Activities and Perceived Risk of Transmission and Spread of SARS-CoV-2 among Specialists and Residents in a Third Level University Hospital in Spain

Jesús María Aranaz-Andrés, Amaranta McGee-Laso, Juan Carlos Galán, Rafael Cantón, José Mira and on behalf of the Team of Work Covid-19
Additional contact information
Jesús María Aranaz-Andrés: Servicio de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Hosital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Spain
Amaranta McGee-Laso: Servicio de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Hosital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Spain
Juan Carlos Galán: Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
Rafael Cantón: Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
José Mira: Atenea Research Group, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research of Valencia Region (FISABIO), 46020 Alicante, Spain
on behalf of the Team of Work Covid-19: Membership of the Team of Work COVID-19 is provided in the Acknowledgments.

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: This study aims to identify factors related with SARS-CoV-2 infection in physicians and internal residents during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic at a tertiary hospital in Spain, through a cross- sectional descriptive perception study with analytical components through two questionnaires directed at professionals working at the Ramon y Cajal University Hospital between February and April 2020. In total, 167 professionals formed the study group, and 156 professionals comprised the comparison group. Seventy percent of the professionals perceived a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), while 40% perceived a shortage of hand sanitiser, although more than 70% said they used it properly. Soap was more available and had a higher percentage of correct use (73.6–79.5%) ( p > 0.05). Hand hygiene was optimal in >70% of professionals according to all five WHO measurements. In the adjusted model (OR; CI95%), belonging to a high-risk specialty (4.45; 1.66–11.91) and the use of public transportation (3.27; 1.87–5.73) remained risk factors. Protective factors were changes of uniform (0.53; 0.32–0.90), sanitation of personal objects before the workday (0.55; 0.31–0.97), and the disinfection of shared material (0.34; 0.19–0.58). We cannot confirm that a shortage or misuse of PPE is a factor in the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Fears and assessments are similar in both groups, but we cannot causally relate them to the spread of infection. The perception of the area of risk is different in both groups, suggesting that more information and education for healthcare workers is needed.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; healthcare workers; risk of transmission; perceived risk (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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