Ms Karen Mckenna1,2, Professor Anastasia Hutchinson2, Associate Professor Stéphane Bouchoucha1,2
1ACIPC, Armstrong Creek, Australia, 2Deakin University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Burwood, Australia
Biography:
Karen McKenna is an Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Consultant and PhD candidate at Deakin University. Karen’s work focuses on healthcare worker safety, PPE-related adverse effects, and evidence-based practice. Karen is actively involved in research, quality improvement, and education to support safe and effective infection prevention in clinical settings.
Abstract:
Introduction
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is associated with a range of adverse effects in healthcare workers. Understanding the prevalence and nature of these complications is essential to inform workplace safety strategies. This study aimed to assess the frequency of PPE-related adverse-effects among healthcare workers in Australia, Singapore and France, and to examine the relationship between adverse reactions and PPE type.
Methods
A multi-site descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in Australia, Singapore and France. Data collected included demographics, pre-existing skin conditions, PPE types and self-reported adverse-effects. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to analyse data.
Results
Most participants were female (81.7), and nurses/midwives (75.2%), followed by doctors (6%). Pre-existing skin conditions were reported by 44.6%, with lower rates in France (5.5%), compared with Singapore (16.6%) and Australia (21.8).
Surgical masks were the most used PPE (81%). Singapore reported significantly lower rates of adverse effects related to surgical masks (18.6%, p<.001) than France (54.6%).
Overall, adverse effects associated with particulate filter respirators (PFRs) were highest in Australia (site A) (66%), followed by France (56.5%), Singapore (41.4%), and Australia (site B) (30.4%). Pressure-related effects were most common (16.6%) across Australian sites and France, while Singapore reported higher rates of skin-related effects (30.9%, p<.001).
Conclusion
The prevalence of underlying skin conditions and the patterns of reported adverse effects varied across countries. The results provide preliminary evidence of higher rates of adverse effects in tropical versus more temperate climates. Targeted prevention strategies and improved PPE design are needed to reduce adverse-effects and optimise healthcare worker comfort.