UKZN & HSRC Collaborate to Investigate COVID-19 Impact on Health Workers

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In partnership with the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), UKZN’s College of Health Sciences will conduct a survey of COVID-19’s impact on health workers.

Health workers are at the frontline of the global fight against COVID-19. Across the world, including South Africa, health workers have also been infected with the virus.

With this in mind, the HSRC and UKZN aim to understand how the pandemic is affecting South African health workers, both physically and emotionally.

The survey that will be conducted on an online platform, will examine the following issues:

- Expanded professional designations – nurses, medical practitioners, medical students, support staff and allied healthcare workers

- Current role in the healthcare sector

- Have healthcare workers received training on dealing with COVID-19?

- Levels of knowledge, awareness and attitudes to COVID 19

- Use of and access to Personal Protective Equipment in the workplace

- Perceptions of risk in the workplace

- Concerns in relation to COVID-19

- Health and psychosocial wellbeing

Lead researcher, Professor Priscilla Reddy (HSRC) requests that ‘all health workers share the link with colleagues so that the government can gain a better picture of what is happening in the medical fraternity as it responds to COVID-19. If we can understand this better, we can ensure the correct interventions to protect health workers physically and emotionally.’

Professor Mosa Moshabela, head of UKZN’s COVID-19 War Room and Dean of the School of Nursing and Public Health said, ‘We are very happy to work with the HSRC on this survey and to be part of national efforts to understand how COVID-19 is impacting on our health professionals. We ask all health professionals to please take a few minutes to fill in this questionnaire. It will help us to understand how we should help and support you. To make this as easy as possible, we have also chosen a data free platform.’

To participate in the study, please click on the link: www.hsrc.ac.za/heroes

The data from the survey will be used to advise government on how to capacitate health workers to ensure they are able to deliver quality healthcare services, particularly as South Africa prepares for a possible increase in COVID-19 diagnoses later in the year.

Words: Manusha Pillai and MaryAnn Francis

Photograph: Supplied