EFFECTS OF LIMITED PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) ON NURSES PREFERENCE AND ATTITUDE ON COVID-19 CARE
Sr Anita Sampe(a*) ,Mery Sambo(b) , Siprianus Abdu(b) , Rosdewi(b)

a. College of Nursing of Stella Maris. Jalan Maipa No 19, Makassar, 90112, Indonesia
*sranithasjmj[at]gmail.com

b. Departement of Nursing, College of Nursing of Stella Maris, Makassar, Indonesia.

Abstract

Background: Nurses are at high risk of contracting COVID 19 (Corona Virus Disease 19) through nosocomial transmission. sufficient Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is needed as a prevention of COVID 19. However, the number of supply of PPE provided for the nurses in Indonesia is limited thus threatening their safety when treating COVID 19 patients.

Purpose: This study is conducted to find out the PPE supply provided for the nurses, to investigate the effects pf PPE suffered by the nurses, to investigate their behaviors towards the limited PPE supply, and to correlate the sufficient PPE supply and with their behaviors in treating the COVID 19 patients.

Methods: This study employed a cross sectional design. A sample of 211 respondents were taken through snowball sampling technique. Data analysis uses Cross Sectional to find out the influence between variables.

Results: Most nurses (80%) had not been provided with N95 mask type PPE. Nurses action (71%) to anticipate the limited PPE supply was to refrain themselves from releasing PPE during shifts. The following effects were observed that some nurses (86%) suffered from nasal blister due to prolonged PPE use, and 78,7% of the nurses demonstrate good behavior in responding to the limited PPE supply. There is a relationship between the limited PPE supply and the nurses behavior at p=0,004

Conclusion: The supply of PPE is limited, close monitoring on the use and replacement of the PPE, and modify the policy on the reuse of PPE in according with the standard and risk assessments.

Keywords: Limitations of Personal Protective Equipment, Nurses preference, COVID-19 care

Topic: Disaster, Emergency, Intensive and Critical Care Nursing