Assessment of Risk to Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Tertiary Care Facility Based Cross-sectional Study in Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To assess the risk of COVID-19 to healthcare workers (HCWs) in Tertiary care hospitals and its association with demographic factors.

Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study.

Place and Duration of Study: Tertiary Care Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from May to Dec 2020.

Methodology: Healthcare workers working in a designated COVID-19 Tertiary care hospital were included in the study. A modified "Risk assessment and management of exposure of HCWs in the context of COVID-19 tool" was distributed. HCWs were categorized as "high risk" and "low risk" of COVID-19 infection. Frequency and percentages were computed for demographic variables.

Results: A total of 182 healthcare workers were included, and 167(91.7%) returned the study questionnaire. Most of them were nurses (n=65, 40.1%) working in the medical unit (n=99, 61.1%). Low risk HCWs were 73.5%( n=119) and only 26.5%( n=43)were high risk. Gender (p-value: .02) and type of HCWs (p-value: .01) were significantly associated with the risk of COVID-19.

Conclusion: One-fourth of HCWs were at high risk of COVID-19 virus infection. Female gender and nurses were more likely to acquire COVID-19 infection.