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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

Author

Listed:
  • Óscar Brito Fernandes

    (Department of Health Economics, Corvinus University of Budapest, Fővám tér 8, H-1093 Budapest, Hungary
    Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    Public Health Research Centre, NOVA National School of Public Health, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Avenida Padre Cruz, 1600-560 Lisboa, Portugal
    Algarve Biomedical Center, Campus Gambelas, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal)

  • Pedro Lobo Julião

    (Algarve Biomedical Center, Campus Gambelas, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
    Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Campus Gambelas, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
    These authors contributed equally.)

  • Niek Klazinga

    (Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    These authors have also contributed equally.)

  • Dionne Kringos

    (Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    These authors have also contributed equally.)

  • Nuno Marques

    (Algarve Biomedical Center, Campus Gambelas, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
    Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Campus Gambelas, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
    These authors have also contributed equally.)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Óscar Brito Fernandes & Pedro Lobo Julião & Niek Klazinga & Dionne Kringos & Nuno Marques, 2021. "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," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-15, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:15:p:7983-:d:603668
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Thomas Hale & Noam Angrist & Rafael Goldszmidt & Beatriz Kira & Anna Petherick & Toby Phillips & Samuel Webster & Emily Cameron-Blake & Laura Hallas & Saptarshi Majumdar & Helen Tatlow, 2021. "A global panel database of pandemic policies (Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker)," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(4), pages 529-538, April.
    2. Katherine de Bienassis & Solvejg Kristensen & Magdalena Burtscher & Ian Brownwood & Nicolaas S. Klazinga, 2020. "Culture as a cure: Assessments of patient safety culture in OECD countries," OECD Health Working Papers 119, OECD Publishing.
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