COVID-19 Healthcare Worker Exposure Response and Outcomes (HERO) Trial


Study Dates

2021 - Unknown

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PEDSnet

Abstract

A PEDSnet project to assess the effects of the pandemic on the health and lives of US healthcare workers.

Affiliation(s)

Duke Clinical Research Institute

Funder(s)

This research was made possible through the generous support of Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. The statements presented in this work are solely the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of PCORI, its Board of Governors, or its Methodology Committee.

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Description

Healthcare workers are on the front-lines of the COVID-19 pandemic and may be disproportionately affected by it. This study is intended to assess the effects of the pandemic on the health and lives of US healthcare workers. 11,982 healthcare workers ages 18 years and older from all types of healthcare organizations nationwide were surveyed for outcomes including COVID-19 exposure, viral and antibody testing, diagnosis of COVID-19, access to personal protective equipment (PPE), work hours, physical and emotional symptoms, and job burnout.

Study Design

Survey of US healthcare workers who joined the HERO registry from April 10 to May 22, 2020.

Results

Mean age was 42.9 years, 76.3% were female, 79.3% White, 77.3% worked in hospitals, 33.3% were nurses, 19.4% were physicians, and 31.0% worked in high risk settings. Overall, 43.2% reported a COVID-19 exposure and 91.3% were exposed at work. Just 3.7% had a positive viral or antibody test or a physician diagnosis of COVID-19. The adjusted odds of COVID-19 illness were 2.1 times (95% CI 1.6-2.9) higher for Hispanic/Latinos and 2.2 times higher (95% CI 1.5-3.3) for Black/African-Americans than White counterparts. Access to N95 respiratory masks was problematic for 35.7% and reuse of masks was common (51.5%). Staff who worked in high risk settings (e.g., ICUs, EDs, COVID-19 units) experienced more physical and emotional symptoms than those in low risk settings and were more likely to report job burnout (43.1% vs 38.1%, p less than 0.01).

Healthcare workers are at high risk for COVID-19 exposure, but rates of COVID-19 illness remain low. Attention should be given to addressing staff well-being, particularly the needs of women who comprise three-fourths of the healthcare workforce. The greater risk of COVID-19 infection among race/ethnicity minorities reported in the general population is also seen in healthcare workers, which calls for a better understanding of the origins of these disturbing disparities.

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a CC-BY 4.0 Attribution license.
Except where otherwised noted, this item's license is described as a CC-BY 4.0 Attribution license.

Cite this Study

Hernandez, A. COVID-19 Healthcare Worker Exposure Response and Outcomes (HERO) Trial. [Study]. PEDSpace Knowledge Bank. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14642/880

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