International healthcare workers’ experiences and perceptions of the 2022 multi-country mpox outbreak

Bibliographic Data

ID19593128
AuthorsVanessa Apea (0000-0002-0533-8292, Queen Mary University of London, corresponding author), Boghuma K Titanji (0000-0002-6881-2764, Emory University, corresponding author), Francesca H Dakin (0000-0002-4105-4617, University of Oxford, corresponding author), Rosalie Hayes (0000-0003-4046-4101, Queen Mary University of London, corresponding author), Melanie Smuk (0000-0002-1594-1458, Queen Mary University of London, corresponding author), Habiba Kawu (Queen Mary University of London, corresponding author), Laura Waters (0000-0002-1379-1775, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, corresponding author), Itzchak Levy (0000-0003-4716-1293, Sheba Medical Center, corresponding author), Daniel R Kuritzkes (0000-0001-6196-5883, Brigham and Women's Hospital, corresponding author), Malli Gandhi (0000-0002-7025-1994, University of California, San Francisco, corresponding author), Monica Gandhi (0000-0001-6674-5388), Jürgen K Rockstroh (0000-0003-2858-3888, University of Bonn, corresponding author), Mauro Schechter (0000-0003-2362-9170, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, corresponding author), Martin Holt (0000-0002-2586-8274, UNSW Sydney, corresponding author), Romain Palich (0000-0003-0047-0101, Sorbonne Université, corresponding author), Claudia P Cortés (0000-0001-9101-9783, University of Chile, corresponding author), Silvia Nozza (0000-0002-2673-2731, corresponding author), Cristina Mussini (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, corresponding author), Alexandra Calmy (0000-0002-1137-6826, University Hospital of Geneva, corresponding author), Brenda Crabtree‐Ramírez (0000-0002-2587-1123, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, corresponding author), Brenda E Crabtree-Ramírez, José Luis Blanco (0000-0003-2010-2744, Consorci Institut D'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi I Sunyer, corresponding author), Sanjay Bhagani (0000-0003-2557-4337, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, corresponding author), Claire Dewsnap (0000-0001-8162-6547, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, corresponding author), Chloe Orkin (0000-0001-6168-6745, Queen Mary University of London, corresponding author)
EditorsAndrés F Henao-Martínez
Year2025
Volume5
Issue2
Pagese0003704
Publication date2025-02-14
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
PublisherPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0003704
PMID39951482
OpenAlexW4407574722
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited23

In May 2022, the most widespread outbreak of sustained transmission of mpox outside of countries historically affected countries in Western and Central Africa occurred. We aimed to examine the personal and clinical experiences of international healthcare workers (HCWs) during this public health emergency. We conducted an international cross-sectional survey study between August and October 2022, examining the experiences and perceptions of HCWs clinically involved in the 2022 mpox response. Respondents were recruited via an international network of sexual health and HIV clinicians responding to mpox and promoted through clinical associations and social media. Survey domains included: clinical workload; preparedness; training and support at work; psychological well-being and vaccination. 725 multi-national healthcare workers across 41 countries were included in the analysis. 91% were physicians specialised in Sexual Health or Infectious Diseases; with 34% (n = 247) of all respondents involved in mpox policy. A substantial proportion of respondents (n = 296, 41%) reported working longer hours during the mpox outbreak, with no concomitant removal of other clinical responsibilities. 30% (n = 218) of respondents reported that they had never heard of mpox before the outbreak and over 25% of the respondents reported that they had misdiagnosed someone initially. This culminated in a high prevalence of moral distress at thirty percent. Less than 9% of HCWs in the region of the Caribbean, Central America and South America had been offered a vaccine as compared to almost one-third in the other regions. Where offered, there were high levels of uptake across all regions. The findings highlight a critical need for addressing the profound gaps in HCW knowledge about re-emerging diseases with pandemic potential. Strengthening the resilience of global health systems and prioritising internationally coordinated approaches to global vaccine deployment is imperative

Cross-sectional study · Environmental health · Family medicine · Health care · Outbreak · Political science · Preparedness · Public health · Workload · Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research · Medicine · Nursing · Poxvirus research and outbreaks · Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research