N-95/P2 respirator compliance with fit testing recommendations and respirator satisfaction amongst hospital staff.

Autor: Hackett L; Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Eastern Health Emergency Medicine Program, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: liam.hackett@easternhealth.org.au., Zhang MM; Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of General Surgery, Eastern Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia., Casey M; OHS, Emergency Management and Wellbeing, Eastern Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia., Miller J; Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Eastern Health Emergency Medicine Program, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia., Smith J; Eastern Health Emergency Medicine Program, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia., Low C; Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Anaesthesia, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, Eastern Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Anaesthesia, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia., Aldridge E; Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Eastern Health Emergency Medicine Program, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia., Owen PJ; Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Eastern Health Emergency Medicine Program, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia., Buntine P; Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Eastern Health Emergency Medicine Program, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Infection, disease & health [Infect Dis Health] 2024 Aug; Vol. 29 (3), pp. 144-151. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 May 03.
DOI: 10.1016/j.idh.2024.04.001
Abstrakt: Background: Filtering Facepiece Respirators (FFRs) are an important and readily scalable infection control measure; however their effectiveness is ultimately determined by compliance. We aimed to examine staff compliance and satisfaction with wearing the N95/P2 FFRs assigned to them via the standardised fit testing protocol implemented in a single large healthcare network in Victoria, Australia.
Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, employees from five hospital campuses who participated in the health networks N95/P2 FFR fit testing process were invited in person to participate in the study. Data were analysed descriptively, after which chi-squared analysis was performed to determine differences between respirator types, gender, and age groups.
Results: Amongst the 258 staff members surveyed, 28% had either never or only sometimes worn an FFR to which they had been successfully fit tested, and 11% had experienced facial changes that potentially rendered their most recent fit test invalid. More than half (53%) of those surveyed had experienced side effects, the most common being skin irritation and pressure sores. A majority (87%) of staff felt that wearing an FFR had some impact on their ability to perform their duties. Pooled mean self-reported satisfaction ratings were highest for three-panel flat-fold and duckbill models.
Conclusion: 28% of HCWs surveyed described not wearing N-95/P2 FFRs for which they had successfully been fit tested. Reasons for non-compliance remain unclear, but rates of side effects and interference with duties were high. Further research is required to determine and address potential causative factors and ascertain ongoing optimal organisation-level fit test strategies.
(Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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