Barratt Ruth, Shaban Ramon Z, Gilbert Gwendoline L
Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, 176 Hawkesbury Rd, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia; The Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia.
Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia; Directorate of Nursing, Midwifery and Clinical Governance, Western Sydney Local Health District, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
Infect Dis Health. 2019 Aug;24(3):169-176. doi: 10.1016/j.idh.2019.01.003. Epub 2019 Feb 21.
Outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases are global threats to society. Planning for, and responses to, such events must include healthcare and other measures based on current evidence. An important area of infection prevention and control (IPC) is the optimal use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by healthcare workers (HCWs), including masks for protection against respiratory pathogens. Appropriate mask use during routine care is a forerunner to best practice in the event of an outbreak. However, little is known about the influences on decisions and behaviours of HCWs with respect to protective mask use when providing routine care. In this paper we argue that there is a need for more research to provide a better understanding of the decision-making and risk-taking behaviours of HCWs in respect of their use of masks for infectious disease prevention. Our argument is based on the ongoing threat of emerging infectious diseases; a need to strengthen workforce capability, capacity and education; the financial costs of healthcare and outbreaks; and the importance of social responsibility and supportive legislation in planning for global security. Future research should examine HCWs' practices and constructs of risk to provide new information to inform policy and pandemic planning.
新出现和再次出现的传染病爆发是对社会的全球性威胁。针对此类事件的规划和应对措施必须包括基于当前证据的医疗保健及其他措施。感染预防与控制（IPC）的一个重要领域是医护人员（HCW）对个人防护装备（PPE）的最佳使用，包括用于防护呼吸道病原体的口罩。在日常护理中正确使用口罩是爆发疫情时最佳做法的先导。然而，对于医护人员在提供日常护理时使用防护口罩的决策和行为的影响因素，我们却知之甚少。在本文中，我们认为需要进行更多研究，以更好地理解医护人员在使用口罩预防传染病方面的决策和冒险行为。我们的观点基于新出现传染病的持续威胁；加强劳动力能力、容量和教育的必要性；医疗保健和疫情爆发的财务成本；以及社会责任和支持性立法在全球安全规划中的重要性。未来的研究应检查医护人员的做法和风险观念，以提供新信息，为政策制定和大流行规划提供参考。
