AJIC: American Journal of Infection Control
Volume 38, Issue 1 , Pages 18-25, February 2010

Health care workers' views about respirator use and features that should be included in the next generation of respirators

  • Aliya S. Baig, MPH, MSN

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to Aliya S. Baig, MPH, MSN, associate for Respirator Projects, National Center for Occupational Health and Infection Control, Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards, Veterans Health Administration, US Department of Veterans Affairs, 1601 SW Archer Road (151B), Gainesville, FL 32608.
    • ,
  • Caprice Knapp, PhD
    • ,
  • Aaron E. Eagan, RN
    • ,
  • Lewis J. Radonovich Jr., MD

National Center for Occupational Health and Infection Control, Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards, Veterans Health Administration, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Gainesville, FL

published online 28 December 2009.

Background

Numerous studies have demonstrated that health care workers are, in general, poorly compliant with respiratory protection guidelines, especially when a N95 respirator is recommended. The purpose of this study was to assess health care workers' views about respirator use and the features they prefer to be included in the next generation of respirators.

Methods

A 63-item survey was distributed to health care workers in 27 units of 2 tertiary care medical centers.

Results

From a total of 559 surveys distributed at both hospitals, 159 responses were returned (response rate, 28%). Survey results indicated that health care workers seek respirators that are more comfortable, interfere less with breathing, diminish heat buildup, are disposable, and permit the user to have facial hair. Multivariate analyses suggest that emergency department staff had 12.3 greater odds of wanting a new respirator (P = .031) as compared with their referent group. Males were more likely to indicate that the N95 respirator was comfortable to wear versus females (P = .003).

Conclusion

To increase substantially the acceptance of respiratory protective equipment and improve compliance rates, respirators should be modified to meet the specific needs of health care workers.

Key Words: Respirator, N95, occupational health, infection control, influenza, pandemic

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 Disclaimer: The views presented in this manuscript do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards, the National Center for Occupational Health and Infection Control, the Veterans Health Administration, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the University of Florida, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, or any of the authors' other employers or affiliations.

 Conflicts of interest: None to report.

 This is a US government work. There are no restrictions on its use.

PII: S0196-6553(09)00891-8

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2009.09.005

AJIC: American Journal of Infection Control
Volume 38, Issue 1 , Pages 18-25, February 2010

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