Factors influencing nurses' compliance related to the use of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic: A descriptive cross-sectional study

Aim To determine how nurses' experiences with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic affected their knowledge, awareness, and compliance related to the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. Design A descriptive cross-sectional study. Methods A total of 247 nurses in South Korea participated in this study between May 10 and 19, 2023. An online self-report questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic and occupational characteristics, COVID-19 experience, knowledge, awareness, and compliance related to the use of PPE. Factors affecting compliance were analysed using hierarchical multiple linear regression. Results Mean age of the nurses was 31.92, and 94.3% were women. Most had a bachelor's degree or higher and the mean clinical experience as a nurse was 6.45 years. Knowledge of the use of PPE was 8.45 out of 10, awareness was 3.52 out of 5, and compliance was 4.28 out of 5. Knowledge and awareness were correlated with compliance related to PPE use. Awareness (beta = 0.234, p < 0.001), knowledge (beta = 0.218, p < 0.001), experience caring for COVID-19 patients (beta = 0.234, p = 0.004), optional fourth dose vaccine (beta = 0.150, p = 0.017), clinical experience (beta = 0.140, p = 0.022), and COVID-19 infection control education (beta = 0.115, p = 0.037) were found to have a significant impact on compliance. Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses' knowledge and awareness of PPE use was a crucial factor in compliance. factors such as clinical experience, experience in caring for COVID-19 patients, optional vaccination, and completion of COVID-19 education also influenced compliance. We hope that these factors can provide a basis for developing training programs for nurses to respond to future emerging infectious diseases.