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Difficulties faced by healthcare workers in PPE use during covid-19 pandemic: A mixed-method study from a tertiary
Aishwarya Vijay Kamble1, Sakeyt Changdeo Khobragade2, Vasudha Belgaumkar3
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, House Officer Respiratory Medicine King Edward Memorial Hospital Mumbai, India.
Abstract:
A mixed-method cross-sectional study at Sassoon General Hospital, Pune, assessed PPE-related challenges among 257 HCWs between August and December 2021. Nearly all HCWs (99.2%) reported discomfort, primarily excessive sweating (95.3%), headaches (60.3%), communication barriers (56.8%) and feelings of suffocation (52.1%). Over half experienced improper sizing and dermatological issues, while 32.7% struggled with donning and doffing despite prior training. Almost half (48.7%) admitted breaking PPE protocol due to discomfort and 31.5% tested positive for COVID-19 while on duty. Thematic analysis highlighted ergonomic inadequacies, prolonged wear, harsh environmental conditions and psychological burden, underscoring the urgent need for climate-appropriate, user-friendly PPE and strong institutional support.
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