A cross-sectional study of epidemiological determinants for Covid-19 infection among nurses of a tertiary care hospital

All health care workers including nurses are working in the frontline against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid‑19), which keeps them at high risk of getting infected. This study was conducted to identify risk factors for Covid‑19 infection and compliance to Covid appropriate behavior among nurses.

A cross‑sectional study was conducted on 150 nurses in a tertiary care hospital attached to a medical college in Mumbai, from April 2020 to December 2020. Data were collected telephonically using an interviewer‑administered pre‑validated, semi‑structured questionnaire. Data entry and analysis were performed using SPSS version 21.0.

The mean age of the nurses was 38.19 ± 12.14 years. The majority (80.7%) were exposed to Covid‑19 while taking active care of Covid patients; a total of 108 (72%) were symptomatic at the time of testing; dietary modifications because of fear of Covid were performed by 121 (80.2%); 92.77% used the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) category according to the workplace; 121 (80.77%) followed all steps of donning and doffing at all times, and 19 (12.77%) reported a breach in PPE. A greater proportion of nurses working in Covid duties opted for hospital isolation than home isolation (p = 0.003). Risk factors such as sleep, shift duty, shift pattern, food timing, mode of travel, and type of PPE during travel were also found to be significantly associated with work type – Covid versus non‑Covid (p < 0.05).

Use of workplace appropriate PPE, proper donning and doffing facilities, duty shifts with a fixed duration, adequate hand hygiene practices, and regular food intake with adequate sleep can prevent Covid‑19 infection at the workplace among nurses.