Based on previous research conducted long before the Covid-19 pandemic, the level of use of personal protective equipment for nurses in one of the wards at X Hospital was still relatively low. Only 17.8% of the nurses were compliant in using masks, whereas 82.2% of the nurses were not. Moreover, 57.8% of nurses were compliant in using medical gloves, whereas 42.2% were not. Follow-up research was conducted to analyze the relationship between perceptions and compliance to the use of personal protective equipment in nurses at RSU Haji Surabaya.
The results showed that 85.7% of nurses in the operating room are non-compliant, and 33.3% of nurses in the lung room are non-compliant with the use of PPE. The results also show that the perception variable with the strongest relationship with compliance is the perception of severity (C = 0.312) based on the Health Belief Model approach.
This research was an observational and cross-sectional study. The population used in this study was the nurses who served in the operating and lung room of RSU X, with total samples used was 33, 21 respondents from the operating room and 12 respondents from the lung treatment ward. Moreover, the data were taken by questionnaires and observations. Data analysis was performed by coefficient contingency test by looking at the value of C.
Nurses’ compliance in using PPE in this study is measured based on observations on nurses’ actions. Based on the observations, it is known that the nurses have complied with the use of PPE but there are still some shortcomings. Personal protective equipment that is often used in the operating room is surgical masks and medical gloves, while personal protective equipment that is rarely used are protective gowns/ aprons, protective shoes and goggles. In addition, the nurses use masks not for one medical action, but for one work shift. Meanwhile, personal protective equipment frequently used in the lung room is surgical masks, N95 masks, medical gloves and aprons. Protective shoes and goggles are PPE that is rarely used in the lung room. N95 masks and surgical masks are also not used for one medical action but one work shift. This condition will increase the risk of transmission of diseases in the hospital. A non-optimal use of PPE is caused by the poor habits of nurses and PPE availability.
Improvements and training need to be carried out by the management of RSU X to improve compliance with the use of PPE and ensure the availability of the required PPE. Compliance assessments should also be carried out on a regular basis.
Author: Prof. Dr. Tri Martiana, dr., MS
Source :
The Correlation between Perceptions and Compliance in the Use of Personal Protective Equipment of Nurses at RSU Haji Surabaya
IJOSH 2021 https://e-journal.unair.ac.id/IJOSH/article/view/16234
