Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the occurrence of physical unwellness caused by heat stress when wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and the factors associated with it among nurses. The survey included 1,000 nurses working in medical facilities receiving patients with COVID-19. 449 nurses responded to the survey, and 82.2% of them indicated that they were aware of any physical discomfort that may have been related to heat stress when wearing PPE. Regarding the associated factors, the type of gown with back coverage compared to the apron type (OR=2.76, 95%Cl: 1.29-5.88, p=0.009). In addition, wearing the gown for more than 40 minutes was significantly associated with perceived discomfort (40-60 minutes: OR=4.83, 95%Cl: 1.12-20.84, p=0.035; 60-180 minutes: OR=4.40, 95%Cl: 1.52-12.71, p=0.006).
