" As protective gear began to run low, guidance on protection became looser" - Healthcare workers' perspectives on infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic

Ida Aulanko; Petra Nikuri; Lotta Oksanen; Sampo Oksanen; Laura Lahdentausta; Milla Pietiäinen; Susanna Paju; Anne Kivimäki; Pirkko Pussinen; Ahmed Geneid; Enni Sanmark

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.982738

" As protective gear began to run low, guidance on protection became looser" - Healthcare workers' perspectives on infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic

Front Public Health. 2022 Nov 10:10:982738. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.982738. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Ida Aulanko^{1

2

3}, Petra Nikuri^{1

4

5}, Lotta Oksanen^{1

2

6}, Sampo Oksanen⁷, Laura Lahdentausta⁸, Milla Pietiäinen⁸, Susanna Paju⁸, Anne Kivimäki⁸, Pirkko Pussinen⁸, Ahmed Geneid^{1

6}, Enni Sanmark¹

Affiliations

¹ COVID19VATEHY Research Group, Head and Neck Center, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
² Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
³ Joint Municipal Authority for Social and Healthcare in Central Uusimaa (Keusote), Hyvinkää, Finland.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
⁵ Department of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom.
⁶ Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Phoniatrics, Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
⁷ School of Business, Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland.
⁸ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.

Abstract

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed several risk factors to healthcare workers' (HCWs') emotional distress. The purpose of the study was to enhance understanding of the experiences and feelings of HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic, with specific reference to infection prevention and control (IPC) practices and guidance, focusing on the quality and availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), guidelines, and management. With a qualitative approach, we aimed to enable a wider narrative; to gain a more detailed understanding related to PPE use and identify experiences that can be overlooked in forced-choice questionnaires.

Methods: An online questionnaire was conducted among HCWs of the City of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital between 12.6.2020 and 5.4.2021. Altogether 1,580 HCWs participated in the study, from whom 579 shared 1,666 free-text responses. These responses were analyzed qualitatively, and the results were combined with statistical data on the participants' working conditions and backgrounds.

Results: We identified problems in PPE availability and changing guidelines as factors causing the most distress in the participants. Regarding availability, running out of masks and respirators emerged as the most worrying issue, and inadequate PPE was associated with the excessive workload (OR 1.51, CI 95% 1.01-2.25). The results also highlight the importance of transparent and clear communication regarding IPC instructions and guidance, and clear IPC guidance was associated with better levels of reported recovery from work (OR 1.51, CI 95% 1.06-2.14).

Conclusions: Our study highlights the importance of adequate PPE provision, transparent communication, clear guidance, and supportive supervisory work in this ongoing pandemic and potential new ones. We suggest more rigorous preparation, with crisis communication planning and emergency storage of PPE.

Keywords: communication; experiences; health personnel; personal protective equipment; surveys and questionnaires.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / prevention & control
Health Personnel
Humans
Infection Control / methods
Pandemics
Personal Protective Equipment