Factors Associated with Patient Contact Management and Self-Reported Infection Risk Exposure Status Among Healthcare Workers: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study in Palu City, Indonesia

Introduction: Effective disaster management at national and global levels remains a major challenge in preparing for future pandemic risks. Experiences from major outbreaks such as Ebola, SARS, and COVID-19 highlight the need to strengthen emergency response systems in healthcare facilities. Patient contact management is an important component of infection-risk mitigation in healthcare settings because it aims to interrupt the transmission of infectious microorganisms. This study aimed to analyze factors associated with patient contact management and self-reported infection-exposure risk status among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Palu City, Indonesia. Methods: This quantitative retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2024 to July 2025 at 14 community health centers and one regional hospital in Palu City, Indonesia. Using proportional stratified random sampling, 131 participants were selected from a population of 198 healthcare workers. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test and Cramer's V. Results: Health-worker protection measures (p < 0.001; Cramer's V = 0.543) and infection zoning (p < 0.001; Cramer's V = 0.612) showed the strongest associations with patient contact management, followed by institutional/facility policy (p < 0.001; Cramer's V = 0.506) and triage management (p < 0.001; Cramer's V = 0.500). Workplace, gender, and contact duration were not significantly associated with patient contact management (p > 0.05). Self-reported interactions lasting 3–5 minutes were the most frequent during patient care; however, contact duration was not significantly associated with either patient contact management or infection-exposure risk. Clinical skills were significantly associated with self-reported infection-exposure risk (p < 0.001; Cramer's V = 0.361). Conclusion: Patient contact management among healthcare workers was associated with individual and institutional factors, including knowledge, institutional/facility policy, health-worker protection, triage management, and infection zoning. Self-reported infection-exposure risk was significantly associated with healthcare workers' clinical skills.