American Frontline Healthcare Personnel’s Access to and Use of Personal Protective Equipment Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Janet W. Rich-Edwards; Ming Ding; Carissa M. Rocheleau; James M. Boiano; Jae H. Kang; Iris Becene; Long H. Nguyen; Andrew T. Chan; Jaime E. Hart; Jorge E. Chavarro; Christina C. Lawson

doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000002308

American Frontline Healthcare Personnel’s Access to and Use of Personal Protective Equipment Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Janet W. Rich-Edwards, Ming Ding, Carissa M. Rocheleau, James M. Boiano, Jae H. Kang, Iris Becene, Long H. Nguyen, Andrew T. Chan, Jaime E. Hart, Jorge E. Chavarro, Christina C. Lawson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: To quantify adequacy of personal protective equipment (PPE) for U.S. healthcare personnel (HCP) at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with infection risk. Methods: March–May 2020 survey of the national Nurses’ Health Studies and the Growing Up Today study regarding self-reported PPE access, use, and reuse. COVID-19 endpoints included SARS-CoV-2 tests and COVID-19 status predicted from symptoms. Results: Nearly 22% of 22,232 frontline HCP interacting with COVID-19 patients reported sometimes or always lacking PPE. Fifty percent of HCP reported not needing respirators, including 13% of those working in COVID-19 units. Lack of PPE was cross-sectionally associated with twofold or greater odds of COVID-19 among those who interacted with infected patients. Conclusion: These data show the need to improve the U.S. infection prevention culture of safety when confronting a novel pathogen.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	913-920
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Volume	63
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000002308
State	Published - 1 Nov 2021
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

COVID-19
epidemiology
healthcare personnel
occupational health
personal protective equipment

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10.1097/JOM.0000000000002308

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Rich-Edwards, J. W., Ding, M., Rocheleau, C. M., Boiano, J. M., Kang, J. H., Becene, I., Nguyen, L. H., Chan, A. T., Hart, J. E., Chavarro, J. E., & Lawson, C. C. (2021). American Frontline Healthcare Personnel’s Access to and Use of Personal Protective Equipment Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 63(11), 913-920. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000002308

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title = "American Frontline Healthcare Personnel{\textquoteright}s Access to and Use of Personal Protective Equipment Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic",

abstract = "Objectives: To quantify adequacy of personal protective equipment (PPE) for U.S. healthcare personnel (HCP) at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with infection risk. Methods: March–May 2020 survey of the national Nurses{\textquoteright} Health Studies and the Growing Up Today study regarding self-reported PPE access, use, and reuse. COVID-19 endpoints included SARS-CoV-2 tests and COVID-19 status predicted from symptoms. Results: Nearly 22% of 22,232 frontline HCP interacting with COVID-19 patients reported sometimes or always lacking PPE. Fifty percent of HCP reported not needing respirators, including 13% of those working in COVID-19 units. Lack of PPE was cross-sectionally associated with twofold or greater odds of COVID-19 among those who interacted with infected patients. Conclusion: These data show the need to improve the U.S. infection prevention culture of safety when confronting a novel pathogen.",

keywords = "COVID-19, epidemiology, healthcare personnel, occupational health, personal protective equipment",

author = "Rich-Edwards, {Janet W.} and Ming Ding and Rocheleau, {Carissa M.} and Boiano, {James M.} and Kang, {Jae H.} and Iris Becene and Nguyen, {Long H.} and Chan, {Andrew T.} and Hart, {Jaime E.} and Chavarro, {Jorge E.} and Lawson, {Christina C.}",

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year = "2021",

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doi = "10.1097/JOM.0000000000002308",

language = "English",

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Rich-Edwards, JW, Ding, M, Rocheleau, CM, Boiano, JM, Kang, JH, Becene, I, Nguyen, LH, Chan, AT, Hart, JE, Chavarro, JE & Lawson, CC 2021, 'American Frontline Healthcare Personnel’s Access to and Use of Personal Protective Equipment Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic', Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, vol. 63, no. 11, pp. 913-920. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000002308

TY - JOUR

T1 - American Frontline Healthcare Personnel’s Access to and Use of Personal Protective Equipment Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic

AU - Rich-Edwards, Janet W.

AU - Ding, Ming

AU - Rocheleau, Carissa M.

AU - Boiano, James M.

AU - Kang, Jae H.

AU - Becene, Iris

AU - Nguyen, Long H.

AU - Chan, Andrew T.

AU - Hart, Jaime E.

AU - Chavarro, Jorge E.

AU - Lawson, Christina C.

PY - 2021/11/1

Y1 - 2021/11/1

N2 - Objectives: To quantify adequacy of personal protective equipment (PPE) for U.S. healthcare personnel (HCP) at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with infection risk. Methods: March–May 2020 survey of the national Nurses’ Health Studies and the Growing Up Today study regarding self-reported PPE access, use, and reuse. COVID-19 endpoints included SARS-CoV-2 tests and COVID-19 status predicted from symptoms. Results: Nearly 22% of 22,232 frontline HCP interacting with COVID-19 patients reported sometimes or always lacking PPE. Fifty percent of HCP reported not needing respirators, including 13% of those working in COVID-19 units. Lack of PPE was cross-sectionally associated with twofold or greater odds of COVID-19 among those who interacted with infected patients. Conclusion: These data show the need to improve the U.S. infection prevention culture of safety when confronting a novel pathogen.

AB - Objectives: To quantify adequacy of personal protective equipment (PPE) for U.S. healthcare personnel (HCP) at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with infection risk. Methods: March–May 2020 survey of the national Nurses’ Health Studies and the Growing Up Today study regarding self-reported PPE access, use, and reuse. COVID-19 endpoints included SARS-CoV-2 tests and COVID-19 status predicted from symptoms. Results: Nearly 22% of 22,232 frontline HCP interacting with COVID-19 patients reported sometimes or always lacking PPE. Fifty percent of HCP reported not needing respirators, including 13% of those working in COVID-19 units. Lack of PPE was cross-sectionally associated with twofold or greater odds of COVID-19 among those who interacted with infected patients. Conclusion: These data show the need to improve the U.S. infection prevention culture of safety when confronting a novel pathogen.

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American Frontline Healthcare Personnel’s Access to and Use of Personal Protective Equipment Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Keywords

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