"One minute it's an airborne virus, then it's a droplet virus, and then it's like nobody really knows…": Experiences of pandemic PPE amongst Australian healthcare workers.

Broom, J; Broom, A; Williams Veazey, L; Burns, P; Degeling, C; Hor, S; Barratt, R; Wyer, M; Gilbert, GL

"One minute it's an airborne virus, then it's a droplet virus, and then it's like nobody really knows…": Experiences of pandemic PPE amongst Australian healthcare workers.

Broom, J Broom, A Williams Veazey, L Burns, P Degeling, C Hor, S

Barratt, R Wyer, M Gilbert, GL

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Publisher:: Elsevier BV
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Infect Dis Health, 2021
Issue Date:: 2021-11-23

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Broom, J
dc.contributor.author	Broom, A
dc.contributor.author	Williams Veazey, L
dc.contributor.author	Burns, P
dc.contributor.author	Degeling, C
dc.contributor.author	Hor, S https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6498-9722
dc.contributor.author	Barratt, R
dc.contributor.author	Wyer, M
dc.contributor.author	Gilbert, GL
dc.date.accessioned	2021-12-01T02:32:39Z
dc.date.available	2021-10-31
dc.date.available	2021-12-01T02:32:39Z
dc.date.issued	2021-11-23
dc.identifier.citation	Infect Dis Health, 2021
dc.identifier.issn	2468-0451
dc.identifier.issn	2468-0869
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/151960
dc.description.abstract	BACKGROUND: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has challenged health systems globally. A key controversy has been how to protect healthcare workers (HCWs) using personal protective equipment (PPE). METHODS: Interviews were performed with 63 HCWs across two states in Australia to explore their experiences of PPE during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS: Four themes were identified with respect to HCWs' experience of pandemic PPE: 1. Risk, fear and uncertainty: HCWs experienced considerable fear and heightened personal and professional risk, reporting anxiety about the adequacy of PPE and the resultant risk to themselves and their families. 2. Evidence and the ambiguities of evolving guidelines: forms of evidence, its interpretation, and the perception of rapidly changing guidelines heightened distress amongst HCWs. 3. Trust and care: Access to PPE signified organisational support and care, and restrictions on PPE use were considered a breach of trust. 4. Non-compliant practice in the context of social upheaval: despite communication of evidence-based guidelines, an environment of mistrust, personal risk, and organisational uncertainty resulted in variable compliance. CONCLUSION: PPE preferences and usage offer a material signifier of the broader, evolving pandemic context, reflecting HCWs' fear, mistrust, sense of inequity and social solidarity (or breakdown). PPE therefore represents the affective (emotional) demands of professional care, as well as a technical challenge of infection prevention and control. If rationing of PPE is necessary, policymakers need to take account of how HCWs will perceive restrictions or conflicting recommendations and build trust through effective communication (including of uncertainty).
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Elsevier BV
dc.relation.ispartof	Infect Dis Health
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.idh.2021.10.005
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1103 Clinical Sciences, 1110 Nursing, 1117 Public Health and Health Services
dc.title	"One minute it's an airborne virus, then it's a droplet virus, and then it's like nobody really knows…": Experiences of pandemic PPE amongst Australian healthcare workers.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.location.activity	Netherlands
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences
utslib.for	1110 Nursing
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2021-12-01T02:32:38Z
pubs.publication-status	Published online

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has challenged health systems globally. A key controversy has been how to protect healthcare workers (HCWs) using personal protective equipment (PPE). METHODS: Interviews were performed with 63 HCWs across two states in Australia to explore their experiences of PPE during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS: Four themes were identified with respect to HCWs' experience of pandemic PPE: 1. Risk, fear and uncertainty: HCWs experienced considerable fear and heightened personal and professional risk, reporting anxiety about the adequacy of PPE and the resultant risk to themselves and their families. 2. Evidence and the ambiguities of evolving guidelines: forms of evidence, its interpretation, and the perception of rapidly changing guidelines heightened distress amongst HCWs. 3. Trust and care: Access to PPE signified organisational support and care, and restrictions on PPE use were considered a breach of trust. 4. Non-compliant practice in the context of social upheaval: despite communication of evidence-based guidelines, an environment of mistrust, personal risk, and organisational uncertainty resulted in variable compliance. CONCLUSION: PPE preferences and usage offer a material signifier of the broader, evolving pandemic context, reflecting HCWs' fear, mistrust, sense of inequity and social solidarity (or breakdown). PPE therefore represents the affective (emotional) demands of professional care, as well as a technical challenge of infection prevention and control. If rationing of PPE is necessary, policymakers need to take account of how HCWs will perceive restrictions or conflicting recommendations and build trust through effective communication (including of uncertainty).

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/151960