Evaluation of the perception and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by healthcare workers during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Author(s)

Kerstin Muner

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI)
• Defense date: 2021-10-08

Examining board members

Ana Marcia de Sá Guimarães; Marcos Amaku; Danielle Bruna Leal de Oliveira Durigon; Caroline Lopes Ciofi Silva

• Advisor: Ana Marcia de Sá Guimarães; Andrea Pires dos Santos

Abstract

COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 19), a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (severe acute respiratory syndrome), has been spreading around the globe with alarming numbers of cases and deaths. Healthcare workers (HCW) are in the frontline fighting the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and many of them have become infected or even died. Because COVID-19 was a new airborne disease, and effective treatments are still not available, the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential to ensure HCWs health. Given the need to protect HCWs, a digital platform named EPISaúde (https://www.episaude.org/) was created by biosafety experts to provide reliable information on the correct use, maintenance, and disposal of PPE, through texts, videos, and infographics. Along with the platform, a questionnaire with 41 questions was made available to assess the perception and use of PPE by Brazilian HCW at the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. A total of 1,410 questionnaires were evaluated. The answers were compared between HCWs treating COVID-19 patients or not, and content analysis of discursive answers sent by HCWs was performed. In addition, regression models were created to assess possible predictors for lack of training, stress levels, perception of biosafety in the workplace, reuse of the N95 respirator, and access to PPE. Our results indicate the lack of preparedness of HCWs and healthcare institutions to handle the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Brazil. Although institutions and HCWs suffered from PPE shortage worldwide, it was identified that PPE reuse was not a transitory event in Brazil due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic but an already established practice; likewise, the lack of training for the use, maintenance, and disposal of PPE and the lack of the N95 respirator fitting testing. All these findings can contribute to HCWs\' infection risk in the workplace. This study was the first survey to incorporate speech content analysis as a strategy to approach the perception of HCW on the use of PPE during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Brazil. It is noteworthy that this research was conducted in the first phase of the pandemic in Brazil and did not report the current situation. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/17368-4 - Evaluation of the perception and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by healthcare workers during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
• Grantee: Kerstin Muner
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master