Development of PPE Policy in UK for Frontline Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic

This study examines the development of PPE policy in the UK for frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two academic papers are compared, and their key findings are summarized. The first paper uses a qualitative research methodology to examine the experiences of healthcare workers with PPE, while the second paper uses a quantitative research methodology to determine the knowledge and understanding of PPE guidance among UK-based doctors. Both papers highlight the need for effective training and knowledge to improve the use of PPE and minimize the negative impact of the pandemic.

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Table of Contents
TASK A...........................................................................................................................................3
Introduction of a topic............................................................................................................3
Background to the topic..........................................................................................................3
Presentation of both articles...................................................................................................4
TASK B...........................................................................................................................................6
Summary of the key findings from both articles....................................................................6
Comparison between academic papers...................................................................................7
Conclusion..............................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

TASK A
Introduction of a topic
From 2020, global pandemic affects the entire world in negative manner because it is
considered as an infectious disease that increase death rate. Not only, UK is affected from this
but entire world is badly suffering from the disease. That is why, government took a step to
improve the bad impact over the health of individual and to protect from getting infection,
Personal protective equipment (PPE) introduced in m market (Sureka and et.al., 2021). The
present study main aim is to develop a deep understanding about PPE and the use of same, so
that reader will understand about the same. The research objective for the present research is to
identify the ways through which PPE policy develop within UK health and care sector. This is
specially designed for health care individuals who treat people to fight against Covid-19. The
rationale for introducing PPE policy is to reduce the employee exposure to hazard, it is so
because both engineering and administrative controls are not feasible so it is the only technique
that is acceptable. According to NHS, the PPE legislation already introduced in 1992 at Work
regulation which ensure that where risk cannot be controlled by others, PPE should be in used
without any delay. In the same way, with the rise of number of Covid patients, there has been no
other solution identified except PPE to protect themselves from an infection.
The current study is also based upon the development of PPE policy in UK for which two
different articles chosen that helps to examine the importance of using this policy to provide safe
and healthy life to people.
Background to the topic
At the beginning of 2020, with the evolution of coronavirus, the entire business got
affected and government also took immediate action to stop social gathering. Along with this,
lockdown imposed in entire world with banned of international flights. It has been reflected that
it is a deadly virus and to prevent its infection, there is a need to protect entire frontline
healthcare workers as well as people. That is why, PPE is designed that helps to let people
prevent from getting infected (Cudjoe and Martin, 2021). Though many test were already
performed in order to test whether the infection is passed from the equipment or not. This PPE
kit include all wearer which include gown, shoes, gloves, caps, shield mask etc. However, it is

not easy to cover entire body with such equipment because it might lead to rashes and wearing
mask whole day causes frustration as well.
Before introducing vaccine, PPE is the only solution for health care workers in order to
respond for an emergency situation. This in turn increases the demand of PPE in UK and
contribute to treat the people without any fear. Also, the government of UK stabilised the PPE
supply chain that assist to provide better comfort to patients and make them protect as well. The
entire study will help to let people understand about the development of PPE policy for
especially front line workers that assist to control the deadly virus by protected themselves from
any infection. Also, during second wave which is more deadly as compared to first, PPE kits
manufactured at faster pace and this in turn further help to improve the condition of people.
Presentation of both articles
For the present study, two relevant articles chosen that published in recent years and
more reliable as well. The first article is Katarina Hoernke, Nehla Djellouli, Lily Andrews, Sasha
Lewis-Jackson , Louisa Manby, Sam Martin, Samantha Vanderslott, Cecilia Vindrola-Padros
2021. Frontline healthcare workers’ experiences with personal protective equipment during the
COVID-19 pandemic in the UK: a rapid qualitative appraisal. BMJ open. 11(1). p.e 046199.
Whereas second article is Shams Al-Hity, Navdeep Bhamra, Ravi Kumar, Keshav Kumar
Gupta, James Howard, Karan Jolly, Adnan Darr 2021. Personal protective equipment guidance
during a global pandemic: A statistical analysis of National perceived confidence, knowledge
and educational deficits amongst UK‐based doctors. International Journal of Clinical
Practice. 75(5). p.e14029.
With the help of these article, it has been analysed that both article helps to present the
findings pertaining to development of PPE in UK. This in turn helps to generate an in-depth
understanding pertaining to the same so that effective outcome can be generated. Further, two
different methodologies have been chosen by the researcher while drafting the article that assist
to ascertain the pros and cons of using PPE into the premises. Along with this, it has been also
stated that by choosing these article, a comparison can be performed because author present
different views which in turn help to examine whether the aim and objective met or not.
CRAAP Evaluation

