BACKGROUND: The unprecedented Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa in 2014 prompted a massive international response. Travelers to the region, such as outbreak response volunteers, presented a risk of importation of the virus in their home countries. Arrival of the first cases of EVD in the U.S. resulted in intense public fear exacerbated by continuous news coverage and debate of control measures in political campaigns. The first New Hampshire (NH) physician known to have volunteered in West Africa garnered significant media attention. This physician, who had a professional role in the NH Division of Public Health Services (DPHS), provided EVD training for healthcare workers in Ebola treatment centers, but did not provide direct patient care. We surveyed co-worker attitudes and intended practices related to the return to work of this NH physician from West Africa.
METHODS: A web-based survey was distributed via email to all 250 employees at the physician’s DPHS workplace. The questionnaire was comprised of 31 questions including five demographic questions and 26 related to hypothetical scenarios for which the respondent was asked to predict their reaction depending on whether or not the co-worker had direct but protected contact with Ebola patients. Most scenarios offered responses on a Likert scale. For analysis, responses were grouped into dichotomous categories of “comfortable” vs. “uncomfortable” based on reported level of comfort or anticipated actions to avoid contact in the scenarios.
RESULTS: A total of 178 (71.2%) of 250 coworkers responded to the survey. Among 178 respondents, 18.0% were uncomfortable with the co-worker returning to their workplace and 7.9% reported they might not come to work if the co-worker was present. The proportion of respondents uncomfortable generally increased in scenarios with more close or prolonged contact, from walking in the same hallway (14.7%), to attending a holiday party at the co-worker's home (46.9%). Persons uncomfortable with the co-worker’s return were significantly more likely to have less than a bachelor’s degree (p=0.039).
CONCLUSIONS: Returning travelers from EVD-epidemic West African countries elicited strong reactions within their communities, including the workplace. We present surprising results that a substantial number of even public health staff - presumably with excellent access to accurate EVD information - were uncomfortable with an asymptomatic co-worker returning to the workplace. Employers should consider taking active steps to address employee fears and concerns as education remains the best approach to alleviate concerns, reduce tension, and maintain a functional workplace.