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Healthcare Workforce Response to The Coronavirus Disease Outbreak in Daegu, Korea: A Multi-Center, Cross-Sectional Survey

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Author(s)
Hyun Hee KwonHye In KimKi Tae KwonSoyoon HwangShin-Woo KimYoonjung KimHyun ah KimMiri HyunHyo-Lim HongMin Jung KimJian HurKyung Soo Hong
Keimyung Author(s)
Kim, Hyun Ah
Department
Dept. of Internal Medicine (내과학)
Journal Title
Infect Chemother
Issued Date
2022
Volume
54
Issue
2
Keyword
SARS-CoV-2Health personnelInfection controlPersonal protective equipmentHealth facilities
Abstract
Background:
Securing an available healthcare workforce is critical to respond to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, research investigating Korea’s COVID-19 staffing response is rare. To present the fundamental data of healthcare staff in response to the surge in COVID-19 cases, we investigated the healthcare workforce response in Daegu, South Korea, which experienced the first largest outbreak of COVID-19 outside of China.

Materials and Methods:
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, this retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed data on the scale and characteristics of healthcare workers (HCWs). Additionally, it analyzed the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of HCWs infected with COVID-19 in six major teaching hospitals (five tertiary and one secondary) in Daegu from January 19 to April 30, 2020.

Results:
During this study period, only 1.3% (n = 611) of the total hospitalized patients (n = 48,807) were COVID-19 inpatients, but they occupied 6.0% (n = 303) of the total hospital beds (n = 5,056), and 23.7% (n = 3,471) of all HCWs (n = 14,651) worked in response to COVID-19. HCWs participating in COVID-19-related works comprised 50.6% (n = 1,203) of doctors (n = 2,379), 26.3% (n = 1,571) of nurses (n = 5,982), and 11.4% (n = 697) of other HCWs (n = 6,108). Only 0.3% (n = 51) of HCWs (n = 14,651) developed COVID-19 infections from community-acquired (66.7%) or hospital-acquired (29.4%). Nurses were affected predominantly (33.3%), followed by doctors (9.8%), caregivers (7.8%), radiographers (5.9%), and others (45.1%), including nurse aides and administrative, facility maintenance, telephone appointment centers, and convenience store staff. All HCWs infected with COVID-19 recovered completely. The 32.7% (n = 333) of individuals (n = 1,018) exposed to HCWs who had COVID-19 were quarantined, and only one case of secondary transmission among them occurred.

Conclusion:
The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated significant staffing and facility usage, which is disproportionate to the relatively low number of COVID-19 inpatients, imposing a substantial burden on healthcare resources. Therefore, beyond the current reimbursement level of the Korean National Health Insurance, a new type of rewarding system is needed to prepare hospitals for the emerging outbreaks of infectious diseases. Keeping HCWs safe from COVID-19 is crucial for maintaining the healthcare workforce during a sudden massive outbreak. Further studies are needed to determine the standards of required HCWs through detailed research on the working hours and intensity of HCWs responding to COVID-19.
Keimyung Author(s)(Kor)
김현아
Publisher
School of Medicine (의과대학)
Citation
Hyun Hee Kwon et al. (2022). Healthcare Workforce Response to The Coronavirus Disease Outbreak in Daegu, Korea: A Multi-Center, Cross-Sectional Survey. Infect Chemother, 54(2), 298–307. doi: 10.3947/ic.2022.0031
Type
Article
ISSN
2092-6448
Source
https://www.icjournal.org/DOIx.php?id=10.3947/ic.2022.0031
DOI
10.3947/ic.2022.0031
URI
https://kumel.medlib.dsmc.or.kr/handle/2015.oak/44313
Appears in Collections:
1. School of Medicine (의과대학) > Dept. of Internal Medicine (내과학)
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