Risk perception, information received and occupational engagement of workers in a university hospital in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

BACKGROUND // Hospital workers faced the pandemic with a lack of knowledge, procedures and resources, which generated different experiences based on the perceived risk of exposure. It was considered pertinent to conduct a study to learn about the risk perception, the information received and the occupational engagement of workers in a university hospital in the face of the pandemic.

METHODS // A cross-sectional study (july-september 2020) was carried out by an ad hoc survey of workers in the Majadahonda Puerta de Hierro University Hospital with 20 items (Likert scale from 0=not at all agree to 5=totally agree). The sample size was set at 828 workers. The absolute frequency and percentage of agreement for each item were described. Chi-Square was used to assess the association of responses with sex, type of worker, work area and activity in COVID-19 units.

RESULTS // 992 workers participated, with 80.7% being women, 79.8% healthcare personnel and 33.2% nurses. Workers perceived a high risk of exposure. Approximately half confirmed that they had received information on the use of masks, although not on PPE. More than half stated that they felt involved in teamwork, but not in COVID-19 unit planning. Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were found in the risk perception by sex, between type of worker (healthcare vs. non-healthcare), work area (healthcare vs. non-healthcare) and working in COVID-19 Units vs. non-COVID-19 Units.

CONCLUSIONS // Healthcare personnel who worked in care areas and COVID-19 units present greater perception of the risk of exposure, although they report a higher degree of agreement in the information received and in their work engagement in the face of the pandemic.