Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
COVID-19 Preparedness and Perceived Safety in Nursing Homes in Southern Portugal: A Cross-Sectional Survey-Based Study in the Initial Phases of the Pandemic. / Brito Fernandes, Óscar; Lobo Julião, Pedro; Klazinga, Niek et al.
In: International journal of environmental research and public health, Vol. 18, No. 15, 7983, 01.08.2021.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - COVID-19 Preparedness and Perceived Safety in Nursing Homes in Southern Portugal: A Cross-Sectional Survey-Based Study in the Initial Phases of the Pandemic
AU - Brito Fernandes, Óscar
AU - Lobo Julião, Pedro
AU - Klazinga, Niek
AU - Kringos, Dionne
AU - Marques, Nuno
N1 - Funding Information: Funding: This research was funded by the ALGARVE BIOMEDICAL CENTER as part of a larger set of projects in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The participation of Ó.B.F., N.K. and D.K. occurred within a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network (HealthPros—Healthcare Performance Intelligence Professionals) that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement Nr. 765141 (https://healthpros-h2020 .eu, accessed on 20 July 2021). Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2021/8/1
Y1 - 2021/8/1
N2 - (1) Background: Nursing homes' preparedness in managing a public health emergency has been poor, with effects on safety culture. The objective of this study was to assess nursing homes' COVID-19 preparedness in southern Portugal, including staff's work experiences during the pandemic. (2) Methods: We used a COVID-19 preparedness checklist to be completed by management teams, followed by follow-up calls to nursing homes. Thereafter, a survey of staff was applied. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, and thematic analysis of open-end questions. (3) Results: In total, 71% (138/195) of eligible nursing homes returned the preparedness checklist. We conducted 83 follow-up calls and received 720 replies to the staff survey. On average, 25% of nursing homes did not have an adequate decision-making structure to respond to the pandemic. Outbreak capacity and training were areas for improvement among nursing homes' contingency plans. We identified teamwork as an area of strength for safety culture, whereas compliance with procedures and nonpunitive response to mistakes need improvement. (4) Conclusions: To strengthen how nursing homes cope with upcoming phases of the COVID-19 pandemic or future public health emergencies, nursing homes' preparedness and safety culture should be fostered and closely monitored.
AB - (1) Background: Nursing homes' preparedness in managing a public health emergency has been poor, with effects on safety culture. The objective of this study was to assess nursing homes' COVID-19 preparedness in southern Portugal, including staff's work experiences during the pandemic. (2) Methods: We used a COVID-19 preparedness checklist to be completed by management teams, followed by follow-up calls to nursing homes. Thereafter, a survey of staff was applied. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, and thematic analysis of open-end questions. (3) Results: In total, 71% (138/195) of eligible nursing homes returned the preparedness checklist. We conducted 83 follow-up calls and received 720 replies to the staff survey. On average, 25% of nursing homes did not have an adequate decision-making structure to respond to the pandemic. Outbreak capacity and training were areas for improvement among nursing homes' contingency plans. We identified teamwork as an area of strength for safety culture, whereas compliance with procedures and nonpunitive response to mistakes need improvement. (4) Conclusions: To strengthen how nursing homes cope with upcoming phases of the COVID-19 pandemic or future public health emergencies, nursing homes' preparedness and safety culture should be fostered and closely monitored.
KW - Care home
KW - Contingency plan
KW - Long-term care
KW - Prepared-ness
KW - Public health emergency
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - Safety culture
KW - Social care
KW - Survey
KW - Workforce
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85111324446&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph18157983
DO - 10.3390/ijerph18157983
M3 - Article
C2 - 34360296
VL - 18
JO - International journal of environmental research and public health
JF - International journal of environmental research and public health
SN - 1661-7827
IS - 15
M1 - 7983
ER -
ID: 19265923