Bühler, Silja; Roddy, Paul; Nolte, Ellen; Borchert, Matthias; (2014) Clinical documentation and data transfer from Ebola and Marburg virus disease wards in outbreak settings: health care workers' experiences and preferences. Viruses, 6 (2). pp. 927-937. ISSN 1999-4915 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/v6020927
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Abstract
Understanding human filovirus hemorrhagic fever (FHF) clinical manifestations and evaluating treatment strategies require the collection of clinical data in outbreak settings, where clinical documentation has been limited. Currently, no consensus among filovirus outbreak-response organisations guides best practice for clinical documentation and data transfer. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with health care workers (HCWs) involved in FHF outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa, and with HCWs experienced in documenting and transferring data from high-risk areas (isolation wards or biosafety level 4 laboratories). Methods for data documentation and transfer were identified, described in detail and categorised by requirement for electricity and ranked by interviewee preference. Some methods involve removing paperwork and other objects from the filovirus disease ward without disinfection. We believe that if done properly, these methods are reasonably safe for certain settings. However, alternative methods avoiding the removal of objects, or involving the removal of paperwork or objects after non-damaging disinfection, are available. These methods are not only safer, they are also perceived as safer and likely more acceptable to health workers and members of the community. The use of standardised clinical forms is overdue. Experiments with by sunlight disinfection should continue, and non-damaging disinfection of impregnated paper, suitable tablet computers and underwater cameras should be evaluated under field conditions.
Item Type | Article |
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Faculty and Department |
Faculty of Public Health and Policy > Dept of Health Services Research and Policy Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health > Dept of Infectious Disease Epidemiology |
Research Centre | Maternal Health Group |
PubMed ID | 24556792 |
ISI | 335748500015 |
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Filename: Clinical Documentation and Data Transfer from Ebola and Marburg Virus Disease Wards in Outbreak Settings_GOLD VoR.pdf
Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0
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