What we learned from the infection control and what we need in the future: A quantitative and qualitative study on hospital infection prevention and control practitioners (HIPCPs) in Tianjin, China

Abstract

BackgroundIn December 2022, the epidemic prevention and control policy was upgraded, and China entered a different stage of epidemic control. This study aims to identify implications for better infection control and health care supply during the epidemic. MethodsA longitudinal quantitative and qualitative study was performed based on 2 comprehensive questionnaire surveys among 497 hospital infection prevention and control practitioners (HIPCPs) before and during the epidemic peak in Tianjin, China. ResultsThe workload (8.2 hours vs 10.14 hours, P = 0) and self-reported mental health problems (23.5% vs 61.8%, P < .05) among the HIPCPs increased significantly in the peak period. Ward reconstruction and resource coordination were the most needed jobs in hospital infection control, and rapidly increased medical waste during the epidemic needs to be considered in advance. Community support for health care personnel and their families, maintaining full PPE to reduce simultaneous infection of medical staff, and clinical training of infectious diseases for medical staff, especially doctors, in advance are the most important things we learned. ConclusionAlthough it has been 4 years since the first outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019, more improvements should be made to prepare for the next epidemic of potential diseases.