Elsevier

Annals of Medicine and Surgery

Volume 57, September 2020, Pages 70-75
Annals of Medicine and Surgery

Impact of COVID-19 on laboratory professionals-A descriptive cross sectional survey at a clinical chemistry laboratory in a developing country

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2020.07.022Get rights and content
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open access

Highlights

  • 68 % lab staff was overall satisfied with the measures adopted by the institution to tackle the crisis.

  • Majority of the respondents were in favor of the conventional pre COVID work environment.

  • 44 % responded that there was inadequate and untimely provision of personal protective equipment.

  • 34% of the lab professionals expressed that their motivation levels have gone down due to the challenges.

Abstract

Background

The lab professionals at one end are at increased risk of contracting the infection while on the other end have to deal with the various challenges during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. This survey was undertaken to analyze the lab professionals' perspectives, in terms of the challenges, financial implications, fears, motivation and satisfaction from organizational processes and policies adopted, amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Material & methods

The study utilized a cross-sectional survey design. The survey was administered online via the google docs survey tool from medical laboratory professionals (n = 64) serving at the section of Clinical Chemistry, department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, the Aga Khan University (AKU), Pakistan from June 4th to 14th 2020. A team consisting of three Clinical Chemistry consultants serving as faculty at the section, designed the survey questionnaire. The responses were recorded on a five-point Likert Scale (1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = neutral, 4 = agree and 5 = strongly agree). The statistical analysis was performed using the Microsoft Excel 2013. Frequency and percentages were calculated for gender, experience and designation while descriptive results based on the responses were also recorded.

Results

The response rate was 78% (n = 50). 60% responded that the current lifestyle adopted during the pandemic was not better than the traditional one. The fear of employment termination and financial challenges were being faced by 42% and 78% respondents respectively. The quality of family life was improved in 54% cases while 96% were of the view that their social activities at work have suffered. Whereas, 22% were not satisfied by the measures taking by the management during the outbreak.

Conclusion

The findings of this survey provide laboratorians' perspective, in times of such crisis and provides us certain lessons to prepare for such unpredicted situations in future.

Keywords

SARS-CoV
Impact
Laboratories
Surveys

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