Experiences of nurses with the use of personal protective equipment in a COVID-19 emergency department

• Published in: Millenium (Viseu) 2021-11, Vol.2 (9e), p.63-72
• Main Authors: Figueiredo, Liliana, Ribeiro, Olivério, Santos, Eduardo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: coronavirus infections; enfermagem; enfermería; equipamento de proteção individual; equipo de protección personal; infecciones por coronavirus; infecções por coronavirus; investigación cualitativa; Life and Healthcare Sciences; nursing; personal protective equipment; pesquisa qualitativa; qualitative research
• ISSN: 0873-3015; 1647-662X; 1647-662X
• DOI: 10.29352/mill029e.24925

Introduction: The 2019 Coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19) has rapidly evolved and affected healthcare workers, who have been required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce the risk of acquiring or transmitting Coronavirus disease. PPE has been a challenge to patient care, interpersonal relationships and the health and well-being of professionals. Objetives: To describe the nurses' experiences with the use of personal protective equipment in a COVID-19 emergency service. Methods: A hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative methodology was applied, which allowed for a reflection on the basic structures of the lived experiences reported by the participants. 11 nurses were interviewed in a hospital in northern Portugal. Results: From the analysis of the interviews, four themes emerged regarding the nurses' experiences and, in relation to the theme under study, several categories were identified: difficulties and obstacles, implications for use, duration of use, and attitudes of users and relatives. Within these categories, several subcategories were identified and carefully analysed in this study. Conclusion: The study evidenced several adverse effects and limitations arising from the use of PPE, suggesting the development of policies and strategies to ensure the well-being of nurses and better performance capacity in performing procedures and providing care. Introducción: La pandemia de enfermedades por Coronavirus de 2019 (COVID-19) ha evolucionado rápidamente y ha afectado a los trabajadores sanitarios, a los que se les ha exigido el uso de equipos de protección individual (EPI) para reducir el riesgo de contagio o transmisión de la enfermedad por Coronavirus. Los EPI han supuesto un reto para la atención al paciente, las relaciones interpersonales y la salud y el bienestar de los profesionales. Objetivos: Describir las experiencias del personal de enfermería con el uso de equipos de protección individual en un servicio de urgencias COVID-19. Métodos: Se aplicó una metodología cualitativa fenomenológica hermenéutica, que permitió reflexionar sobre las estruturas básicas de las experiencias vividas relatadas por los participantes. Se entrevistó a 11 enfermeras en un hospital de la zona norte de Portugal. Resultados: Del análisis de las entrevistas surgieron cuatro temas sobre las experiencias de las enfermeras y, en relación con el tema estudiado, se identificaron varias categorías: dificultades y obstáculos, implicaciones para el uso, du