The Willingness of Health Care Workers to Respond to a Pandemic in an LMIC Setting: Implications for Public Health Emergency Preparedness

Objective This study examined the association between willingness-to-respond (WTR) and behavioral factors among emergency department health care workers (HCWs) during a pandemic situation in Pakistan. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted between August and September 2022, involving health care workers from 2 hospitals located in Karachi, Pakistan. Participants were recruited using a non-probability purposive sampling method. The survey instrument was designed based on Witte's Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the relationship between WTR and HCWs' attitudes, beliefs, and EPPM profiles. Results Health workers' overall willingness to respond was 52.57% if required and 52.26% if asked. Female health workers showed 1.78 greater odds of WTR if required, compared to male health workers. Health workers who reported high efficacy were 21 times more likely to report to work during pandemics when required and 6 times more likely to report if asked compared to those with low efficacy. Conclusion This study explored health care workers' willingness to respond during a pandemic. Female health care workers and those in clinical roles were more likely to be willing to respond during an influenza pandemic. Enhancing self-efficacy, knowledge, and addressing perceived risks can significantly improve workforce preparedness for future pandemics.