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Kwon HH, Kim HI, Kwon KT, Hwang S, Kim SW, Kim Y, Kim HA, Hyun M, Hong HL, Kim MJ, Hur J, Hong KS. Healthcare Workforce Response to The Coronavirus Disease Outbreak in Daegu, Korea: A Multi-Center, Cross-Sectional Survey. Infect Chemother 2022; 54:298-307. [PMID: 35706078 PMCID: PMC9259921 DOI: 10.3947/ic.2022.0031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Hee Kwon
- Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Hye In Kim
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Daegu Fatima Hospital, Daegu, Korea
| | - Ki Tae Kwon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Soyoon Hwang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Shin-Woo Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea
| | - Yoonjung Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea
| | - Hyun ah Kim
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Korea
| | - Miri Hyun
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Korea
| | - Hyo-Lim Hong
- Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Min Jung Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Daegu Veterans Hospital, Daegu, Korea
| | - Jian Hur
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University Medical Center, Daegu, Korea
| | - Kyung Soo Hong
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University Medical Center, Daegu, Korea
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