Australian health care workers experience of PPE related side-effects. A cross-sectional survey.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Protection of health care workers (HCWs) is a fundamental aspect of an effective pandemic response. During the COVID-19 pandemic, frequency, and duration of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) use increased. The experience of PPE-related side-effects has potential to contribute to decreased compliance resulting in breaches in infection prevention and increasing risk of HCW exposure. This study aims were to measure the frequency of PPE-related side-effects amongst HCW in Australia, and to establish if an increased frequency of adverse reactions was related to the significant increase in use and extended duration of time spent in PPE.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional survey was used.

Results

Of the 559 respondents the majority were female (83.7%), aged

SUBMITTER: McKenna K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10880185 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature