Difficulties Encountered While Using PPE Kits and How to Overcome Them: An Indian Perspective
Ankur Agarwal1, Sheetal Agarwal2, Poonam Motiani3
1Orthopaedics, Super Specialty Paediatric Hospital and Post Graduate Teaching Institute, Noida, IND.
Cureus
|November 30, 2020
Summary
Healthcare workers (HCWs) in India reported significant issues with personal protective equipment (PPE), including excessive sweating and breathlessness. These findings highlight the need for solutions to improve comfort and safety for HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Medical Science
- Public Health
- Occupational Health
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic in India presented substantial challenges to the healthcare system.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is crucial for protecting healthcare workers (HCWs) but poses challenges during use.
- There is a need to assess and address problems faced by HCWs using PPE.
Purpose of the Study:
- To qualitatively and quantitatively assess the problems encountered by HCWs while using PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To identify common and occasional issues related to PPE usage.
- To explore solutions employed by HCWs to mitigate these problems.
Main Methods:
- An electronic questionnaire survey was conducted among a cohort of HCWs.
- The study included doctors, nursing personnel, and paramedical staff who used PPE kits for COVID-19 duties.
- Data was collected on the challenges faced during PPE usage.
Main Results:
- The most common problems included excessive sweating (100%), fogging of protective eyewear (88%), suffocation (83%), and breathlessness (61%).
- Other frequent issues were fatigue (75%), headaches (28%), and skin pressure marks (19%).
- Occasional problems reported were skin allergies, discomfort during procedures, and issues with PPE components like shoe covers.
Conclusions:
- HCWs experience significant physical discomfort and operational challenges due to PPE use.
- Various coping mechanisms and solutions have been developed by HCWs to address these issues.
- Implementing these solutions can improve the well-being and effectiveness of HCWs in pandemic situations.
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