Font Size:
A mixed methods study of the risk-taking behaviour of clinical staff towards routine use of protective masks for infectious diseases
Ruth Barratt, Lyn Gilbert, Ramon Z Shaban
Building: Holme Building
Room: MacCallum Room
Date: 2018-12-13 01:30 PM – 03:00 PM
Last modified: 2018-11-09
Abstract
Introduction
The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in healthcare settings is an important measure to protect healthcare workers (HCWs), patients and visitors from acquiring infectious diseases. Recent pandemics and outbreaks such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV), and the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza have been caused by respiratory viruses. Consequently, planning for pandemic diseases should include the proper use of a protective mask as an infection prevention and control measure. Additionally, the optimal use of protective masks in routine care will prevent the transmission of respiratory infections and help with pandemic preparedness.
Compliance with protective masks is generally low, which exposes both HCWs and patients to infection. In surveys, HCWs have described low compliance rates of 42% to 62%, while direct observational studies report even lower rates. Factors associated with sub-optimal mask use include the environment, workplace culture, managerial support, resources and risk perception. Furthermore, the cultural and behavioural factors that influence HCW mask use can vary across clinical settings.
This presentation will discuss the initial findings from a current study, which uses video-reflexive ethnography to explore and improve the risk-perception and decision-making of healthcare workers (HCWs) relating to mask use for protection against infectious respiratory diseases during routine clinical care.
Methods
This study is being undertaken in a respiratory ward and an emergency department (ED) in a tertiary teaching hospital in NSW. The first exploratory phase employs field observations, documentation review, and interviews to determine enablers and barriers to protective mask use within the context of the clinical area. The second phase will use video reflexive methods (VRM) to facilitate clinicians to explore their perceptions of risk and decision-making around the use of protective masks. By viewing their own mask practices in the complexity of their routine work, clinicians will be able to identify strategies to optimise their mask behaviour. Pre and post intervention surveys and analysis of reflexive transcripts will be used to measure the utility of VRM for changing HCW’s perception of risk and risk-taking behaviours.
Results
Findings from phase 1 suggest that the working environment and group norms towards mask use influence the risk-taking behaviour around mask use. Preliminary findings from phase 2 will also be presented.
Conclusion
VRE can provide a novel way for assisting HCWs to understand and improve their use of protective masks in routine settings which in turn can better prepare them for the next pandemic.
The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in healthcare settings is an important measure to protect healthcare workers (HCWs), patients and visitors from acquiring infectious diseases. Recent pandemics and outbreaks such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV), and the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza have been caused by respiratory viruses. Consequently, planning for pandemic diseases should include the proper use of a protective mask as an infection prevention and control measure. Additionally, the optimal use of protective masks in routine care will prevent the transmission of respiratory infections and help with pandemic preparedness.
Compliance with protective masks is generally low, which exposes both HCWs and patients to infection. In surveys, HCWs have described low compliance rates of 42% to 62%, while direct observational studies report even lower rates. Factors associated with sub-optimal mask use include the environment, workplace culture, managerial support, resources and risk perception. Furthermore, the cultural and behavioural factors that influence HCW mask use can vary across clinical settings.
This presentation will discuss the initial findings from a current study, which uses video-reflexive ethnography to explore and improve the risk-perception and decision-making of healthcare workers (HCWs) relating to mask use for protection against infectious respiratory diseases during routine clinical care.
Methods
This study is being undertaken in a respiratory ward and an emergency department (ED) in a tertiary teaching hospital in NSW. The first exploratory phase employs field observations, documentation review, and interviews to determine enablers and barriers to protective mask use within the context of the clinical area. The second phase will use video reflexive methods (VRM) to facilitate clinicians to explore their perceptions of risk and decision-making around the use of protective masks. By viewing their own mask practices in the complexity of their routine work, clinicians will be able to identify strategies to optimise their mask behaviour. Pre and post intervention surveys and analysis of reflexive transcripts will be used to measure the utility of VRM for changing HCW’s perception of risk and risk-taking behaviours.
Results
Findings from phase 1 suggest that the working environment and group norms towards mask use influence the risk-taking behaviour around mask use. Preliminary findings from phase 2 will also be presented.
Conclusion
VRE can provide a novel way for assisting HCWs to understand and improve their use of protective masks in routine settings which in turn can better prepare them for the next pandemic.