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. 2021 May 28;18(11):5805.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18115805.

Effects of Implementation of Infection Control Measures against COVID-19 on the Condition of Japanese Rural Nursing Homes

Ryuichi Ohta  1 , Yoshinori Ryu  1 , Chiaki Sano  2
Affiliations

Effects of Implementation of Infection Control Measures against COVID-19 on the Condition of Japanese Rural Nursing Homes

Ryuichi Ohta et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the effect of coronavirus disease (hereafter, COVID-19) control on patients' health conditions and staff's working conditions in rural nursing homes. An interventional study including all staff and patients in a rural nursing home was performed from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2021. Infection control measures against COVID-19 were initiated on 1 April 2020. The primary outcome was the frequency of patients' medical care visits to the outpatient and emergency departments. The secondary outcome was the number of days-off taken by staff. Each group (pre- and post-COVID-19 control groups) had 48 participants. The number of visits to the outpatient department reduced from the pre-COVID-19 to post-COVID-19 control period the difference in number of visits to the emergency department was not significant, due to the low statistical power. The number of days-off taken by the staff was increased from the pre-COVID-19 to post-COVID-19 control period. This is the first study investigating COVID-19 control measures in a rural nursing home. It may help reduce the number of patient visits to medical facilities without increasing the risk of emergencies. A strict health check of the staff can allow staff to take more days off in rural contexts.

Keywords: COVID-19; Japan; day off; emergency transportation; nursing home; rural.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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