The Physical and Psychological Effects of Personal Protective Equipment on Health Care Workers in Wuhan, China: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Objective: To determine the impact of a single tutorial session on the technique of donning and doffing the personal protective equipment by health care workers. Study Design: Cross-sectional comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: CMH Landi Kotal Cantt, from 1st March 2020 to 10th June 2020. Patients and Methods: The study was conducted on 62 health workers, working in CMH Landi Kotal Cantt. They were asked to demonstrate donning and doffing surgical masks, gowns and gloves and the steps were evaluated as per a standardized checklist. Then, the participants were given a single tutorial of the donning and doffing technique of personal protective equipment. They were asked to demonstrate their technique of personal protective equipment use one week, one month and three months after the tutorial. Any improvement was recorded in the checklist used earlier. Results: The correct donning and doffing technique of personal protective equipment were demonstrated by 22 and 14 participants respectively before the tutorial. When evaluated one week after the tutorial, this number increased to 48 and 38 respectively, showing significant improvement (p<0.05). The technique of personal protective equipment use deteriorated significantly one month of the tutorial and deteriorated further after three months (p<0.05). The most common fault while donning and doffing the equipment was the incorrect donning sequence, and self-contamination while taking off the gloves, respectively. Conclusion: A single tutorial session results in significant improvement in the technique of using personal protective equipment by health care workers but the effect is lost over time.

Download Full-text

Patients’ and Health Care Workers’ Perception of Migraine Images on the Internet: Cross-sectional Survey Study

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/32707 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (11) ◽

pp. e32707

Author(s):

Bianca Raffaelli ◽

Pia Kull ◽

Jasper Mecklenburg ◽

Lucas Hendrik Overeem ◽

Elisabeth Storch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Survey Study ◽

Care Group ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Care Workers ◽

The Media ◽

Migraine Group ◽

The Mean

Background The representation of migraine in the media is stereotypical. Standard images of migraine attacks display stylish young women holding their head in a pain pose. This representation may contribute to the social stigmatization of patients with migraine. Objective We aimed to analyze how patients with migraine and health care workers perceive online images of migraine. Methods The study consisted of an anonymous web-based survey of patients with migraine at the Headache Center of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (migraine group) and employees and students at our university (health care group). A total of 10 frequently used Adobe Stock photos of migraine attacks were presented to the participants. Each photo was rated on a scale of 0% to 100% based on how closely it resembled a realistic migraine attack (realism score). Patients with migraine also indicated how much each photo corresponded to their own experience of migraine as a percentage (representation score). We calculated the mean realism and representation scores for all photos and conducted further analyses using the categories male or female models, younger or older models, and unilateral or bilateral pain pose. Results A total of 367 patients with migraine and 331 health care employees and students completed the survey. In both groups, the mean realism score was <50% (migraine group: 47.8%, SD 18.3%; health care group: 46.0%, SD 16.2%). Patients with migraine identified their own migraine experience in these photos to a lesser degree (mean representation score 44.4%, SD 19.8%; P<.001 when compared to the realism score). Patients and health care workers considered photos with male models to be more realistic than photos with females (P<.001) and photos with older models to be more realistic than those with younger people (P<.001). In the health care group only, a bilateral pain posture was deemed more realistic than a unilateral pose (P<.001). Conclusions Standard images of migraine attacks are considered only slightly or moderately realistic by patients and health care workers. Some characteristics perceived as more realistic such as male sex or older age are in contrast with migraine epidemiology. A more accurate representation of migraine in the media could help to raise awareness for migraine and reduce the associated stigma.

