Volume 12, Number 12—December 2006
Research
Long-term Psychological and Occupational Effects of Providing Hospital Healthcare during SARS Outbreak
Robert G. Maunder*†
, William J. Lancee*†, Kenneth E. Balderson*‡, Jocelyn P. Bennett*, Bjug Borgundvaag*†, Susan Evans§, Christopher M.B. Fernandes¶#, David S. Goldbloom†**, Mona Gupta†††, Jonathan J. Hunter*†, Linda McGillis Hall†, Lynn M. Nagle†, Clare Pain*†, Sonia S. Peczeniuk‡‡, Glenna Raymond§§, Nancy Read‡, Sean B. Rourke†‡, Rosalie J. Steinberg*†, Thomas E. Stewart*†, Susan VanDeVelde Coke††, Georgina G. Veldhorst¶¶, and Donald A. Wasylenki†‡
, William J. Lancee*†, Kenneth E. Balderson*‡, Jocelyn P. Bennett*, Bjug Borgundvaag*†, Susan Evans§, Christopher M.B. Fernandes¶#, David S. Goldbloom†**, Mona Gupta†††, Jonathan J. Hunter*†, Linda McGillis Hall†, Lynn M. Nagle†, Clare Pain*†, Sonia S. Peczeniuk‡‡, Glenna Raymond§§, Nancy Read‡, Sean B. Rourke†‡, Rosalie J. Steinberg*†, Thomas E. Stewart*†, Susan VanDeVelde Coke††, Georgina G. Veldhorst¶¶, and Donald A. Wasylenki†‡Table 1
Scales to measure perceptions about severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) experience
| Scale | Perception |
|---|---|
| Training, protection and support*
Cronbach α = 0.89 | I had adequate training to deal confidently with the situations that I faced. |
| Infection control procedures were adequately explained. | |
| I received adequate training in infection control procedures. | |
| I was provided with the protective equipment and procedures that I needed. | |
| I had someone to ask when I had problems using equipment. | |
| The hospital where I worked took my well-being into account when decisions were made that affected me. | |
| Emotional support (e.g., counseling) was available to those who needed help. | |
| I felt appreciated by the hospital/clinic/my employer. | |
| My hospital/workplace was supportive. | |
| Job stress†
Cronbach α = 0.76 | There was more conflict among colleagues at work. |
| I felt more stressed at work. | |
| I had to do work that normally I don't do. | |
| I had an increase workload. | |
| I had to work overtime. | |
| Perceived stigma and interpersonal avoidance† Cronbach α = 0.77 | I thought that people avoided me because of my profession. |
| I thought that people avoided my family members because of my profession. | |
| I coped with the SARS situation by avoiding crowded places. | |
| I coped with the SARS situation by avoiding colleagues who might be exposed.
*Items scored on a 5-point scale from 1 (very confident that this is false) to 5 (very confident that this is true). *Items scored on a 5-point scale from 1 (very confident that this is false) to 5 (very confident that this is true). |
*Items scored on a 5-point scale from 1 (very confident that this is false) to 5 (very confident that this is true).
†Items scored on a 6-point scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree).
