Prospective observational study of gender and ethnicity biases in respiratory protective equipment for healthcare workers in the COVID-19 pandemic.
BMJ Open
; 11(5): e047716, 2021 05 20.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1238535
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To describe success rates of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) fit testing and factors associated with achieving suitable fit.DESIGN:
Prospective observational study of RPE fit testing according to health and safety, and occupational health requirements.SETTING:
A large tertiary referral UK healthcare facility. POPULATION 1443 healthcare workers undergoing quantitative fit testing. MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURES:
Quantitative fit test success (pass/fail) and the count of tests each participant required before successful fit.RESULTS:
Healthcare workers were fit tested a median (IQR) 2 (1-3) times before successful fit was obtained. Males were tested a median 1 (1-2) times, while females were tested a median 2 (1-2) times before a successful fit was found. This difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). Modelling each fit test as its own independent trial (n=2359) using multivariable logistic regression, male healthcare workers were significantly more likely to find a well-fitting respirator and achieve a successful fit on first attempt in comparison to females, after adjusting for other factors (adjusted OR=2.07, 95% CI) 1.66 to 2.60, p<0.001). Staff who described their ethnicity as White were also more likely to achieve a successful fit compared with staff who described their ethnicity as Asian (OR=0.47, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.58, p<0.001), Black (OR=0.54, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.71, p<0.001), mixed (OR=0.50 95% CI 0.31 to 0.80, p=0.004) or other (OR=0.53, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.99, p=0.043).CONCLUSIONS:
Male and White ethnicity healthcare workers are more likely to achieve RPE fit test success. This has broad operational implications to healthcare services with a large female and Black, Asian and minority ethnic group population. Fit testing is imperative in ensuring RPE effectiveness in protecting healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pandemics
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
/
Systematic review/Meta Analysis
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
BMJ Open
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Bmjopen-2020-047716
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