Evaluating healthcare worker competence in the correct use of personal protective equipment in the COVID era: a quality improvement project
Author(s)
Prokopenko, Max
Pissaridou, Maria Katerina
Risk, Omar
Khatkar, Harman
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Introduction: Throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, personal protective equipment (PPE) guidance has rapidly evolved. Healthcare workers (HCWs) should use PPE correctly to reduce the risk of nosocomial transmission of the coronavirus. We predict a lack of training regarding correct PPE usage amongst HCWs and introduce a low-resource method of training.
Methods: HCWs from various disciplines at a District General Hospital self-rated their ability in utilising PPE using uncontrolled pre- and post-session 16-item questionnaires following a single PPE training session. Participant responses were analysed using Student's t-test for independent (unpaired) samples.
Results: Of 64 participants, 37 participants (59%) received any prior PPE training. Six participants (9%) previously received specific severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 PPE training. Survey scores were higher in the post-test than the pre-test group.
Conclusion: This study highlights the lack of formal PPE training amongst HCWs and the need for establishing PPE training as part of the mandatory training of HCWs.
Methods: HCWs from various disciplines at a District General Hospital self-rated their ability in utilising PPE using uncontrolled pre- and post-session 16-item questionnaires following a single PPE training session. Participant responses were analysed using Student's t-test for independent (unpaired) samples.
Results: Of 64 participants, 37 participants (59%) received any prior PPE training. Six participants (9%) previously received specific severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 PPE training. Survey scores were higher in the post-test than the pre-test group.
Conclusion: This study highlights the lack of formal PPE training amongst HCWs and the need for establishing PPE training as part of the mandatory training of HCWs.
Date Issued
2020-12-07
Date Acceptance
2020-11-29
Citation
Cureus, 2020, 12 (12)
ISSN
2168-8184
Publisher
Cureus, Inc.
Journal / Book Title
Cureus
Volume
12
Issue
12
Copyright Statement
© Copyright 2020
Prokopenko et al. This is an open access
article distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution License
CC-BY 4.0., which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any
medium, provided the original author and
source are credited.
Prokopenko et al. This is an open access
article distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution License
CC-BY 4.0., which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any
medium, provided the original author and
source are credited.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000596367400012&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=a2bf6146997ec60c407a63945d4e92bb
Subjects
covid 19
covid-19
covid-19 pandemic
General & Internal Medicine
healthcare worker safety
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Medicine, General & Internal
patient safety
personal protective equipment
public health and safety
Science & Technology
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN e11954
Date Publish Online
2020-12-07