Difficulties faced by healthcare workers in PPE use during covid-19 pandemic: A mixed-method study from a tertiary hospital in India

TL;DR

Healthcare workers in India faced significant discomfort and challenges using PPE during the pandemic, leading to protocol violations and infections.

Contribution

This study provides empirical insights into PPE challenges in a tropical climate, emphasizing the need for improved PPE design and institutional support.

Findings

99.2% of HCWs experienced discomfort with PPE, mainly due to excessive sweating and communication barriers.

32.7% struggled with donning and doffing PPE despite training, and 31.5% tested positive for COVID-19 while on duty.

Thematic analysis revealed ergonomic issues, prolonged wear, and the need for climate-appropriate PPE.

Abstract

A mixed-method cross-sectional study at Sassoon General Hospital, Pune, assessed PPE-related challenges among 257 HCWs between August
and December 2021. Nearly all HCWs (99.2%) reported discomfort, primarily excessive sweating (95.3%), headaches (60.3%), communication
barriers (56.8%) and feelings of suffocation (52.1%). Over half experienced improper sizing and dermatological issues, while 32.7%
struggled with donning and doffing despite prior training. Almost half (48.7%) admitted breaking PPE protocol due to discomfort and
31.5% tested positive for COVID-19 while on duty. Thematic analysis highlighted ergonomic inadequacies, prolonged wear, harsh environmental
conditions and psychological burden, underscoring the urgent need for climate-appropriate, user-friendly PPE and strong institutional
support.