Singapore's response to the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak: What do singapore physicians think?

Abstract

Objective: To gauge Singapore physicians' perceptions of the national response to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak using a questionnaire survey. Methods: Random sampling was applied to draw the survey population. Descriptive analysis and logistic regressions were used. Results: The majority of physicians agreed that home quarantine of contacts of patients with probable SARS was warranted (95%), government's public education effort was effective (83%), and the overall Singapore's response was commendable (82%). Only 38%, however, agreed that health care workers were supplied with timely and adequate personal protective equipment. Conclusions: Most Singapore physicians have positive comments about the national response to the SARS crisis. However, systematic weaknesses are identified and recommendations are presented. © Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel/Switzerland 2009.