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; Julião, Pedro Lobo; Klazinga, Niek; Kringos, Dionne; Marques, Nuno

Publication

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

2021-07-28Journal article

dc.contributor.author	Brito Fernandes, Óscar
dc.contributor.author	Julião, Pedro Lobo
dc.contributor.author	Klazinga, Niek
dc.contributor.author	Kringos, Dionne
dc.contributor.author	Marques, Nuno
dc.date.accessioned	2021-08-25T12:51:06Z
dc.date.available	2021-08-25T12:51:06Z
dc.date.issued	2021-07-28
dc.date.updated	2021-08-06T15:18:56Z
dc.description.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.	pt_PT
dc.description.version	info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion	pt_PT
dc.identifier	doi: 10.3390/ijerph18157983
dc.identifier.citation	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18 (15): 7983 (2021)	pt_PT
dc.identifier.doi	10.3390/ijerph18157983	pt_PT
dc.identifier.eissn	1660-4601
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/16897
dc.language.iso	eng	pt_PT
dc.peerreviewed	yes	pt_PT
dc.publisher	MDPI	pt_PT
dc.rights.uri	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/	pt_PT
dc.subject	SARS-CoV-2	pt_PT
dc.subject	Care home	pt_PT
dc.subject	Long-term car	pt_PT
dc.subject	Social care	pt_PT
dc.subject	Public health emergency	pt_PT
dc.subject	Preparedness	pt_PT
dc.subject	Contingency plan	pt_PT
dc.subject	Safety culture	pt_PT
dc.subject	Workforce	pt_PT
dc.subject	Survey	pt_PT
dc.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	pt_PT
dc.type	journal article
dspace.entity.type	Publication
oaire.citation.issue	15	pt_PT
oaire.citation.startPage	7983	pt_PT
oaire.citation.title	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health	pt_PT
oaire.citation.volume	18	pt_PT
person.familyName	Brito Fernandes
person.familyName	Lobo Julião
person.givenName	Óscar
person.givenName	Pedro
person.identifier.ciencia-id	4814-A761-15C4
person.identifier.ciencia-id	1815-286D-111D
person.identifier.orcid	0000-0002-3212-373X
person.identifier.orcid	0000-0002-7999-9915
person.identifier.rid	J-8756-2016
person.identifier.scopus-author-id	57193900545
rcaap.rights	openAccess	pt_PT
rcaap.type	article	pt_PT
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