J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2016 Aug;27(4):328-335. 10.0000/jksem.2016.27.4.328.

Emergency Department Workers' Perceptions of Effectiveness and Reported Compliance of Infection Control Measures after Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Outbreaks

• Jeong G
• Lee TR
• Hwang SY
• Cha WC
• Shin TG
• Sim MS
• Jo IJ
• Song KJ
• Rhee JE
• Jeong YK

• KMID: 2350885
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/jksem.2016.27.4.328

Abstract

PURPOSE
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreaks occurred in Korea during the year 2015, with the involvement of 186 patients in a relatively short period of time. The epidemiological pattern in South Korea was hospital-associated. Infection control plans for all hospitals were implemented to stop the spread of and to protect the healthcare workers from MERS infection. Such enhanced guidelines for infection control measures might affect healthcare workers. The purpose of this study was to determine the changes of tertiary emergency department healthcare workers' perception and compliance to hand hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE) before and after the MERS outbreak.
METHODS
A written questionnaire was administered to members in the emergency department at Samsung Medical Center. Participants were asked to rate the combined overall effectiveness of hand hygiene and PPE and to report their compliance on a 5-point scale. This survey was conducted between 11th and 26th of September 2015.
RESULTS
The total number of participants was 123. Perception of effectiveness before and after the MERS outbreak was improved on hand hygiene, N-95 masks, gowns, eye protection, and gloves, except surgical masks (3.65 vs. 3.68, p=0.714). Respondents showed a statistically higher compliance with hand washing and PPE. Compliance with hand hygiene and PPE showed a dependency on their patients' symptoms; symptoms of fever or fever with upper respiratory symptoms were reported with statistically increased compliance, with the exception of surgical masks.
CONCLUSION
Infection control measures except surgical masks were perceived to be more effective post the MERS outbreaks. The emergency department's workers reported increased compliance on hand hygiene and PPE, except surgical masks.

Keyword

Compliance; Hand hygiene; Middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus; Personal protective equipment

MeSH Terms

Compliance*
Coronavirus Infections*
Delivery of Health Care
Disease Outbreaks
Emergencies*
Emergency Service, Hospital*
Fever
Hand Disinfection
Hand Hygiene
Humans
Infection Control*
Korea
Masks
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
Middle East*
Personal Protective Equipment
Surveys and Questionnaires