A Limited Self-Claimed Web-Based Survey COVID-19 Contamination among Iranian Healthcare Workers

Abstract

Introduction: It is likely that high rate of healthcare workers (HCWs) infection has occurred in Iran, but there is not any proof yet. Objective: This study was conducted to highlight the rate of Iranian HCWs infected by COVID-19 and some of its surrounding points. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Tehran, Iran. Using web-based applications including WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and Facebook, the link to the questionnaire was sent and exposed to the eligible ones. The target population of the study was HCWs who were diagnosed as approved cases of COVID-19. They were asked about their baseline characteristics and also possible source of infection, symptoms onset, hospitalization and etc. All findings presented by frequency and percent. Results: From March 29, 2020 to April 5, 2020, a total of 452 HCWs had completed the online questionnaire of whom 50.9% were women; mostly were in the age range of 25-29 years old. Among the participants, physicians had the largest population with 312 people (69.0%). The most frequent clinical symptoms were fatigue, fever and myalgia, respectively. The highest frequency with 85 cases (18.8%) was reported their symptoms onset within 20-24^th February, 2020. The most commonly used piece of equipment was gloves, which was used in 57.3% of the cases, followed by simple surgical mask, which was used by 47.1% of the participants. In 21.9% cases no personal protective equipment was used. Totally, 348 cases (91.6%) were treated in an outpatient setting and only 36 cases (9.5%) needed to be hospitalized. In 160 cases (35.4%), at least one other person was infected with COVID-19 in their household. Conclusions: Considerable number of participants that declared their infection in this study, emphasizes on the considerable rate of Iranian HCWs infected by COVID-19.