influenza epidemic is essential for preparedness planning. This review reveals various factors associated with a willingness to work during influenza emergency: being male, being a doctor or nurse, working in a clinical or emergency department, working full-time, prior influenza education and training, prior experience of working during an influenza emergency, the perception of value in response, the belief in duty, the availability of PPE, and confidence in one's employer.…”

“…32 Past Experience with an Influenza Emergency-Tam et al reported that nurses who had previously worked during an influenza public health emergency were less likely to avoid influenza patients and to change their jobs. 23 Tzeng also found that nurses in the post-SARS group were more willing to provide care for patients with SARS than were those in the during-SARS group. 13 Phase of Pandemic-Basta et al reported a decline in willingness to report to work with the progression of a pandemic from early phase to peak phase, and when face-to-face contact was required.…”

“…23,36 Concern for Family and Loved Ones-Fourteen of the 32 reviewed studies evaluated this aspect, which emerged as a barrier to willingness to work in an influenza emergency. Basta et al reported that 72.6% of the respondents selected family health and safety as their greatest concern during peak of an influenza pandemic.…”

Influenza Moves to the Front of Public Health Concerns

“…One of the issues will be to provide influenza vaccination to the public and especially to healthcare workers [1][2][3]. In this issue of Infection, Wicker et al [4] report about the compliance with influenza vaccination among healthcare workers.…”