Table 2 Preparedness for COVID-19 survey scale items and responses

1. Clinical

a. Do you believe that the following clinical measures are useful in protecting you from contracting/being infected with coronavirus (COVID-19) at work?

i. Hand washing [3]

85 (97.7%)

87

ii. Alcohol rubs/hand sanitizer [3]

85 (96.6%)

88

iii. Surgical mask (face mask) [3]

66 (83.5%)

79

iv. N95 mask (respirator mask) [3]

67 (87.0%)

77

v. Gloves [3]

73 (89.0%)

82

vi. Gowns [3]

77 (96.3%)

80

vii. Goggles [3]

71 (89.9%)

79

viii. Antiviral drugs [3]

10 (14.1%)

71

b. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements:

i. There is an infection control committee at my hospital [4]

82 (93.2%)

88

ii. I have been recommended by the hospital to receive a flu vaccination (‘flu shot’) [3, 4]

88 (100.0%)

88

iii. There are infection control staff in my hospital [4]

87 (98.9%)

88

iv. My hospital has a plan for a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak [2,3,4]

80 (90.9%)

88

v. My hospital has developed/adopted clinical guidelines for responding to a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

81 (93.1%)

87

c. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements. In the past 3 months:

i. I have attended infection control training sessions [4]

58 (73.4%)

79

ii. I have participated in infection control audits [4]

20 (27.4%)

73

iii. I have attended infection control related meetings [4]

32 (43.2%)

74

iv. I have received a flu vaccination (‘flu shot’) [3, 4]

83 (98.8%)

84

v. I have someone to turn to if I have a problem in using personal protective equipment (PPE) [3, 4]

70 (90.9%)

77

2. Communication

a. Do you believe that the following communication strategies are useful in preparing you to respond to coronavirus (COVID-19) at work?

i. Information posters/notices [3]

76 (89.4%)

85

ii. COVID-19 email updates

83 (98.8%)

84

iii. Video updates from the CEO regarding coronavirus (COVID-19)

61 (72.6%)

84

iv. Information on the health service intranet regarding coronavirus (COVID-19)

76 (89.4%)

85

v. Health service social media updates regarding coronavirus (COVID-19)

65 (79.3%)

82

vi. Updates from the health service Department Heads regarding coronavirus (COVID-19)

76 (91.6%)

83

vii. Meetings discussing coronavirus (COVID-19)

73 (89.0%)

82

viii. Downloading the COVIDSafe app

52 (62.7%)

83

3. Environment

a. Do you believe that the following environmental strategies are useful in protecting you from contracting/being infected with coronavirus (COVID-19) at work?

i. Limiting visitors to the health service [3]

79 (97.5%)

81

ii. Temperature checks (for patients and visitors) [3]

76 (92.7%)

82

iii. Social distancing at work

75 (91.5%)

82

iv. Limiting shared desks/workstations (“hot-desks”)

73 (90.1%)

81

v. Area isolation (Restricting employee/visitor access to areas) [3]

78 (95.1%)

82

vi. Increasing airflow through work areas

56 (68.3%)

82

vii. Additional cleaning/sanitization of work areas/offices

78 (96.3%)

81

viii. Reduced frequency of work meetings

70 (86.4%)

81

ix. Telehealth sessions (limiting face-to-face work with patients)

76 (98.7%)

77

x. Limiting clinical placements at the health service

61 (79.2%)

77

4. Human Resources

a. Do you believe that the following human resources related strategies are useful in supporting you/protecting you from coronavirus (COVID-19) at work?

i. Temperature checks (for employees) [3]

75 (87.2%)

86

ii. Asymptomatic COVID-19 screening tests for employees

76 (88.4%)

86

iii. Employees working from home

68 (81.9%)

83

iv. Flexible leave planning

73 (87.9%)

83

b. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements:

i. I am aware of the health service’s COVID-19 Health and Wellbeing program for employees

70 (82.4%)

85

ii. I have accessed the health service’s COVID-19 Health and Wellbeing program for employees

16 (21.6%)

74

iii. I found it helpful to access the health service’s COVID-19 Health and Wellbeing program for employees

16 (26.7%)

60

5. General Preparedness

a. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements:

i. My hospital is well prepared to respond to a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak [2,3,4]

68 (84.0%)

81

ii. I have been involved in decision-making regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) preparation in my role/area at the health service

42 (57.5%)

73

iii. I am well prepared to respond to a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in my role at the health service [4]

58 (74.4%)

78

iv. I am confident in explaining coronavirus (COVID-19) procedures to colleagues at work

63 (84.0%)

75

v. I am confident in explaining coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to patients [4]

58 (82.8%)

70

vi. I am confident in explaining coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to members of the community

61 (82.4%)

74

vii. I believe decisions regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) preparation at the health service were based on the best available evidence at the time

72 (88.9%)

81

viii. I believe the scale of the health service’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19) preparation was appropriate for the level of potential risk/threat

66 (81.5%)

81

ix. I have personally coped with the threat of a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak at work by learning as much as I can about it [3]

71 (88.8%)

80

x. I would accept the risk of contracting coronavirus (COVID-19) at work in the event of an outbreak [3, 4]

49 (60.5%)

81

xi. I am afraid of falling ill with coronavirus (COVID-19) in the event of an outbreak at work [3, 4]

40 (50.0%)

80

xii. I am worried about a second wave of coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak at work

54 (66.7%)

81

xiii. I might consider taking extended leave from my role because of the risk of contracting coronavirus (COVID-19) at work [3]

13 (16.3%)

80

xiv. I might look for another job or consider resigning because of the risk of contracting coronavirus (COVID-19) at work [3, 4]

1 (1.3%)

79

xv. My colleagues should stay home from work if they have cold/flu symptoms during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

77 (97.5%)

79

xvi. I feel it is pointless to take precautions regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) at work [3]

1 (1.2%)

81