Objectives To explore healthcare workers’ perceptions of the response to a hospital-based COVID-19 outbreak early in the pandemic, in order to inform preparedness for future responses. Study type Qualitative cohort survey. Methods Four months post-outbreak, 252 healthcare workers responded to one or more open-ended questions regarding their perceptions of the response. Results Five broad themes were identified through qualitative content analysis. 1. Communication in a context of uncertainty and rapid change; 2. Infection control practices including availability, adequacy and access to personal protective equipment; 3. Staff dedication and mutual support in extraordinary circumstances; 4. Appropriateness of outbreak response; 5. Staff vulnerability. An additional two issues cut across these themes: A sense of variability between clinical areas, organisations, and work groups in relation to communication and approach to infection prevention and control practices; and an acknowledgement that the response to the outbreak was constrained by assumptions that reflected the state of understanding of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and outbreak management at that time. Conclusions Healthcare workers who experienced an early hospital-centred COVID-19 outbreak in regional Tasmania highlighted the need for enhanced preparedness in terms of infection control training and personal protective equipment availability, adequacy and access for future outbreaks. Planning for a successful future pandemic response also should include emergency communication preparedness, planning for effective communication in a multi-institutional healthcare campus in a situation of constant uncertainty. Staff resilience and commitment should be celebrated and reinforced as assets for future responses, while ensuring recommendations for changes to planning and practice stemming from the outbreak are implemented.
Makin et al. (Wed,) studied this question.