Assessing the Risk of COVID-19 in Selected Occupational Groups of Hospitals in Saghez, Iran Using the Rapid Risk Analysis Technique

Assessment of disease risk with the ultimatevaim of implementing preventive strategies in the workplace is a necessity. This study was conducted to assess the risk of COVID-19 in hospital occupational groups in Saghez city, Iran.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 among three hospital occupational groups (total sample size = 300) in Saghez city, Iran, including physicians and nurses, as well as laboratory, administrative, financial, radiology and general service personnel, using the COVID-19 rapid risk analysis technique. Data were collected using a valid questionnaire based on the Likert scale and analysed (to determine acceptable, tolerable and intolerable risks) using the descriptive and inferential methods, the software used being SPSS-26.

As regards the probability variable, the highest probability of occurrence of COVID-19 was related to the general service and administrative-financial occupational groups with an average of 1.6 and 1.5, respectively. The level of attitude was generally good and excellent. The analysis of the severity of the outcome variable was at a critical level in the physicians group (42.5) and at a catastrophic level in the other groups. In total, all occupations were rated at an unacceptable risk level (H), the general service and administrative-financial occupational groups being at a higher risk than other groups. There were statistically significant differences between the types of occupation on the one hand and the variables studied, as well as the individual characteristics and COVID-19 morbidity on the other hand.

Considering the high risk of occurrence of COVID-19 among the hospital professionals it is essential to develop and implement plans aiming at preventing and reducing the disease risk in them.