Download Full-text

Anxiety and Sleep Disturbances Among Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in India: Cross-Sectional Online Survey (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.24206 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Bhawna Gupta ◽

Vyom Sharma ◽

Narinder Kumar ◽

Akanksha Mahajan

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Sleep Disturbances ◽

Female Gender ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Care Workers ◽

Anxiety Levels

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has become a serious concern among the global medical community and has resulted in an unprecedented psychological impact on health care workers, who were already working under stressful conditions. OBJECTIVE In this study, we aimed to evaluate and measure the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the anxiety levels and sleep quality among health care workers in India, as well as to determine how the unavailability of personal protective equipment affects their willingness to provide patient-related care. METHODS We conducted an online cross-sectional study using piloted, structured questionnaires with self-reported responses from 368 volunteer male and female health care workers in India. Study participants were identified through social networking platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp. The survey evaluated the participants’ degree of signs and symptoms of anxiety and sleep quality based on the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale and single-item Sleep Quality Scale, respectively. Information on the availability of personal protective equipment was collected based on responses to relevant survey questions. RESULTS The majority of health care workers (126/368, 34.2%) were in the age group 45-60 years, and 52.2% (192/368) were doctors. Severe anxiety (ie, GAD-7 score >10) was observed among 7.3% (27/368) health care workers, whereas moderate, mild, and minimal anxiety was observed among 12.5% (46/368), 29.3% (108/368), and 50.8% (187/368) health care workers, respectively. Moreover, 31.5% (116/368) of the health care workers had poor-to-fair sleep quality (ie, scores <6). Univariate analysis showed female gender and inadequate availability of personal protective equipment was significantly associated with higher anxiety levels (P=.01 for both). Sleep disturbance was significantly associated with age <30 years (P=.04) and inadequate personal protective equipment (P<.001). Multivariable analysis showed that poorer quality of sleep was associated with higher anxiety levels (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic has potentially caused significant levels of anxiety and sleep disturbances among health care workers, particularly associated with the female gender, younger age group, and inadequate availability of personal protective equipment. These factors put health care workers at constant risk of contracting the infection themselves or transmitting it to their families. Early identification of at-risk health care workers and implementation of situation-tailored mitigation measures could help alleviate the risk of long-term, serious psychological sequelae as well as reduce current anxiety levels among health care workers.

Download Full-text

Correction: Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Chinese Health Care Workers: Cross-Sectional Survey Study

JMIR Mental Health ◽

10.2196/27596 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. e27596

Author(s):

Jie Ni ◽

Fang Wang ◽

Yihai Liu ◽

Mingyue Wu ◽

Yan Jiang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Survey Study ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Care Workers

Download Full-text

Patients’ and Health Care Workers’ Perception of Migraine Images on the Internet: Cross-sectional Survey Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.32707 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Bianca Raffaelli ◽

Pia Kull ◽

Jasper Mecklenburg ◽

Lucas Hendrik Overeem ◽

Elisabeth Storch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Survey Study ◽

Care Group ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Care Workers ◽

The Media ◽

Migraine Group ◽

The Mean

BACKGROUND The representation of migraine in the media is stereotypical. Standard images of migraine attacks display stylish young women holding their head in a pain pose. This representation may contribute to the social stigmatization of patients with migraine. OBJECTIVE We aimed to analyze how patients with migraine and health care workers perceive online images of migraine. METHODS The study consisted of an anonymous web-based survey of patients with migraine at the Headache Center of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (migraine group) and employees and students at our university (health care group). A total of 10 frequently used Adobe Stock photos of migraine attacks were presented to the participants. Each photo was rated on a scale of 0% to 100% based on how closely it resembled a realistic migraine attack (realism score). Patients with migraine also indicated how much each photo corresponded to their own experience of migraine as a percentage (representation score). We calculated the mean realism and representation scores for all photos and conducted further analyses using the categories male or female models, younger or older models, and unilateral or bilateral pain pose. RESULTS A total of 367 patients with migraine and 331 health care employees and students completed the survey. In both groups, the mean realism score was <50% (migraine group: 47.8%, SD 18.3%; health care group: 46.0%, SD 16.2%). Patients with migraine identified their own migraine experience in these photos to a lesser degree (mean representation score 44.4%, SD 19.8%; P<.001 when compared to the realism score). Patients and health care workers considered photos with male models to be more realistic than photos with females (P<.001) and photos with older models to be more realistic than those with younger people (P<.001). In the health care group only, a bilateral pain posture was deemed more realistic than a unilateral pose (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Standard images of migraine attacks are considered only slightly or moderately realistic by patients and health care workers. Some characteristics perceived as more realistic such as male sex or older age are in contrast with migraine epidemiology. A more accurate representation of migraine in the media could help to raise awareness for migraine and reduce the associated stigma.

