Yang Hsiao-Yu, Chou Hsiu-Ling, Leow Clarence Hong Wei, Kao Ching-Chiu, Daniel D, Jaladara Vena, Khoe Levina Chandra, Latha P K, Mahendradhata Yodi, Nguyen Phuong Minh, Sirijatuphat Rujipas, Soemarko Dewi Sumaryani, Venugopal Vidhya, Zhang Kai, Lee Jason Kai Wei
Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, 10055, Taipei, Taiwan.
Department of Public Health, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, 10055, Taipei, Taiwan.
BMC Nurs. 2024 Mar 1;23(1):145. doi: 10.1186/s12912-024-01770-x.
It is pertinent to understand the perceptions of healthcare workers (HCWs) with their associated personal protective equipment (PPE) usage and heat strain symptoms experienced to effectively combat the negative effects of heat stress during treatment and care activities.
We evaluated the associated heat stress perceived by HCWs across Asia and validated a questionnaire on perceptions of heat stress, associated PPE usage, and heat strain symptoms experienced. The questionnaire was administered to 3,082 HCWs in six Asian regions. Factor analyses, including Cronbach's alpha, assessed the questionnaire's validity and reliability. Structural equation modelling analysed the effects of knowledge, attitudes and practices, and heat strain symptoms.
The questionnaire was found to be reliable in assessing HCWs' knowledge, and attitudes and practices towards heat stress and PPE usage (both Cronbach's alpha = 0.9), but not heat strain symptoms (Cronbach's alpha = 0.6). Despite knowledge of heat stress, HCWs had negative attitudes and practices regarding PPE usage (β1 = 0.6, p < 0.001). Knowledge (path coefficient = 0.2, p < 0.001), and negative attitudes and practices (path coefficient = 0.2, p < 0.001) of HCWs towards heat stress and PPE usage adversely affected symptoms experienced.
The questionnaire was not reliable in assessing symptoms. HCWs should, nevertheless, still self-assess their symptoms for early detection of heat strain. To effectively attenuate heat strain, understanding HCWs' attitudes and practices towards PPE usage should guide policymakers in implementing targeted heat management strategies.
了解医护人员对其相关个人防护装备（PPE）使用情况以及所经历的热应激症状的看法，对于在治疗和护理活动中有效对抗热应激的负面影响至关重要。
我们评估了亚洲各地医护人员所感受到的相关热应激，并验证了一份关于热应激认知、相关PPE使用情况以及所经历的热应激症状的调查问卷。该问卷在亚洲六个地区的3082名医护人员中进行了发放。包括克朗巴哈系数在内的因子分析评估了问卷的有效性和可靠性。结构方程模型分析了知识、态度和行为以及热应激症状的影响。
该问卷在评估医护人员对热应激和PPE使用的知识、态度和行为方面被发现是可靠的（克朗巴哈系数均为0.9），但在评估热应激症状方面不可靠（克朗巴哈系数为0.6）。尽管了解热应激知识，但医护人员对PPE使用持消极态度且行为不当（β1 = 0.6，p < 0.001）。医护人员对热应激和PPE使用的知识（路径系数 = 0.2，p < 0.001）以及消极态度和行为（路径系数 = 0.2，p < 0.001）对所经历症状产生了不利影响。
该问卷在评估症状方面不可靠。然而，医护人员仍应自我评估症状以早期发现热应激。为有效减轻热应激，了解医护人员对PPE使用的态度和行为应指导政策制定者实施有针对性的热管理策略。
