Abstract
Introduction An adequate level of personal protective equipment (PPE) is necessary when treating patients with highly infectious diseases or those contaminated with hazardous substances.
METHODS: Following National Institute for Health Research's Research Centre (London, United Kingdom) approval, the authors of this study conducted a survey of specialist registrars' knowledge of the respiratory and skin protection requirements needed during a resuscitation scenario with Advanced Life Support. Participant responses were compared to UK national recommendations and to a previous survey in 2009.
RESULTS: A total of 98 specialist registrars (in Anesthesiology, n=51; in Emergency Medicine (EM), n=21; and in Intensive Care Medicine (ICM) n=26) completed hand-delivered surveys. The best knowledge of PPE requirements (76%) was found for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), with less knowledge about PPE requirements for anthrax, plague, Ebola virus disease (EVD), and smallpox (60%). The results show limited knowledge of PPE requirements (20%-30%) for various chemical warfare agents. Personal protective equipment knowledge regarding treatment of sarin-contaminated casualties was over-rated by 80%, and for patients with EVD, it was over-rated by up to 67% of participants.
CONCLUSION: The results of the tested cohort indicate that current knowledge regarding PPE for chemical warfare agents remains very limited. Schumacher J , Bond AR , Woodham V , Buckingham A , Garnham F , Brinker A . Survey of UK health care first responders' knowledge of personal protective equipment requirements.
METHODS: Following National Institute for Health Research's Research Centre (London, United Kingdom) approval, the authors of this study conducted a survey of specialist registrars' knowledge of the respiratory and skin protection requirements needed during a resuscitation scenario with Advanced Life Support. Participant responses were compared to UK national recommendations and to a previous survey in 2009.
RESULTS: A total of 98 specialist registrars (in Anesthesiology, n=51; in Emergency Medicine (EM), n=21; and in Intensive Care Medicine (ICM) n=26) completed hand-delivered surveys. The best knowledge of PPE requirements (76%) was found for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), with less knowledge about PPE requirements for anthrax, plague, Ebola virus disease (EVD), and smallpox (60%). The results show limited knowledge of PPE requirements (20%-30%) for various chemical warfare agents. Personal protective equipment knowledge regarding treatment of sarin-contaminated casualties was over-rated by 80%, and for patients with EVD, it was over-rated by up to 67% of participants.
CONCLUSION: The results of the tested cohort indicate that current knowledge regarding PPE for chemical warfare agents remains very limited. Schumacher J , Bond AR , Woodham V , Buckingham A , Garnham F , Brinker A . Survey of UK health care first responders' knowledge of personal protective equipment requirements.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 254-258 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | PREHOSPITAL AND DISASTER MEDICINE |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Early online date | 22 Apr 2015 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2015 |
Keywords
- CBRN
- Ebola
- Sarin
- PPE
- Smallpox
- RESUSCITATION
