H1N1: communication patterns among emergency department staff during the H1N1 outbreak, April 2009
Kelly R Klein1, Hillary Cohen, Cindy Baseluos
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11219, USA. kklein@maimonidesmed.org
Insights
Emergency department staff found H1N1 virus information dissemination effective during the 2009 pandemic. Communication was generally good, though preferences varied between direct and indirect care providers.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- The 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, declared by the WHO, posed a significant threat comparable to the 1918 Spanish Flu.
- Emergency departments worldwide experienced a surge in H1N1 cases, necessitating rapid information dissemination to staff.
- Ensuring staff well-being and optimal patient care during the H1N1 outbreak was a critical challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess emergency department staff's communication methods and attitudes regarding H1N1 safety and treatment.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of information dissemination during the initial H1N1 pandemic.
- To identify potential disparities in communication experiences among healthcare personnel.
Main Methods:
- An anonymous online survey was administered to emergency department staff.
- The survey queried participants on their information sources, perceived adequacy of hospital communications, and confidence in patient treatment protocols.
- Data analysis focused on communication patterns and attitudes towards H1N1 preparedness.
Main Results:
- A vast majority of staff (88.3%) utilized multiple sources for H1N1 information.
- Most respondents (88.9%) felt adequately informed by their hospitals for personal and family protection.
- Nearly all (98.5%) expressed confidence in their departments adhering to government treatment guidelines, with notable communication differences between direct and indirect care providers.
Conclusions:
- H1N1 communication to emergency department staff was generally perceived as effective during the initial outbreak.
- Online survey limitations restrict generalization to the entire emergency department staff population.
- Hospital administrators should tailor communication strategies to the distinct preferences of direct and indirect care providers during public health crises.
Introduction:
The H1N1 influenza virus has been described by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the media as a disease that could rival the 1918 Spanish Influenza epidemic in deaths. During the spring of 2009, emergency departments across the world saw a spike in the number of influenza cases and by June 2009, the WHO had declared H1N1 a pandemic. In order to prevent emergency department staff from becoming ill and to provide up-to-date medical care to patients, information had to be disseminated quickly to emergency department staff.
Methods:
An anonymous Internet survey was utilized to query emergency department staff regarding communication methods and overall attitudes regarding safety and treatment during the spring of 2009.
Results:
The majority of emergency department staff (263; 88.3%) used multiple sources to obtain information about the H1N1 virus. There were 258 respondents (88.9%) that felt that the hospital was supplying them with the necessary information to protect themselves and their families and 280 (98.5%) felt confident that their emergency department was treating patients by the government-recommended guidelines. Statistically significant differences were noted in communication patterns between direct and indirect patient care providers.
Conclusions:
In general, H1N1 communication to emergency department staff was perceived as good during the initial H1N1 outbreak. However, because of the limitations associated with an online survey, these results do not allow for generalization to the total emergency department staff population. Hospital administrators may need to consider the differences in communication preferences of direct patient care providers and indirect patient care providers when distributing important information to emergency department staff during crisis and emergency situations.
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