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Characteristics of personal protective equipment training programs in Australia and New Zealand hospitals: A survey.
Infect Dis Health. 2020 11; 25(4):253-261.ID

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Using personal protective equipment (PPE) is one of several fundamental measures to prevent the transmission of infection and infectious diseases and is particularly pertinent in the current COVID-19 pandemic. Appropriate use of PPE by healthcare workers is, however, often suboptimal. Training and monitoring of PPE competency are essential components of an infection prevention and control program but there is a paucity of research and data on the content of such training programs across Australasia. This paper reports the results of a survey that characterised the nature of PPE training in Australian and New Zealand hospitals.

METHODS

A population-based online survey was distributed to members of three major Australasian colleges representing infection prevention and control.

RESULTS

Results indicate that, although training is frequently provided at orientation, many healthcare workers do not receive regular updates. Training programmes combine online and classroom sessions, but over a third do not include a practical component. The frequency of monitoring PPE competency is variable with one third of respondents indicating that no auditing occurs. PPE items used for high-level training are variable, with use of powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) uncommon.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that HCWs' confidence, competence and familiarity with PPE are a concern, which in the context of the current global COVID-19 pandemic is problematic. More research is needed into how PPE training programs could be better designed, to prepare HCWs for practice using PPE safely and confidently.

Links

PMC Free PDF

Authors+Show Affiliations

Barratt R
Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, 176 Hawkesbury Rd, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; The University of Sydney Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: ruth.barratt@sydney.edu.au.
Shaban RZ
Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sydney. Camperdown. NSW, Australia; Directorate of Nursing, Midwifery and Clinical Governance, Western Sydney Local Health District, Westmead. NSW, Australia. Electronic address: ramon.shaban@sydney.edu.au.
Gilbert GL
Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, 176 Hawkesbury Rd, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; The University of Sydney Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: lyn.gilbert@sydney.edu.au.

MeSH

AustralasiaAustraliaBetacoronavirusCOVID-19Coronavirus InfectionsCross-Sectional StudiesHealth PersonnelHospitalsHumansInfection ControlInfectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-ProfessionalNew ZealandPandemicsPersonal Protective EquipmentPneumonia, ViralRespiratory Protective DevicesSARS-CoV-2Surveys and Questionnaires

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

32600965

Clinical Trial Links

Virtual Reality on Efficacy of Donning and Doffing PPE

Citation

Barratt, Ruth, et al. "Characteristics of Personal Protective Equipment Training Programs in Australia and New Zealand Hospitals: a Survey." Infection, Disease & Health, vol. 25, no. 4, 2020, pp. 253-261.
Barratt R, Shaban RZ, Gilbert GL. Characteristics of personal protective equipment training programs in Australia and New Zealand hospitals: A survey. Infect Dis Health. 2020;25(4):253-261.
Barratt, R., Shaban, R. Z., & Gilbert, G. L. (2020). Characteristics of personal protective equipment training programs in Australia and New Zealand hospitals: A survey. Infection, Disease & Health, 25(4), 253-261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2020.05.005
Barratt R, Shaban RZ, Gilbert GL. Characteristics of Personal Protective Equipment Training Programs in Australia and New Zealand Hospitals: a Survey. Infect Dis Health. 2020;25(4):253-261. PubMed PMID: 32600965.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Characteristics of personal protective equipment training programs in Australia and New Zealand hospitals: A survey. AU - Barratt,Ruth, AU - Shaban,Ramon Z, AU - Gilbert,Gwendolyn L, Y1 - 2020/06/26/ PY - 2020/04/28/received PY - 2020/05/15/revised PY - 2020/05/17/accepted PY - 2020/7/1/pubmed PY - 2020/11/6/medline PY - 2020/7/1/entrez KW - COVID-19 KW - Education KW - Infection prevention and control KW - Personal protective equipment KW - Training SP - 253 EP - 261 JF - Infection, disease & health JO - Infect Dis Health VL - 25 IS - 4 N2 - BACKGROUND: Using personal protective equipment (PPE) is one of several fundamental measures to prevent the transmission of infection and infectious diseases and is particularly pertinent in the current COVID-19 pandemic. Appropriate use of PPE by healthcare workers is, however, often suboptimal. Training and monitoring of PPE competency are essential components of an infection prevention and control program but there is a paucity of research and data on the content of such training programs across Australasia. This paper reports the results of a survey that characterised the nature of PPE training in Australian and New Zealand hospitals. METHODS: A population-based online survey was distributed to members of three major Australasian colleges representing infection prevention and control. RESULTS: Results indicate that, although training is frequently provided at orientation, many healthcare workers do not receive regular updates. Training programmes combine online and classroom sessions, but over a third do not include a practical component. The frequency of monitoring PPE competency is variable with one third of respondents indicating that no auditing occurs. PPE items used for high-level training are variable, with use of powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) uncommon. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that HCWs' confidence, competence and familiarity with PPE are a concern, which in the context of the current global COVID-19 pandemic is problematic. More research is needed into how PPE training programs could be better designed, to prepare HCWs for practice using PPE safely and confidently. SN - 2468-0869 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/32600965/Characteristics_of_personal_protective_equipment_training_programs_in_Australia_and_New_Zealand_hospitals:_A_survey_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -