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 outcome measures: 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: COVID-19; adult intensive & critical care; health & safety; occupational & industrial medicine.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Critical care, Safety, adult intensive &, occupational &, industrial medicine, health &, 【초록키워드】 Trial, equipment, COVID-19 pandemic, outcome, healthcare worker, Health, Prospective, male, female, Effectiveness, staff, Quantitative, Intensive, Critical, Protective, Respirator, Asian, black, Factor, multivariable logistic regression, white, healthcare facility, females, implication, RPE, independent, tested, described, significantly more, required, median, adjusted, imperative, statistically significant, was obtained, healthcare service, IQR, 【제목키워드】 equipment, COVID-19 pandemic, Gender, healthcare worker, Prospective, Protective,