Healthcare Workers' Perception and Compliance on Personal Protective Equipment Use in Critical Care Units of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bahrain

Introduction Contact precautions or the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), specifically gowns and gloves, has become a common practice in intensive care units (ICUs) as part of robust infection prevention and control efforts. Hence, a positive attitude toward PPE used among healthcare workers (HCWs) is critical to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Aim This study aimed to determine the perception and compliance of HCWs working at critical care units regarding PPE used at government hospitals (GHs) in Bahrain. Subject and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs working in critical units at GHs, Bahrain. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of three sections was sent to the targeted HCWs. The questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic characteristics (i.e., age, gender, job category, etc.), previous participation in PPE training, and a 15-item questionnaire to assess the perception and compliance of HCWs regarding PPE use. Results Among the 119 HCWs enrolled, 73.1% were females, and 48.7% were between 31 and 40 years old. The results of this study suggested that although 95.8% of participants received education about PPE use, only 48.7% had a good perception of PPE, and an even smaller percentage (12.6%) demonstrated good compliance. A positive, highly statistically significant correlation was found between perception and compliance scores (p<0.001). Increased perception and compliance scores were associated with increasing age, non-Bahrainis, and years of experience. Interestingly, doctors were more likely to demonstrate lower perception and compliance scores toward PPE use. Conclusion The perception of HCWs regarding PPE use was adequate, but their actual adherence was unsatisfactory. However, doctors' perceptions and compliance with PPE use were significantly lower than other HCWs. Further larger studies are required to establish the level of perception and compliance among HCWs in our region.