School of Nursing and Midwifery, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research in the Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Holmesglen Institute of TAFE.
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research in the Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, Epworth Healthcare Partnership, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Centre for Innovation in Infectious Disease and Immunology Research (CIIDIR), Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
Australas Emerg Care. 2024 Mar;27(1):63-70. doi: 10.1016/j.auec.2023.08.003. Epub 2023 Sep 9.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a need to understand the challenges associated with wearing Personal protective Equipment (PPE). The aim in this study was to explore emergency nurses' experiences early in the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia and the impact of PPE use on their practice.
An explorative descriptive qualitative study was conducted between January 2022 and April 2022. Eighteen emergency nurses and six leaders participated. Semi-structured interviews (n = 21) and one focus group were conducted. Interview transcripts were analysed using Braun and Clarke's framework.
Two major themes were identified. The first theme was: (1) The shifting ground of the COVID-19 pandemic response. Associated sub-themes were: i) What's the go with PPE today? ii) In the beginning we were scrambling for masks; iii) Emergency is the true frontline. The second theme was: (2) Physical and emotional impacts of emergency nursing work. Sub-themes were: (i) Facing the fear of exposure; (ii) By the end of the shift I am just absolutely spent; iii) Discomfort of wearing PPE impacts on compliance.
Healthcare leaders need to secure PPE supply chains and evaluate the effectiveness and side-effects of different PPE designs to minimise occupational harms associated with prolonged PPE use.
COVID-19 大流行暴露了人们需要了解与佩戴个人防护装备（PPE）相关的挑战。本研究的目的是探讨澳大利亚 COVID-19 大流行早期急诊护士的经验以及 PPE 使用对其实践的影响。
2022 年 1 月至 2022 年 4 月期间进行了一项探索性描述性定性研究。18 名急诊护士和 6 名领导参与了研究。进行了半结构化访谈（n=21）和一次焦点小组讨论。使用 Braun 和 Clarke 的框架对访谈记录进行了分析。
确定了两个主要主题。第一个主题是：（1）COVID-19 大流行应对措施的不断变化。相关的子主题是：i）今天 PPE 的情况如何？ii）一开始我们到处找口罩；iii）急诊是真正的前线。第二个主题是：（2）急诊护理工作的身心影响。子主题是：（i）面临暴露的恐惧；ii）轮班结束时，我完全筋疲力尽；iii）佩戴 PPE 的不适会影响合规性。
医疗保健领导者需要确保 PPE 供应链的安全，并评估不同 PPE 设计的有效性和副作用，以最大程度地减少与长时间使用 PPE 相关的职业危害。