Particulars Article 1 Article 2
Currency The article was published recently i.e.
on 2021 which reflected that it met the
idea of an article as PPE requirement
increases by 2020.
The 2nd article was published on 2021 and
that is why, it provide recent information
pertaining to chosen article which in turn
assist to meet research objectives
Relevance As the topic reflected it will provide
complete information related health
worker’s experience regard to PPE
during pandemic and yes, it is related
to research topic so provide relevant
information.
The chosen article is related to the
present topic and also provide relevant
information pertaining to guidance of
PPE at the time of pandemic.
Authority The authors who wrote an article have
strong background in this field and its
URL is .gov which entails that the
chosen article provides enough
information regarding the
development of PPE.
The authors of this article are well
educated and also proposed many article
regarding the same. Moreover, they
published the article under a well-known
published source i.e. .gov which entails
that it provides fair enough information
regarding the same.
Accuracy Yes, the article was reviewed by BMJ
Open and also the information come
from primary as well as already
published article which provide actual
views of people.
This article was reviewed by
International journal of Clinical Practice
in which all the information cross-
checked and provide an authentic
research in order to improve the result.

Purpose The purpose of choosing this article
over other is to share the experience of
frontline healthcare worker’s
experience regarding PPE. As the
chosen topic is also related to the same
and that is why, it is used.
The purpose of this article is to provide
guidance of using PPE which in turn help
to improve the create a better outcome
and generate strong understanding related
to the same.
TASK B
Summary of the key findings from both articles
Finding from article 1:
The article’s main objective is to describe frontline worker’s experience with regard to
PPE during the time of pandemic. This in turn assist to examine worker’s fear and concern
pertaining to PPE. For that a qualitative research methodology has been adopted which entails
that most of them faces issue related to shortage and reuse of PPE at the beginning of pandemic.
This in turn reflected the health care workers are not even prepared for this and that is why, such
issue arises. As a result, three to four layer mask wear by professional and due to respiratory
issues, the guideline changes and as a result, single layer paper surgical mask provided that helps
in ease of breathe.
Apart from this, the findings also entails that there is a training gap identified as stated by
the respondents. It is so because during past pandemic, patients as well as doctors are not aware
of using PPE (Hoernke and et.al., 2021). That is why, there is a need to provide enough training
to the people so that they will be aware with such issue and take initiative accordingly. As per
the data analysis section, another key finding is related to PPE supply where it has been
identified that in 2020, stockpiling performed in UK and as a result, shortage of PPE. As a result,
negative sentiments identified in social media post regarding shortage of PPE that might
increases the infection rate in a country. As a result, policy reviewed in which NHS England
stated that outdated PPE were passed with stringent tests that demonstrated its safety.
Moreover, another key findings from the article reflected that care worker faces
challenges pertaining to delivering in PPE. Such that most of the interviewers stated that

