Introduction: Adequate health workforce capacity is an essential component of disaster and other health emergency response. During a disaster, healthcare workers (HCWs) may be unwilling or unable to respond due to various factors. This study aims to identify factors that can be modified and solutions that can be formulated to support HCWs. Methods: A scoping review was conducted according to the Arksey and O’Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The search strategy included eight databases, which were searched from 1998 to July 19, 2022. Pandemic or pandemic-prone respiratory virus outbreaks in the last 25 years, defined by the WHO, were included. Two independent reviewers conducted the study selection and data extraction. Results: 37 studies were included. There was heterogeneity in design, population, and included absenteeism causes and measures. 22 studies identified potential predictors. These include individual factors, including demographics, professional cadre, seniority, occupational exposure risk, personality trait, perceived stressors and mental well-being, and concern for personal or family illness, that may predict their likelihood of absenteeism. Ecological factors were also identified that may correlate with the magnitude of absenteeism seen at a workforce level. These included the type of clinical department or hospital, community, and hospital pandemic infection rates, and certain response measures, such as HCW testing rates, availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), staff vaccinations, and public health restrictions on community movement and activities. Conclusion: Building on the potential absenteeism predictors, factors, and mitigation strategies scoped in this review, further research will be essential to develop valid models for predicting absenteeism rates and to establish effective mitigation strategies, which will allow for preventive and anticipatory actions to safeguard workforce capacity.
Hung et al. (Sun,) studied this question.