In the context of the emergency caused by the COVID 19 Virus, the research groups in Anesthesiology and Breastfeeding, attached to the Vice-Rectory for Research at the University of Cauca, carried out the research: 'Knowledge and needs of health personnel on elements for personal protection in the department of Cauca, during the COVID-19 'coronavirus pandemic.

In order to determine the personal protection needs of health professionals in the department of Cauca during the COVID 19 pandemic, the Research Groups in Anesthesiology and Breastfeeding at the University of Cauca, applied an online survey to related workers to the four institutions of III level of care in the department where patients complicated by the virus could potentially be treated.

“People were very willing to support the investigation process. Around 521 people responded and we found very interesting things in the four centers: Basically, what has been seen at the national level is replicated, where there is a significant shortage in terms of personal protection elements and, in a very striking way, many of the professionals and workers Hospitals commented that they should make their own elements of work activity, which is completely inappropriate in times of pandemic, "said José Andrés Calvache, Medical Anesthesiologist, Doctor of Clinical Epidemiology and professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Cauca.

The document generated by the researchers cites that difficulties in providing sufficient personal protection elements is a global concern. Several surveys have demonstrated the limited resources and the need for prioritization in their appropriate use and accelerated production. “Added to this are the shortcomings of the national hospital care system, the great difficulties with the hiring and payment of human talent in health, and the limitations of rapid expansion of a system, which had previously collapsed, are not new. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has undressed and quickly placed health at the top of the government's agenda. ”

"We are facing a very complex situation in which no health institution was ready, much less a shaky health system, an extremely unstable health system and concentrated on the volume of care but not on the quality of care of services This survey reveals old problems in health contracting, reveals problems related to the number of PAHOs, job instability and mistreatment of health personnel ”.

In this sense, the respondents were asked: What would happen to the activities that they carry out in their work, if they do not have the necessary personal protection elements to attend patients with COVID 19? About half (41.8%) stated that they would suspend their work activities.

The Doctor stated that it is planned to repeat the research methodology in a month in order to analyze how perceptions have changed since the final objective of the research process, rather than criticism, is support in decision-making in this system of health where the institutions and territorial entities end up taking responsibility among themselves without, at the end of the day, offering worker protection.

"Health professionals are workers who are always ready to care for the patient, but for this we require resources and endowments of their own to provide our services. In a country like ours where the availability of human talent is limited, replace a Health professional is so complicated, it is very necessary that priority and immediate attention be paid to the conception and guarantee of all these elements of personal protection "concluded in Doctor Calvache.

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Research Vice Rectory
E-mail: comunicacionesvri@unicauca.edu.co