Impact of personal protective equipment on clinical output and perceived exertion.
OBJECTIVE
Safe clinical care within Ebola Virus Disease Treatment Units (EVDTUs) mandate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), comprising a fluid impermeable hooded suit, visor, gloves and rubber boots. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of this PPE on clinical personnel's performance in the EVDTU, Kerry Town, Sierra Leone.


METHODS
An anonymous questionnaire was administered to healthcare professionals (HCPs) entering the EVDTU ward area (Red Zone (RZ)), during a 2-week period to assess perceived exertion using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale.


RESULTS
A total of 62 clinical episodes undertaken by 20 HCPs were analysed. There were no episodes of heat illness during the study. HCPs spent a median of 74 (IQR 55-95) minutes within the RZ. Median durations of RZ activity were similar throughout the 24 h period (p=0.22), but Borg scores were significantly higher between 11:00 and 14:59 compared with RZ entry between 15:00 and 10:59, respectively (12 (6-15), n=13; 8 (6-9), n=48; p=0.022). Rates of weight loss per minute spent within the RZ were significantly greater between 11:00 and 14:59 compared with 15:00-10:59, respectively (0.014 (0.009-0.023) kg/min, n=6; 0.007 (0.004-0.013) kg/min, n=37; p=0.037).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite acclimatisation and proactive clinical tasking, HCPs in the EVDTU experienced significantly greater rates of weight loss and perceived exertion scores during the hottest times of the day. These findings should be considered by those planning healthcare facilities for future humanitarian missions where HCPs will provide clinical care in full PPE.
High Readiness Detachment Halifax, 1 Canadian Field Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Shelly Lyn
SL
Maynard
Royal Canadian Medical Services, 1 Canadian Field Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada Division of Critical Care, Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
R
R
Kao
Endoscopy Unit, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.
D G
DG
Craig
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000067393:Personal Protective Equipment / Q000009:adverse effects; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012807:Sierra Leone; D013997:Time Factors; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult
Ebola Virus Disease; Heat illness; Personal Protective Equipment