A method for evaluating health care workers' personal protective equipment technique.
BACKGROUND
Given the potential for the transfer of infectious diseases among patients in isolation, health care workers (HCWs), and other patients in the hospital environment, the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is paramount. The literature is limited regarding studies of HCWs' use of PPE in patient care tasks.


METHODS
A pilot study was conducted to examine the feasibility of using a simulated health care environment to assess HCWs' technique when implementing standard airborne and contact isolation precautions. The participants (n = 10) were assigned patient care tasks based on their specific professional roles. The encounters were digitally recorded during donning and doffing of PPE, as well as during interactions with the simulated patient. Powdered fluorescent marker was used as a measure of contamination.


RESULTS
The pilot data show various inconsistencies in the HCWs' PPE technique. Each of the 10 participants committed at least one breach of standard airborne and contact isolation precautions.


CONCLUSIONS
An expanded research study of HCW behaviors is needed to properly examine these contamination and exposure pathways. Training programs should be developed that emphasize the common errors in HCWs' PPE technique.
College of Nursing, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE. Electronic address: ebeam@unmc.edu.
Elizabeth L
EL
Beam
Department of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE.
Shawn G
SG
Gibbs
Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE.
Kathleen C
KC
Boulter
Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE.
Marcia E
ME
Beckerdite
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE.
Philip W
PW
Smith
D019985:Benchmarking; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods*
D017744:Medical Waste Disposal
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