Use of standard, contact, and droplet precautions with eye protection for the prevention of severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission among home healthcare personnel in hospice and home healthcare settings-King and Snohomish counties, Washington, February-October 2020

Factors influencing self-reported facial-protective equipment adherence among home care nurses and personal support workers: A multisite cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Facial-protective equipment (FPE) use increased during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This study explored factors influencing home care personal support workers' (PSWs) and nurses' self-reported adherence to FPE.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, electronic, survey was distributed to PSWs and nurses (1,108 complete responses) at 3 home care agencies in Ontario, Canada, in May to June 2022. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable analysis were used to assess individual, environmental, and organizational factors influencing adherence.

RESULTS

Among participants (786 PSWs, 322 nurses), 64% reported being adherent to both respiratory and eye FPE (Respiratory: 96%, Eye: 64%). Higher adherence was associated with facility-based work; better knowledge of FPE; prepandemic FPE use; good availability and convenient access; strong organizational support for health and safety; and Caribbean identity. Lower adherence was found for men; nurses with 2-year diplomas; shorter length of employment; communal transportation; and experiencing negative mental health effects from workplace infectious disease exposure.

DISCUSSION

Agencies should prioritize increasing providers' knowledge of FPE, supporting mental well-being, fostering a supportive culture, and ensuring availability of FPE. The influences of gender, ethnicity, and role require further exploration.

CONCLUSIONS

FPE adherence may be improved by addressing modifiable factors and developing population-specific strategies.

Determinants of nurse's and personal support worker's adherence to facial protective equipment in a community setting during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada: A pilot study

Background

Appropriate and consistent facial protective equipment (FPE) use is critical for preventing respiratory illness transmission. Little is known about FPE adherence by home care providers. The purpose of this study is to adapt an existing facial protection questionnaire and use it to develop an initial understanding of factors influencing home care providers’ adherence to FPE during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A survey was shared with home care providers during Wave 2 of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression by FPE adherence were conducted across individual, organizational, and environmental factors.

Results

Of the 199 respondents (140 personal support workers; 59 nurses), 71% reported that they always used FPE as required, with greater adherence to masks (89%) than eye protection (73%). The always-adherent reported greater perceived FPE efficacy, knowledge of recommended use and perceived occupational risk, lower education, and not experiencing personal barriers (including difficulty seeing, discomfort, communication challenges).

Discussion

Adherence rates were relatively high. In this context, with participants reporting high levels of organizational support, individual-level factors were the significant predictors of adherence.

Conclusions

Initiatives addressing perceived FPE efficacy, knowledge of recommended use, perception of at-work risk, and personal barriers to use may improve FPE adherence.