Recorded presentation

Sophia Chan, RN, PhD¹, Gabriel M Leung, MD, MPH², Agnes Tiwari, RN, PhD¹, Farideh Salili, SRN, PhD¹, Sharron Leung, RN, PhD¹, Alan Wong, SRN³, Adela Lai, RN, MHA⁴, and Tai-Hing Lam, MD, MSc². (1) Department of Nursing Studies, University of Hong Kong, 4/F Academic and Administration Block, Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, China, 852-2819-2622, nssophia@hkucc.hku.hk, (2) School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, (3) Queen Mary Hospital, Rm 502, Administration Block, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China, (4) Princess Margaret Hospital, G/F, Bolck D, 2-10 Princess Margret Hospital Road, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

Background: SARS is a highly infectious disease with high potential for transmission to close contacts particularly health care workers.

Objective: To investigate hospital nurses' general and psychological health and associated services use stratified by the level of contact with SARS patients during the SARS epidemic.

Methods: A cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire survey of all Chinese-speaking nurses was conducted during May 2003, in a representative sample consisting of one infectious disease hospital, one general hospital with SARS wards and six non-SARS hospitals in Hong Kong.

Results: 1509 nurses participated with a response rate of 50.3%. 37.8% reported 'average' or 'poor' health in the past week. 73.0% had headache (46.9%) and back pain (35.6%) in the past 14 days, with 14.1% consulted doctors, 50.4% took self-medication, and 35.5% did not attend any health services. More nurses who worked in moderate risk areas (defined as non-SARS wards but with potential contact with suspected SARS cases) reported experiencing psychological stress than nurses in high risk (SARS wards) or low risk (non-SARS wards and no contact with SARS cases) areas. Fewer nurses who worked in high risk areas (84.4%) lived in their own home after work compared to nurses working in moderate (97.7%) or low risk areas (99%; p<0.001).

Conclusion: This is the first systematic study to assess nurses' physical and psychological health during the SARS epidemic in Hong Kong. Nurses working in moderate risk areas appeared to have been more vulnerable in their psychological health. It is essential to design hospital support systems and occupational health policy to promote the psychological well being of nurses and other health care workers during future similar outbreaks.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Decribe the general and psychological health status of nurses during the SARS epidemic in Hong Kong
• Discuss hospital support systems and occupational health policy to promote the psychological well being of nurses and other health care workers during future similar outbreaks.

Keywords: Infectious Diseases, Survey

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation