ABSTRACT
Introduction: Personal protective equipment (PPE) use among health care workers (HCWs) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased significantly creating various difficulties. Aim: To examine HCWs' experiences, practice, and attitudes regarding PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic in England and Greece. Methods: A cross-sectional study with a convenience sample was conducted during April 2021. Due to the circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic, we collected data through google forms using a snowball method. We created a google form with the study questionnaire asking HCWs to complete it in an anonymous way. We collected the following demographic data: gender, age, clinical experience, country of work, and profession. Also, we used 21 questions to assess HCWs experiences, practice, and attitudes regarding PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Study population included 87 HCWs from Greece (51.8%) and 81 from England (48.2%) with a mean age of 38.1 years. Significant percentages of HCWs stated that PPE was insufficient (36.4%), training regarding PPE use was limited (49.1%), and information regarding PPE use was limited (43.1%). 91.1. Almost all the HCWs knew to use PPE (97.6%). The greatest difficulties that HCWs faced were the following: development of physical problems, difficulty in communication, difficulty of physical movements, lack of adequate personal protective equipment, lack of organizational support, and lack of knowledge of protocols/instructions for the correct use of the equipment. HCWs in England considered more often that: PPE is sufficient (p<0.001), the availability of PPE is increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.001), and know to use appropriate PPE (p=0.013). Training and information regarding PPE use were more often in England (p=0.003 and p<0.001 respectively). Also, lack of adequate PPE (p<0.001), knowledge of using PPE (p=0.002), protocols/instructions for the correct use of the PPE (p<0.001), knowledge of protocols/instructions for the correct use of the PPE (p<0.001), organizational support (p<0.001), motivation (p<0.001), and safety culture in work (p<0.001) were more often in Greece. Conclusions: Since the COVID-19 pandemic continuous to threat public health, creating a safety culture work environment for HCWs in clinical settings is essential to decrease the spread of SARS-CoV-2, protect HCWs and their patients, and increase work performance.