• FluTrackers.com Inc. does not provide medical advice. Information on this web site is collected from various internet resources, and the FluTrackers board of directors makes no warranty to the safety, efficacy, correctness or completeness of the information posted on this site by any author or poster. The information collated here is for instructional and/or discussion purposes only and is NOT intended to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, or other medical condition. Every individual reader or poster should seek advice from their personal physician/healthcare practitioner before considering or using any interventions that are discussed on this website. By continuing to access this website you agree to consult your personal physican before using any interventions posted on this website, and you agree to hold harmless FluTrackers.com Inc., the board of directors, the members, and all authors and posters for any effects from use of any medication, supplement, vitamin or other substance, device, intervention, etc. mentioned in posts on this website, or other internet venues referenced in posts on this website.
  • We are not asking for any donations. Do not donate to any entity who says they are raising funds for us.

Current practices and barriers to the use of facemasks and respirators among hospital-based health care workers in Vietnam

tetano

Editor, Senior Moderator
Am J Infect Control. 2015 Jan 1;43(1):72-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2014.10.009.
[h=1]Current practices and barriers to the use of facemasks and respirators among hospital-based health care workers in Vietnam.[/h] Chughtai AA[SUP]1[/SUP], Seale H[SUP]2[/SUP], Chi Dung T[SUP]3[/SUP], Maher L[SUP]4[/SUP], Nga PT[SUP]3[/SUP], MacIntyre CR[SUP]5[/SUP].
[h=3]Author information[/h]

[h=3]Abstract[/h] [h=4]BACKGROUND:[/h] This study aimed to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards the use of facemasks among hospital-based health care workers (HCWs) in Hanoi, Vietnam.
[h=4]METHODS:[/h] A qualitative study incorporating 20 focus groups was conducted between August 2010 and May 2011. HCWs from 7 hospitals in Vietnam were invited to participate.
[h=4]RESULTS:[/h] Issues associated with the availability of facemasks (medical and cloth masks) and respirators was the strongest theme to emerge from the discussion. Participants reported that it is not unusual for some types of facemasks to be unavailable during nonemergency periods. It was highlighted that the use of facemasks and respirators is not continuous, but rather is limited to selected situations, locations, and patients. Reuse of facemasks and respirators is also common in some settings. Finally, some participants reported believing that the reuse of facemasks, particularly cloth masks, is safe, whereas others believed that the reuse of masks put staff at risk of infection.
[h=4]CONCLUSIONS:[/h] In low and middle-income countries, access to appropriate levels of personal protective equipment may be restricted owing to competing demands for funding in hospital settings. It is important that issues around reuse and extended use of medical masks/respirators and decontamination of cloth masks are addressed in policy documents to minimize the risk of infection.
Copyright ? 2015 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


[h=4]KEYWORDS:[/h] Cloth mask; Influenza; Low- and middle-income countries; Pandemic; Respiratory infection; Surgical mask

PMID: 25564127 [PubMed - in process]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25564127
 
Back
Top Bottom