Safety of nurses/technicians in the workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic with positive patients

Ciljevi: Ispitati sigurnost medicinskih sestara/tehničara na radnom mjestu za vrijeme pandemije bolesti COVID-19 s pozitivnim pacijentima. Ispitati razliku u percepciji sigurnosti medicinski sestara i tehničara koji rade s pozitivnim pacijentima za vrijeme pandemije bolesti COVID-19 u odnosu na županiju zaposlenja i tip ustanove u kojoj rade. Metode: Presječna studija. Anonimno i dobrovoljno ispitivanje na području Republike Hrvatske. Ispitanici oba spola, medicinske sestre i tehničari u radnom odnosu za vrijeme trajanja pandemije bolesti COVID-19, ukupno 533 ispitanika. Online upitnik sastojao se od 21 pitanja, ukupno vrijeme potrebno za ispunjavanje ankete 8 – 12 minuta. Rezultati: Od ukupnog broja ispitanika ženskog spola bilo je 91,6 % (N=488), u dobi od 18 do 30 godina 72,6 % (N=387), 70 % (N=373) živi s partnerom, a 57,6 % (N=307) živi u istom kućanstvu s djecom. Najveći broj ispitanika, 25 % (N=133) zaposleno je u općim županijskim bolnicama, a 66,2 % (N=353) ih je radilo s pozitivnim pacijentima. Utvrđena je statistički značajna razlika u percepciji sigurnosti na radnom mjestu za varijable starosne dobi, županije zaposlenja, tipa ustanove u kojoj ispitanici rade te dužini radnog staža. Zaključak: Veću razinu sigurnosti osjećali su ispitanici koji su znali da rade od onih koji nisu radili ili nisu znali da rade s pozitivnim pacijentima. Najnižu razinu sigurnosti osjećali su ispitanici u dobi iznad 61 godine života, s više od 40 godina radnog staža te oni koji su zaposleni u Bjelovarsko–bilogorskoj županiji. Najveću razinu sigurnosti osjećaju ispitanici zaposleni u općim županijskim bolnicama.Goals: To examine the safety of nurses / technicians in the workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic with positive patients. To examine the difference in perceptions of safety of nurses and technicians working with positive patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to the county of employment and the type of institution in which they work. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Anonymous and voluntary examination in the territory of the Republic of Croatia. Respondents of both sexes, nurses and employed technicians during the COVID-19 pandemic disease, a total of 533 respondents. The online questionnaire consisted of 21 questions and the total time required to complete the survey was 8-12 minutes. Results: Of the total number of female respondents 91.6 % (N = 488), 72,6 % (N=387) were at the age of 18 to 30 years, 70 % (N= 373) live with a partner and 57.6 % (N = 307) live in the same household with children. The largest number of respondents, 25 % (N = 133) were employed in general county hospitals, and 66.2 % (N = 353) worked with positive patients. A statistically significant difference was found in the perception of safety in the workplace for the variables of age, county of employment, type of institution in which the respondents work and length of service. Conclusion: A higher level of security was felt by respondents who knew they were working with positive patients than those who did not work or did not know that they work with positive patients. The lowest level of security was felt by respondents over the age of 61, with more than 40 years of work experience and those employed in Bjelovar - Bilogora County. The highest level of security was felt by respondents employed in general county hospitals