Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T07:04:01.543Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Ensuring Adequate Human Medical Resources during an Avian Influenza A/H5N1 Pandemic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 March 2011

Satoko Mitani ,
Etsuko Ozaki ,
Naohisa Fujita ,
Tsukuru Hashimoto ,
Isao Mori ,
Takeshi Fukuyama ,
Takefumi Akatsuka ,
Takashi Nishi ,
Sachiko Morishita  and
Sinichi Nomoto
...Show all authors
Satoko Mitani*
Affiliation:
Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology for Community Health and Medicine, Kyoto Japan
Etsuko Ozaki
Affiliation:
Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology for Community Health and Medicine, Kyoto Japan
Naohisa Fujita
Affiliation:
Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology for Community Health and Medicine, Kyoto Japan
Tsukuru Hashimoto
Affiliation:
Sonoda Hospital, Kobe City, Hyogo Japan
Isao Mori
Affiliation:
Ishinkai Yao General Hospital, Yao City, Osaka Japan
Takeshi Fukuyama
Affiliation:
Fukuyama Hospital, Akashi City, Hyogo Japan
Takefumi Akatsuka
Affiliation:
Nishi Hospital, Kobe City, Hyogo Japan
Takashi Nishi
Affiliation:
Nishi Hospital, Kobe City, Hyogo Japan
Sachiko Morishita
Affiliation:
Shimada Hospital, Habikino City, Osaka Japan
Sinichi Nomoto
Affiliation:
Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology for Community Health and Medicine, Kyoto Japan
Yoshiyuki Watanabe
Affiliation:
Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology for Community Health and Medicine, Kyoto Japan
*
Correspondence: Satoko Mitani, RN, MSc, PhD Kawaramachi, Hirokouji, Kamigyo-ku Kyoto, Japan. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction: When countermeasures are taken against an avian influenza (AI) pandemic in a hospital, it is essential to know the potential number of staff who would choose to be absent. The purpose of this study was to clarify how many medical staff would be willing to work during a pandemic, and requirements to secure adequate human resources.

Methods: From September to December 2008, a total of 3,152 questionnaires were sent to five private hospitals and one public hospital, which represent the core hospitals in the regions of Kyoto, Osaka, and Hyogo Prefectures. Participants consisted of hospital staff including: (1) physicians; (2) nurses; (3) pharmacists; (4) radiological technologists (RTs); (5) physical therapists (PTs); (6) occupational therapists (OTs); (7) clinical laboratory technologists (CLTs); (8) caregivers; (9) office clerks; and (10) others. They were queried about their attitude toward pandemics, including whether they would come to the hospital to work, treat patients, and what kinds of conditions they required in order to work.

Results: A total of 1,975 persons (62.7%) responded. A total of 204 persons (10.6%) would not come to the hospitals during a pandemic, 363 (18.8%) would perform their duties as usual, unconditionally, 504 (26.1%) would come to hospitals but not treat AI patients, and 857 (44.5%) would report to the hospital and treat AI patients with some essential conditions. These essential conditions were: (1) personal protective equipment (PPE) (80.0%); (2) receipt of workmen's compensation (69.3%); (3) receipt of anti-virus medication (58.2%); and (3) receipt of pre-pandemic vaccination (57.8%).

Conclusion: During a pandemic, all types of health professionals would be lacking, not only physicians and nurses. This study indicates that ensuring sufficient medical human resources would be difficult without the provision of adequate safety and compensation measures.

Keywords

hospital administrationinfluenzamedical staffpandemic
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 26 , Issue 1 , February 2011 , pp. 15 - 20
Copyright
Copyright Mitani © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Infectious Disease Surveillance Center: The case # of AI infection. Available at: http://idsc.nih.go.jp/disease/avian_influenza/case200900/case090126.html. Accessed 28 February 2009.Google Scholar
Murray, CJL, Lopez, AD, Chin, Bet al: Estimation of potential global pandemic influenza mortality on the basis of vital registry data from the 1918–20 pandemic: A quantitative analysis. Lancet 2006;368:2211–2218.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Aris, B: Avian influenza remains a cause for concern. Lancet 2005;336:798.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, H: Nations set out a global plan for influenza action. Lancet 2005;336: 1684–1685.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mounier-Jack, S, Coker, R: How prepared is Europe for pandemic influenza? Analysis of national plans. Lancet 2006;367:1405–1411.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wang, H, Feng, Y, Yu, Het al: Probable limited person-to-person transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in China. Lancet 2008;371:1427–1434.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sellwood, C, Asgari-Jirhandeh, N, Salimee, S: Bird flu: If or when? Planning for the next pandemic. Postqrad Med J 2007;83:445–450.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Interim recommendations for infection control in health care facilities caring for patients with known or suspected avian influenza. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/professional/infect-control.htm. Accessed 04 November 2008.Google Scholar
World Health Organization: Avian influenza, including influenza A (H5N1), in humans: WHO interim infection control guideline for health care facilities. Available at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/guidelines/infectioncontrol1/en/. Accessed 08 August 2008Google Scholar
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in Japan: Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Action Plan of the Japanese Government (Revised 17 February, 2009). Available at http://www.cas.go.jp/jp/seisaku/ful/kettei/090217keikaku.pdf. Accessed 28 February 2009.Google Scholar
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in Japan: Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Pandemic Influenza (Phase 4 onwards). Available at http://www.cas.go.jp/jp/seisaku/ful/guide/090217keikaku.pdf. Accessed 28 February 2009.Google Scholar
Ehrenstein, BP, Hanses, F, Salzberger, B: Influenza pandemic and professional duty: Family or patients first? A survey of hospital employees. BMC Public Health 2006;28:311.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wong, TY, Koh, GC, Cheong, SKet al: A cross-sectional study of primary-care physicians in Singapore on their concerns and preparedness for an avian influenza outbreak. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2008;3:458–464.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anikeeva, O, Braunack-Mayer, AJ, Street, JM: How will Australian general practitioners respond to an influenza pandemic? A qualitative study of ethical values. Med J Aust 2008;189:148–150.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Irvin, CB, Cindrich, L, Patterson, Wet al: Survey of hospital healthcare personnel response during a potential avian influenza pandemic: Will they come to work? Prehosp Disaster Med 2008;23:328–336.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ehrenstein, BP, Hanses, F, Salzberger, B: Influenza pandemic and professional duty: family or patients first? A survey of hospital employees. MBC Public Health 2006;6:311.Google ScholarPubMed
Balicer, RD, Omer, SB, Barnett, DJet al: Local public health workers' perceptions toward responding to an influenza pandemic. MBC Public Health 2006;6:99.Google Scholar
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in Japan: An estimation of a socio-economic situation at a pandemic. Available at http://www.mhlw.go.jp/shingi/2008/07/dl/s0730–13f.pdf. Accessed 6 February 2009Google Scholar
Kuntz, JL, Holley, S, Helms, CMet al: Use of a pandemic preparedness drill to increase rates of influenza vaccination among health care workers. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2008;29:111–115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miller, G, Randolph, S, Patterson, JE: Responding to simulated pandemic influenza in San Antonio, Texas. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2008;29:320–326.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mitani, S, Kuboyama, K, Shirakawa, T: Nursing in sudden-onset disasters: Factors and information that affect participation. Prehosp Disaster Med 2003;18:359–366.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed