Alshahrani Fatimah, Elgujja Abba, Alabdan Lulwa, Alharbi Jaser S, Rabaan Ali A, Alzayid Ibrahim, Alasiri Mohammed, Faqihi Khalid, Alanazi Samih
College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11362, Saudi Arabia.
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 28;15(1):27515. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-12507-4.
Particularly during an epidemic of infectious diseases, worker safety in healthcare depends critically on respirator fit testing and the usage of powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR). Reducing hazards requires ensuring healthcare professionals' (HCW) knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors as well as their compliance with respiratory protection programs. There is little information on these factors in Saudi Arabian healthcare environments, which calls for targeted research. This study aimed to assess healthcare workers' (HCW) knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding respirator fit testing and powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) use at King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC) which is referred to as 'the medical center' throughout the paper. Specifically, it sought to identify gaps in policy understanding and training, evaluate compliance and confidence levels, and examine how demographic variables influence these outcomes. A total of 204 HCWs from different departments and hospitals around the medical center participated in cross-sectional research. Structured surveys measuring demographic variables, knowledge, attitudes, training experience, and compliance with fit testing and PAPR use gathered data. While chi-square tests and correlation analysis look at relationships between variables, descriptive statistics compile the demographic traits and survey answers. With SPSS, version 27, all the statistical tests were run with a significance threshold of α = 0.05. With respirator fit testing, the results revealed a high compliance rate-93.4%. Nurses had the best rates of compliance and confidence. However, demonstrating a large knowledge gap, only 6.9% (N-36) of the respondents knew about quantitative fit assessment techniques. Among the 82.2% (N-168) of HCWs who reported PAPR usage training, 48% (of N-168) received consistent instructions. While 14.8% (of N-168) of the respondents reported poor confidence, suggesting room for development, PAPR use was rather high-85.2% (N-204). Significant correlations were found between demographic variables and compliance, training, and confidence levels (p < 0.05). In particular, a negative connection between PAPR usage (r = -0.287, p = 0.01) and confidence in fit testing indicated possible specialized effects. This study highlights the need for thorough and consistent respiratory protection training courses for different HCW profiles. Respiratory protection measures at KSUMC may be strengthened even further by addressing knowledge gaps, increasing hands-on training, and strengthening policy communication to guarantee HCW safety and preparedness.
特别是在传染病流行期间，医疗保健领域的工作人员安全严重依赖于呼吸器适配性测试和动力空气净化呼吸器（PAPR）的使用。减少危害需要确保医疗保健专业人员（HCW）的知识、态度和行为，以及他们对呼吸防护计划的遵守情况。在沙特阿拉伯的医疗环境中，关于这些因素的信息很少，这就需要进行有针对性的研究。本研究旨在评估沙特国王大学医学城（KSUMC，在本文中 throughout the paper 均称为“医疗中心”）的医护人员（HCW）在呼吸器适配性测试和动力空气净化呼吸器（PAPR）使用方面的知识、态度和实践（KAP）。具体而言，它试图找出政策理解和培训方面的差距，评估合规性和信心水平，并研究人口统计学变量如何影响这些结果。来自医疗中心周围不同部门和医院的204名医护人员参与了横断面研究。通过结构化调查测量人口统计学变量、知识、态度、培训经历以及对适配性测试和PAPR使用的合规情况来收集数据。虽然卡方检验和相关分析着眼于变量之间的关系，但描述性统计则汇总了人口统计学特征和调查答案。使用SPSS 27版本，所有统计检验的显著性阈值为α = 0.05。在呼吸器适配性测试方面，结果显示合规率很高——93.4%。护士的合规率和信心水平最高。然而，存在很大的知识差距，只有6.9%（N = 36）的受访者了解定量适配性评估技术。在报告接受过PAPR使用培训的82.2%（N = 168）的医护人员中，48%（N = 168中的）接受了一致的指导。虽然14.8%（N = 168中的）的受访者表示信心不足，表明仍有改进空间，但PAPR的使用率相当高——85.2%（N = 204）。在人口统计学变量与合规性、培训和信心水平之间发现了显著相关性（p < 0.05）。特别是，PAPR使用（r = -0.287，p = 0.01）与适配性测试信心之间的负相关表明可能存在特殊影响。本研究强调了为不同医护人员群体提供全面且一致的呼吸防护培训课程的必要性。通过填补知识空白、增加实践培训以及加强政策沟通，KSUMC的呼吸防护措施可以进一步加强，以确保医护人员的安全和准备充分。
