Personal protective equipment for the Ebola virus disease: A comparison of 2 training programs.
BACKGROUND
Personal protective equipment (PPE) for preventing Ebola virus disease (EVD) includes basic PPE (B-PPE) and enhanced PPE (E-PPE). Our aim was to compare conventional training programs (CTPs) and reinforced training programs (RTPs) on the use of B-PPE and E-PPE.


METHODS
Four groups were created, designated CTP-B, CTP-E, RTP-B, and RTP-E. All groups received the same theoretical training, followed by 3 practical training sessions.


RESULTS
A total of 120 students were included (30 per group). In all 4 groups, the frequency and number of total errors and critical errors decreased significantly over the course of the training sessions (P < .01). The RTP was associated with a greater reduction in the number of total errors and critical errors (P < .0001). During the third training session, we noted an error frequency of 7%-43%, a critical error frequency of 3%-40%, 0.3-1.5 total errors, and 0.1-0.8 critical errors per student. The B-PPE groups had the fewest errors and critical errors (P < .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that both training methods improved the student's proficiency, that B-PPE appears to be easier to use than E-PPE, that the RTP achieved better proficiency for both PPE types, and that a number of students are still potentially at risk for EVD contamination despite the improvements observed during the training.
Emergency Department, University Hospital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France; EA 7334, Recherche clinique coordonnée ville-hôpital, Méthodologies et Société, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France. Electronic address: enrique.casalino@bch.aphp.fr.
Enrique
E
Casalino
Instituto Nacional del Niño, Lima, Peru; Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Federico Villareal, Lima, Peru.
Eugenio
E
Astocondor
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Federico Villareal, Lima, Peru; Hospital Hipólito Unanue, El Agustino, Lima, Peru.
Juan Carlos
JC
Sanchez
Hospital General del Occidente, Guadalajara, Mexico.
David Enrique
DE
Díaz-Santana
Instituto Nacional del Niño, Lima, Peru; Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Federico Villareal, Lima, Peru.
Carlos
C
Del Aguila
Dirección de Prevención y Control de Enfermedades, Secretaría de Salud Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico.
Juan Pablo
JP
Carrillo
D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000067393:Personal Protective Equipment; D013337:Students, Medical; D013338:Students, Nursing; D055815:Young Adult
Courses; Ebola virus disease; Evaluation; Health care workers; Personal protective equipment; Sessions; Training