This article was originally published here
Nurs Health Sci. 2021 Jan 13. doi: 10.1111/nhs.12814. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study of healthcare workers who cared for COVID-19 patients was to identify factors that affected the duration of wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). The results of this study will provide initial guidance to practicing clinicians and a foundation for further research on this topic. This cross-sectional study examined 139 frontline healthcare professionals who worked at a single hospital in Wuhan, China from March 16 to April 1, 2020. General and demographic data, physical and mental status, use of PPE, type of hospital work, and duration of wearing PPE were recorded. The mean duration of wearing PPE was 194.17 min (standard deviation: 3.71). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the duration of wearing PPE was significantly associated with the presence of a chronic disease, working hours when feeling discomfort, lack of patient cooperation and subsequent psychological pressure, prolonged continuous wearing of PPE, feeling anxious about physical strength, and the presence of fatigue when wearing PPE. These factors should be considered by practicing healthcare professionals and in future studies that examine the optimal duration of wearing PPE.
PMID:33438833 | DOI:10.1111/nhs.12814