Download Full-text

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Health Care Workers: Cross-sectional Analysis of an Otolaryngology Unit

Otolaryngology ◽

10.1177/0194599820932162 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 163 (4) ◽

pp. 671-672 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Alberto Paderno ◽

Milena Fior ◽

Giulia Berretti ◽

Alberto Schreiber ◽

Alberto Grammatica ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Risk Of Infection ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Staff Members ◽

Care Workers ◽

Sectional Analysis ◽

The Impact

The restart of routine in- and outpatient activity in the COVID-19 postepidemic peak needs to be carefully planned in light of specific patterns of viral diffusion. We evaluated SARS-CoV-2 serology in the entire personnel of a COVID-19-free otolaryngology department in a highly affected area. The aim was to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 positivity among staff to clarify the impact of different risk factors for infection. The entire staff of the otolaryngology unit was tested for SARS-CoV-2 serology. Symptomatic staff members were tested with nasal/pharyngeal swabs. All answered a survey focused on the number of in- and extrahospital positive contacts and type of activities in the unit. Five (9%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The only variable associated with a higher risk of infection was the number of extrahospital contacts without personal protective equipment ( P = .008). Our study shows that in non-COVID-19 departments, the use of adequate personal protective equipment leads to low rates of infection among health care workers. The prevalent risk of infection was related to extrahospital contact.

Download Full-text

Knowledge & Usage of Personal Protective Equipment for Prevention of Infection Among Frontline Health Care Workers During Covid – 19 Pandemic

10.53350/pjmhs2115113299 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (11) ◽

pp. 3299-3304

Author(s):

Nosheen Mahmood ◽

Saima Aamir ◽

Humera Akhlaq ◽

Isma Sajjad ◽

Sajid Hanif ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Prolonged Exposure ◽

Training Session ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Protective Gear ◽

Care Workers ◽

Recent Emergence

Background: The risk of transmission of novel SARS CoronaVirus-2 among health care workers can be reduced using personal protective equipment. It is critical to follow guidelines for appropriate use of protective gear to avoid its wastage. This study aimed to evaluate frontline healthcare workers’ understanding of effective donning and doffing of protective equipment in the wake of recent emergence of corona virus disease.Physical impacts due to its prolonged usage were also identified. Material and Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted targeting frontline health care workers from June till July 2021. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 24. Descriptive analysis was performed for qualitative variables.Chi-square test was utilized to determine association between qualitative variables and p <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: A total of 204 responses were received. Surgical masks (53.9%), gloves (51.5%), gowns (46.1%) and N95 respirator (40.7%) were most frequently used. Physicians had better knowledge on correct utilization of protective equipment as compared to non-physicians, p<0.001.Only 55.9% and 47.1% participants knew correct donning and doffing sequence respectively.The most prevalent mistakes while doffingwere touching front of mask and potentially contaminated surfaces followed by incorrect doffing sequence.Mostrespondentsmentioned scarcity of protective gear. Around 53% participants did not attend any training session on utilization of personal protective equipment. Prolonged exposure to masks and gloves led to acne, facial marks and itching. Frequent practice of hand hygiene was linked with skin dryness and cracking, p<0.001. Conclusion: We observed lack of expertise in donning and doffing technique. Mostly mistakes occurred during doffing, so interactive workshops are required to train health care workers.Most common dermatological manifestationsdue to use of masks and gloves included acne, facial markings, and itching. Adverse effects of prolonged use of PPE can be avoided by having shorter duration of working hours and giving rest during the shifts. Keywords: COVID-19; personal protective equipment; skin manifestation; pandemics.

Download Full-text