Occupational Prevention of COVID-19 Among Healthcare Workers in Primary Healthcare Settings: Compliance and Perceived Effectiveness of Personal Protective Equipment

Abstract

ObjectivesIt is crucial for healthcare workers (HCWs) to comply with infection prevention and control precautions such as the appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for their safety and the safety of patients. In this study, we aimed to assess HCWs’ compliance with the appropriate use of PPE in primary healthcare settings in Qatar along with its associated factors and explore their perceived effectiveness of different PPE items in protecting against COVID-19 infection.MethodsA Web-based survey was conducted between November 2020 and January 2021 targeting all clinical HCWs under the umbrella of Primary Health Care Corporation.ResultsA total of 757 HCWs completed the survey, and most were between 30 and 39 years of age (50.2%), females (62.7%), and nurses (35.3%). Eighty eight percent of participants believed that PPE could provide high or very high protection against COVID-19. About one-half (53%) were found to be fully compliant with PPE use during patient interactions with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases, whereas three-quarters (76.3%) were fully compliant while performing aerosol-generating procedures. Healthcare workers’ age, nationality, health center region, area of work, clinical experience, frequency of interaction with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases, and the perceived effectiveness of PPE were significant predictors of full compliance with PPE. Shortage of PPE was the commonest reported barrier to appropriate use.ConclusionsDespite HCWs’ high perceived effectiveness for PPE in protecting against COVID-19 infection, their full compliance rate with using PPE was moderate and needs further improvement.

Dental professionals' use of personal protective equipment during COVID-19: a cross-sectional study in China

“…They are the same group of people because Chinese usually get their bachelor's degree at the age of 22 and 49.7% of our participants are graduates. This finding is consistent with a study conducted in Qatar, which revealed age and experience as significant predictors of PPE compliance ( 38 ). It might be explained by the fact that dental professionals at this age tend to work longer hours per week than those older and have higher job and family stress than those younger ( 39 , 40 ).…”

A longitudinal environmental surveillance study for SARS-CoV-2 from the emergency department of a teaching hospital in Hong Kong

“…The lowest compliance item was “wearing N95 respirator” among those who had provided direct care to confirmed COVID-19 patients (85.1%) or performed AGP (79.6%). Previous studies have reported shortages of PPE and lack of training as the major reasons for non-compliance ( [44] , [45] , [46] , [47] , [48] ), and different countries have reported a wide range of compliance rates (32.0-96.5%) ( [44] , [45] , [46] , [47] , [48] , [49] ). Comparatively, the compliance rates found in our study was fairly high.…”

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

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