Table 1 Items related to safe surgical care provision during Ebola and COVID-19 era
Variable group | Items related to readiness | The Eastern DRC n = 25(%) | Uganda n = 47(%) | Total n = 72 (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | ||
Readiness | Hospital able to test for Ebola | 5 (20.0) | 20 (80%) | 4 (8.5) | 43 (91.5) | 9 (12.5) |
Hospital able to test for COVID-19 | 5 (20.0) | 20(80%) | 20 (42.6) | 27 (57.4) | 25 (34.7) | |
Postponing elective surgeries during outbreaks period | 5 (20.0) | 20 (80) | 5 (10.6) | 42 (89.4) | 10 (13.9) | |
Having one operating room specific for suspect or confirmed cases | 1 (4.0) | 24 (96) | 6 (12.8) | 41 (87.2) | 7 (9.7) | |
Training of staff on appropriate donning and doffing of PPE | 9 (36.0) | 16 (64) | 31 (66.0) | 16 (34) | 40 (55.6) | |
Having teams specifically for outbreaks response | 21 (84.0) | 4 (16) | 40 (85.1) | 7 (14.9) | 61 (84.7) | |
Having protocols specifically for outbreaks response | 20 (80.0) | 5 (20) | 36 (76.6) | 11(23.4) | 56 (77.8) | |
Use of checklist for suspected/confirmed patients during surgery | 17 (68.0) | 8 (32) | 29 (61.7) | 18(38.3) | 46 (63.9) | |
Avoid involving students/Residents in patient care of infected patients | 5 (20.0) | 20(80) | 9 (19.1) | 38 (80.9) | 14 (19.4) | |
Reduction of the staff number required in the hospital to preserve human resource | 7 (28.0) | 18 (72) | 17 (36.2) | 30(63.8) | 24 (33.3) | |
Providing appropriate PPEs to personnel | 25 (100.0) | 0 (00) | 35 (74.5) | 12(24.5) | 60 (83.3) | |
Having containers (disposable bag) for any used PPE | 12 (48.0) | 13 (52) | 42 (89.4) | 5(10.6) | 54 (75.0) | |
Disinfection of all hard surface areas regularly with 0.5% chlorine or 70% alcohol | 16 (64.0) | 9 (36) | 14 (29.8) | 33 (70.2) | 30 (41.7) | |
Provide psychological support to staff during this time of crisis | 2 (8.0) | 23(92) | 27 (57.4) | 20 (42.6) | 29 (40.3) | |
Similarity or increase on HCW’s remuneration | 17 (68.0) | 8 (32) | 35 (74.5) | 12 (24.5) | 52 (72.2) | |
Timely remuneration of HCW’s | 14 (56.0) | 11 (44) | 32 (68.1) | 15 (31.9) | 46 (63.9) |