Factors Affecting Use of Personal Protective Equipment related to Acute Respiratory Infections in General Hospital Nurses

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to identify the risk perception of acute respiratory infections, safety climate and the use of personal protective equipment, and to verify the factors influencing use of personal protective equipment by nurses’ working in general hospitals.Methods: The survey was conducted with 133 nurses working in general hospitals with 200 beds to 499 beds. Data collection was done, from November 13 to December 12, 2017. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression.Results: Factors influencing the use of personal protective equipment related to acute respiratory infections in general hospital nurses were training (β=.36, <i>p</i><.001), types of isolation facilities in the respective departments (negative pressure room) (β=.27, <i>p</i><.001), patient instructions (β=.20, <i>p</i>=.027), and absence of job hindrances (β=.15, <i>p</i>=.042). The explanatory power of these results was 47.6%.Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that for general hospital nurses it is necessary to establish a physical safety climate such as a negative pressure room, and to encourage the use of personal protective equipment related to acute respiratory infections. Also, changes should be accompanied by training in the use of personal protective equipment, provision of patient care guidelines, compliance with standard precaution, and the creation of an organizational safety climate and support for the organization.