Willingness to work during initial lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic: Study based on an online survey among physicians of Bangladesh

Abstract

Background During the catastrophic situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of the health care workers (HCWs) is the most crucial, and their absenteeism, whether due to inability or unwillingness, becomes a major concern for the national health system. Hence, the present study aimed to determine the willingness and its associated factors to work during the COVID-19 pandemic among the physicians of Bangladesh. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted from April 21 to May 10, 2020, using an online survey among the Bangladeshi physicians living in the country. Both univariate and multivariable binary logistic regression models were used to determine the predictors of the willingness of the physicians to work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results More than 69% physicians reported that they were willing to work during the COVID-19 pandemic, 8.9% reported that they were not willing, while 21.4% of participants were not sure about their willingness. Younger age, having experience of treating patients during previous pandemics, working in the emergency departments and high self-reported compliance to the recommended PPE were important predictors of being willing to work during COVID-19 pandemic. Concern for family and risk of transmitting the infection to family members were most commonly reported as major barriers of working during the pandemic (30%) followed by having comorbidities (25%), lack of adequate safety measures (25%), fear of being infected (12.2%), not involved in clinical practice (12.5%) etc. Conclusions Though the majority of the physicians were willing to work during the COVID-19 pandemic, sufficient supply of PPE, support to maintain recommended quarantine and isolation policy after risky hospital duty along with adequate and effective training can increase their willingness to continue their sacred duty during this crucial pandemic.

Filipino Nurses in Cebu City Reveal High Level of Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Willingness in Providing Care to COVID-19 Patients: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

“…Generally, the respondents were very willing (4.52) to provide services for the COVID-19-in icted patients. These ndings concur with previous studies conducted in China 47 , Australia 48 , and Bangladesh 49 , where the willingness of nurses to work during this pandemic is signi cantly high. These ndings were also similar to previous studies conducted in China 50 , Australia 51 , Japan 52 , USA 53 , and Taiwan 54 during the H1N1 in uenza pandemic indicating that healthcare workers were willing to extend and render their services to patients in that emergent outbreak.…”

Barriers and Facilitators of Nurses’ and Physicians’ Willingness to Work during a Respiratory Disease Outbreak: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review

“…The included manuscripts were published between 2003 and 2021. As shown in Table 1 , studies were conducted in various countries, including Australia ( n = 4) [ 8 , 22 , 23 , 24 ], Bangladesh ( n = 1) [ 25 ], Canada ( n = 1) [ 26 ], China ( n = 7) [ 2 , 7 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ], Georgia ( n = 1) [ 32 ], Hong Kong ( n = 1) [ 33 ], Nigeria ( n = 1) [ 34 ], Pakistan ( n = 1) [ 35 ], Philippines ( n = 1) [ 36 ], Qatar ( n = 1) [ 37 ], South Korea ( n = 2) [ 38 , 39 ], Taiwan ( n = 3) [ 4 , 40 , 41 ], Turkey ( n = 1) [ 42 ], USA ( n = 3) [ 5 , 43 , 44 ], and Yemen ( n = 1) [ 15 ]. Among the 29 studies reviewed, 19 studies included nurses only [ 4 , 5 , 8 , 22 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 33 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , …”

“…Among the 29 studies reviewed, 19 studies included nurses only [ 4 , 5 , 8 , 22 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 33 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ], 6 included physicians only [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 34 , 35 ], and 4 included both nurses and physicians [ 2 , 7 , 15 , 32 ]. A total of 19 studies were conducted during an outbreak or pandemic, such as the SARS outbreak ( n = 2) [ 4 , 41 ], the H1N1 influenza pandemic ( n = 3) [ 5 , 33 , 43 ], the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak ( n = 1) [ 39 ], and the COVID-19 pandemic ( n = 13) [ 2 , 7 , 8 , 25 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 42 ]. One study was conducted to evaluate the high possibility of an avian influenza (AI) outbreak [ 40 ].…”

“…Gender, age, professional experience, education level, occupation, and participating in religious activities influenced nurses’ and physicians’ willingness to work during a respiratory disease outbreak. Three research teams concluded that, compared with women, men were more likely to be willing to work if an influenza pandemic occurred [ 25 , 26 , 34 ]. Research teams evaluated findings related to chronological age.…”

“…Research teams evaluated findings related to chronological age. The younger that the physicians were, the more willing they were to work during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 25 ]. Similarly, nurses who were older than 40 years were less willing to work compared with nurses aged 20–29 years [ 28 ].…”