Assessment of Current Personal Protective Equipment for Healthcare Workers

The purpose of this exploratory study was to identify major issues of current personal protective equipment (PPE) and assess healthcare workers’ (HCWs) PPE needs within a healthcare setting. The specific objectives were: (a) identify the types of PPE which HCWs currently use; (b) assess current PPE design features; (c) examine the effect of PPE design features and HCWs’ work experiences on overall PPE acceptability; and (d) explore current PPE maintenance practices. A convenience sample of 200 U.S. HCWs was recruited through an online survey and used for data analysis. The findings reveal the needs of current PPE improvement in fit, comfort, mobility, and donning and doffing for HCWs’ safety and health. Donning and doffing plays an essential role in HCWs’ overall PPE acceptance. This study provides critical insights for a proper donning and doffing training and its strict regulatory effort to ensure HCWs’ safety and health.