Determination of the effect of prophylactic dressing on the prevention of skin injuries associated with personal protective equipments in health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic.
Aybala Yıldız, Ayişe Karadağ, Alp Yıldız and 1 others
PMID 33187790WHAT IT FOUND
Health care workers wearing prophylactic dressings under PPE had far fewer facial skin injuries than those wearing standard PPE alone.
Those also using nasal strips reported no breathing discomfort, though the study was small and observational.
Key findings
01All participants in the control group developed skin injuries, compared to only 10% in the prophylactic dressing group and 12.5% in the dressing plus nasal strip group.
02No participants in the group using nasal strips experienced discomfort in breathing, whereas 95% of the control group and 100% of the dressing-only group did.
03Satisfaction with PPE was significantly higher in both experimental groups (mean scores 6.80 and 7.25) compared to the control group (mean score 2.40).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was observational, not a randomized controlled trial, so other factors may have influenced the results. The group using nasal strips was very small (n=8), making the finding about breathing comfort uncertain. Participants cut and applied the dressings themselves, so fit and technique varied. The follow-up period was short, lasting only up to five days.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. However, the prophylactic dressings used in the study were donated by Mölnlycke Health Care.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the nasal strips definitively prevent breathing discomfort based on this study alone. Only eight people used them, and the primary focus was skin injury prevention, not respiratory mechanics.