Risk perception among health professionals in the first case of secondary ebola infection in Spain. Case study

Abstract

In 2014, the first case of secondary Ebola infection outside Africa detected in Spain, caused a sense of global threat. This study assess Risk Perception amongst the health personnel and identify the agents that amplified or reduced it. Through a snowball sampling, 5 in-depth interviews were carried out. Inclusion´s criteria: treating the patient suspected of Ebola and/or of having been actively involved in the management of the crisis. Triangulation and member checking were used to validate findings. Field work was between February and June 2015. In Risk Perception´s construction were involved Formation, Management of Information and Trust. Political and Health Authorities, Media and Unions acted as amplifiers whereas the Expert Committee and Hospital Management as reducers. Peer-to-peer behavior acted as a reducer amongst the medical staff and as an amplifier between the nursing and cleaning staff. This information would be relevant to better manage a health crisis of this characteristics.