ABSTRACT
ObjectiveWearing protective masks for a long time causes a large number of frontline health care workers to suffer different degrees of pressure injury or facial skin rupture in response to COVID-19. This paper aims to analyze the occurrence characteristics and related factors of pressure injury related to devices, and provide the basis for taking countermeasures. Methods There was online investigation of skin injuries caused by wearing protective equipment in medical staff. Descriptive analysis was carried out on the occurrence characteristics of pressure-induced injury, and influencing factors were analyzed through logistic regression model. ResultsThere were a total of 2901 valid questionnaires. The results showed that the incidence of pressure injury caused by protective equipment was 26.34%, mainly in the bridge of the nose (20.41%), cheek (20.23%), auricle (17.82%) and forehead (8.86%). Multivariate Logistic regression model analysis showed that the major associated factors, which presented increasing risk, were sweating and dampness (OR=12.72, 95%CI 8.36-17.30), wearing level-3 protective equipment (OR=3.55, 95%CI 2.47-5.08), wearing level-2 protective equipment (OR=3.37, 95%CI 2.47-4.60), wearing time (OR=1.29, 95%CI 1.05~1.58) and occupation (OR=1.57, 95%CI 1.00~2.49). Conclusion There is the high incidence of pressure injuries to health care workers caused by protective equipment against COVID-19. The main risk factors for facial stress injury of medical staff are sweating and dampness, wearing level-3 and level-2 protective equipment and wearing time.