Preventing the next 'SARS' - European healthcare workers' attitudes towards monitoring their health for the surveillance of newly emerging infections: qualitative study

Hospitals are often the epicentres of newly circulating infections. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of acquiring infectious diseases and may be among the first to contract emerging infections. This qualitative study aims to explore European Health Care Workers absence from work and infectious disease symptoms in an aim to recognise and monitor newly circulating infections. Importantly a pre-requisite will be tackling the drivers for symptomatic HCWs to attend work. A qualitative study with thematic analysis was conducted using focus group methodology.