Table 1.
Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care Health Care Workers' Sociodemographic Characteristics, Attitudes, and Beliefs
| Characteristics, attitudes, and beliefs | n = 321 (%) |
|---|---|
| Age | |
| <50 | 146 (45.48) |
| >50 | 175 (54.52) |
| Gender | |
| Female | 272 (84.74) |
| Male | 47 (14.64) |
| Nonbinary | 1 (0.31) |
| Prefer not to answer | 1 (0.31) |
| Role at the hospice organization | |
| Nurse | 134 (41.75) |
| Administration staff | 95 (29.60) |
| CNA | 21 (6.54) |
| Physician | 21 (6.54) |
| Social worker | 21 (6.54) |
| Chaplain | 10 (3.12) |
| Other | 10 (3.12) |
| Volunteer | 5 (1.55) |
| APRN | 4 (1.24) |
| aHigh risk to develop complications | |
| Yes | 127 (39.56) |
| No | 194 (60.44) |
| Level of comfort | |
| Very uncomfortable | 40 (12.46) |
| Not comfortable | 87 (27.10) |
| Neutral | 112 (34.90) |
| Comfortable | 62 (19.31) |
| Very comfortable | 20 (6.23) |
| bPPE is adequate | |
| Yes | 249 (77.57) |
| No | 72 (22.43) |
| Source of information | |
| News | 222 (69.16) |
| Social media | 82 (25.55) |
| Local government | 128 (39.88) |
| Health authorities | 272 (84.73) |
| Health care professionals | 214 (66.67) |
| Workplace | 243 (75.70) |
| Friends | 64 (19.94) |
| Colleagues | 99 (30.84) |
| Research publications | 115 (35.82) |
| cBelieve in guidelines | |
| Yes | 287 (89.41) |
| No | 34 (10.59) |
| Risk-reduction strategies | |
| Hand washing | 301 (93.77) |
| Avoiding nonessential travels, and social gathering | 279 (86.92) |
| Maintaining at least six feet apart | 293 (91.28) |
| Wearing a face mask | 297 (92.52) |
| Wearing an N-95 with all patients | 123 (38.32) |
| Wearing eye protection | 197 (61.37) |
| Motivation for behavior | |
| Fear of punishment | 12 (3.74) |
| Slowing the spread | 226 (70.41) |
| Avoid bringing the infection to their loved ones | 284 (88.47) |
| Return to normal life | 221 (68.85) |
| Fear of illness/death | 167 (52.03) |
| Other beliefs | |
| COVID-19 was likely created in a laboratory | 101 (31.46) |
| COVID-19 is a political strategy | 54 (16.82) |
| The contagion is “fake” or overblown | 15 (4.67) |
| The COVID-19 is simply a new flu | 58 (18.07) |
| We live in a “free” society and they have the right to refuse to wear a mask | 13 (4.05) |
| Do not believe in vaccinations | 28 (8.72) |
| Concern the most about COVID-19 | |
| Health system capacity | 129 (40.19) |
| Illness/death of themselves or loved ones | 254 (79.13) |
| Financial impact | 194 (60.44) |
| Spreading COVID to others | 226 (70.41) |
| Social isolation | 92 (28.66) |
| Depression | 67 (20.87) |
| Burn out at work | 124 (38.63) |
| Missing human connection | 127 (39.56) |
a
People who self-reported at high risk for developing complications related to COVID-19 infection.
b
People who believe in mitigation guidelines.
c
PPE.
COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; PPE, personal protective equipment.