Health Care Workers show a sense of responsibility

[Joseph]

Health workers show a sense of responsibility

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/....html?id=3e088555-c377-4c75-80d9-5a0a28cb8d01

Pamela Fayerman
Vancouver Sun

Thursday, November 15, 2007

A national survey sponsored by a drug company that makes antiviral medications shows 15 per cent of B.C. health-care workers would be uncomfortable reporting to work if even one individual in the province was diagnosed with pandemic influenza.

The rate rises to 39 per cent of workers who would be uncomfortable going to work if more than one individual had such a flu.

But more than half the workers surveyed in B.C. said their sense of responsibility would motivate them to report to work.

A pandemic influenza refers to a new strain of flu virus to which people have little or no immunity, and which spreads rapidly around the world.

Workers surveyed included nurses, pharmacists and medical technicians.

But the likelihood of reporting to work during a pandemic flu outbreak rises to 95 per cent if health-care workers in B.C. knew that their employers were able to make preventive medicines available to them, the survey found.B.C. has taken steps to stockpile antiviral medications.

The national survey of 2,000 individuals (700 in B.C.) was conducted by Leger Marketing and sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline. It used a combination of telephone and online interviews with health-care workers across the country, including nurses, hospital support staff (clerical and food preparation), medical technicians (radiology, x-ray and laboratory), pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

The survey was conducted from Aug. 7 to Aug. 23. With a national sample of 2,000 respondents, results are considered accurate to within plus or minus 2.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. The B.C. results, with fewer respondents, would have less dependable results.

Other findings from B.C. include:

- Twenty per cent of pharmacists and 23 per cent of hospital support staff do not feel their role would be significant during a pandemic flu outbreak.

- Twenty-seven per cent of health care workers are doubtful a flu pandemic is likely to hit Canada.

- Nearly a third of health care workers are not aware that there are medicines that can reduce or prevent the impact of pandemic flu.

- More than three-quarters (77 per cent) of health-care workers in B.C. get an annual flu shot.

 

[Laidback Al]

Re: Health Care Workers show a sense of responsibility

But more than half the workers surveyed in B.C. said their sense of responsibility would motivate them to report to work.

It is great that HCWs in B.C. and elsewhere have a sense of duty for sick and dying patients. For this reason, it is absolutely necessary that hospitals and medical facilities make every effort to protect their staff and employees during a pandemic. These facilities should stockpile proper PPE and prophylactic antivirals now, and vaccines as soon as they become available.

 

[Blue]

Re: Health Care Workers show a sense of responsibility

I distrust this study done by a drug company for a scenario of
drug prophylaxsis that is not likely to occur. We have to work
with reality. There is not enough Tamiflu, and certainly even
less Relenza. My own state has said, no antiviral prophylaxsis
for HCW. This is clearly stated in their pandemic flu plan.

When nurses realize that their facilities have NOT stockpiled
adequate PPE, and they will not receive drug prophylaxsis, the
response is likely to be different.

We are trained to help, and we want to. But, we all understand
infection control procedures, and the necessity to protect ourselves.
We can not help if we become infected. This does not mean that
we have no sense of responsibility.

The thread at allnurses.com does not come even close to agreeing
with the drug company study. Even with protection many nurses will
not work because their families come first.

The public may be lulled by that study, but it falls into the "hopes
and dreams" category, imo.

 

[Cairelle RN]

Re: Health Care Workers show a sense of responsibility

Blue, EXACTLY!!

I have a sense of responsibility but to be perfectly frank, I will NOT even consider going to work unless I can be assured that there is adequate PPE and drug prophylaxis.

Honestly, I don't see that happening. They'll pose and posture about it, of course, but it won't be enough... I know it won't. It always comes down to the bottom line ($$$) and it will be mighty expensive to stockpile supplies for what "might" happen.

What scares me as well is that the public is being lured into a false sense of security in that we trusty nurses will be there to care for them as usual... never mind that we would be putting our lives at risk, and at the expense and risk of our families as well.