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

Standard

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

BibTeX

@article{4c2c482bf03248debfa5bc526e668f63,

title = "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",

abstract = "(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.",

keywords = "Care home, Contingency plan, Long-term care, Prepared-ness, Public health emergency, SARS-CoV-2, Safety culture, Social care, Survey, Workforce",

author = "{Brito Fernandes}, {\'O}scar and {Lobo Juli{\~a}o}, Pedro and Niek Klazinga and Dionne Kringos and Nuno Marques",

note = "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 {\'O}.B.F., N.K. and D.K. occurred within a Marie Sk{\l}odowska-Curie Innovative Training Network (HealthPros—Healthcare Performance Intelligence Professionals) that has received funding from the European Union{\textquoteright}s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement Nr. 765141 (https://healthpros-h2020 .eu, accessed on 20 July 2021). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.",

year = "2021",

month = aug,

day = "1",

doi = "10.3390/ijerph18157983",

language = "English",

volume = "18",

journal = "International journal of environmental research and public health",

issn = "1661-7827",

publisher = "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)",

number = "15",

}

RIS

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

Generic Portal