Evaluation of personal protective behaviors among healthcare workers after receiving COVID-19 vaccination

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate personal protective behaviors after COVID-19 vaccination in healthcare workers. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with healthcare workers (physician, dentist, midwife, nurse, health officer or emergency medicine technician) in Bursa City Hospital between September 1, 2021 and September 1, 2022. Data was collected with a questionnaire form which was sent to participants via WhatsApp or email. Results: All participants had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 31.0% had had experienced at least one COVID-19 infection. It was determined that while the use of N95 masks in the workplace (p<0.001) and in daily life (p<0.001) decreased following vaccination among healthcare workers, the use of three-layer surgical masks increased. The great majority did not alter behaviors after vaccination. The frequency of being present in crowded places was higher in those without a history of COVID-19 (p=0.023). In the multivariable regression analysis, a reported ‘decrease’ in the number of masks used in the workplace was associated with profession (those other than Nurse/Midwife/Health officer) and smoking status (non-smokers) (p=0.001 and p=0.025, respectively). Conclusions: It can be said that healthcare professionals maintain their personal protective behaviors in the hospital and in daily life even after receiving COVID-19 vaccination. Of note, healthcare workers other than Nurse/Midwife/Health officer and non-smokers had a higher likelihood of reporting a decrease in the number of masks they were using in the workplace.

Keywords

• Pandemic
• SARS-CoV-2
• COVID-19 Vaccines
• Personal Protective Equipment

COVID-19 aşısı yaptıran sağlık çalışanlarının kişisel koruyucu davranışlarının değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Çalışmanın amacı, sağlık çalışanlarında COVID-19 aşılaması sonrası kişisel koruyucu davranışların değerlendirilmesidir. Yöntem: Bu kesitsel araştırma, 1 Eylül 2021-1 Eylül 2022 tarihleri arasında Bursa Şehir Hastanesinde sağlık çalışanları (hekim, diş hekimi, ebe, hemşire, sağlık memuru veya acil tıp teknisyeni) ile yapılmıştır. Veriler, WhatsApp veya e-posta yoluyla katılımcılara gönderilen anket formu ile toplanmıştır. Bulgular: Tüm katılımcılar en az bir doz COVID-19 aşısı almıştı ve %31.0'ı en az bir COVID-19 enfeksiyonu geçirmişti. Sağlık çalışanlarında aşılama sonrası işyerinde (p<0,001) ve günlük hayatta (p<0,001) N95 maske kullanımı azalırken, üç katlı cerrahi maske kullanımının arttığı belirlendi. Büyük çoğunluk aşılamadan sonra davranışlarını değiştirmedi. COVID-19 öyküsü olmayanlarda kalabalık ortamlarda bulunma sıklığı daha yüksekti (p=0,023). Çok değişkenli regresyon analizinde işyerinde kullanılan maske sayısında bildirilen 'azalma' meslek (Hemşire/Ebe/Sağlık memuru dışındakiler) ve sigara içme durumu (sigara içmeyenler) ile ilişkilendirildi (p=0,001 ve p= sırasıyla 0.025). Sonuç: Sağlık profesyonellerinin hastanede ve günlük yaşamda kişisel koruyucu davranışlarını COVID-19 aşısı olduktan sonra bile sürdürdükleri söylenebilir. Hemşire/Ebe/Sağlık memuru ve sigara içmeyenler dışındaki sağlık çalışanlarının işyerinde kullandıkları maske sayısında azalma bildirme olasılıklarının daha yüksek olduğunu belirtmek gerekir.

Keywords

• Pandemi
• SARS-CoV-2
• Covid-19 Aşıları
• Kişisel Koruyucu Ekipman

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