professionals are uncomfortable to wear PPE and as a result, they do not effectively deliver care
to their patients. For example, tight mask causes facial pain, marks and rashes (Battista and et.al.,
202). Along with this, they face difficulties in breathing, also a long gown is hot and sweaty that
causes overheating and dehydration problem. That is why, it has been reflected that overall
experience of health care workers was worst as they are not prepare enough to handle such
situation. That is why, there is a need to revise PPE guideline that help to deliver a better health
care by all professionals.
Finding from article 2:
The article main aim is to determine the knowledge and understanding with regard to
PPE guidance as published by government. For that, quantitative study has been performed in
which statistical analysis used that determine whether the aim and objectives met or not. The
finding from the article entails that most of selected respondents (doctors) are not received
enough information and knowledge pertaining to PPE guidance and that is why, there is a
statistical difference identified between the views of people pertaining to knowledge of PPE (Al‐
Hity and et.al., 2021). Further, the result also reflected that there is a need to provide effective
learning and knowledge to the appropriate use of PPE.
In addition to this, it is the first time for health care workers to deal with the pandemic
after 100 years and to minimise the impact of deadly virus upon the patient, there is a need to
have enough knowledge related to PPE. However, most of the doctors are workers are not aware
with such situation and this affected the overall performance. Therefore, the main finding reveal
from the article is such that government provide different strategies to minimise the negative
impact but does not provide effective way to implement the same into the business premises.
Also, the result shows that majority of the people reflected that they do not have enough
confidence pertaining to use of PPE during treatment (Deressa and et.al., 2021). That is why,
enough training needs to be introduced that assist to improve the understanding pertaining to use
of PPE. Thus, it can be stated that by using enough knowledge over this issue will help to
improve the overall performance and treat the people as well. Apart from this, it has been
identified that due to inappropriate use of PPE, professionals do not treat the people and as a
result, they all affected from an infection.

Comparison between academic papers
According to the first article, it has been identified that scholar uses qualitative study in
order to identify the views of selected respondents. Under this, scholar uses interview method,
that helps to examine the opinion regarding the use of PPE during pandemic times. Also, in this,
a telephonic interview as a primary method has been chosen in which 46 frontline healthcare
workers, 39 media report and 25 government PPE policies are chBattista, R.A. and et.al.,
202osen that conduct the authentic research. On the other side, in another research article,
scholar use quantitative study in which scholar deals with numbers and facts. Here, statistical test
also performed which include anova in which statistical difference between the variables
identified (Ippolito and et.al., 2021). Along with this, the article conduct primary research in
which nationwide 11-point survey which consist of MCQ and 5 point Likert scale questions
performed in order to analyse the overall performance. Further, it can be stated that data
collected from 697 respondents who stated that there is not enough training and knowledge
provided to the health care workers which in turn causes negative impact over the health.
Also, from the first article, it has been identified that healthcare worker have negative
experience pertaining to use of PPE, though they followed entire guidelines but lack of
knowledge affected the entire system into negative manner. There is a major difference identified
within both article, such that one of the article is based upon experience of health care workers
whereas, another assist to determine that due to lack of knowledge pertaining use of PPE affected
the overall performance. That is why, the results generated by the article is also differ in term of
using various methodology. Such that by using qualitative research methodology, it has been
identified that all theoretical aspect has been collected in which all professionals share their
views that assist to analyse range of risk faced by them while treating people. However, another
one is completely based upon quantitative study in which numbers and facts considered in order
to determine whether all professionals have enough knowledge pertaining to use of PPE.
Apart from this, it has been also stated that Tukey's honest significant difference as well
as Pearson's chi-square test undertaken that also determine that there is a difference between the
views (Hakim and et.al., 2021). That is why, due to shortage of knowledge and understanding,
PPE tool is not actually much beneficial while fighting against Covid-19 in first wave. Along
with this, it can be stated that the development of PPE policy is somehow beneficial, but they do

not aware how to use such equipment. This cause adverse impact over the business performance
and that is why, due to not delivering proper care most of the people died. Hence, both article
assists to improve the knowledge pertaining to use of PPE so that effective outcome can be
generated in order to treat the people in a better manner.
Conclusion
By summing up above report it has been concluded that use of PPE was not as effective
at the beginning of Covid-19. This is due to majority of the selected respondents are not enough
aware about the use of PPE. Also, I think that the guidelines keep changes or amend which in
turn assist to make people aware about the same. Along with this, by following PPE policy,
frontline workers can easily treat the workers in easily and minimise the impact of pandemic.
Moreover, both articles chosen different methodology which clearly entails that development of
PPE policy is better, but implementation lead to cause negative impact over the health. Whereas,
the second wave of the pandemic makes all the workers aware with regard to treat the people in
effective manner by using PPE.
Recommendations:
 It is to be recommended to the frontline workers to use mask as well as cover with PPE in
order to reduce the chances of getting infected. Also, by wearing gowns and change them
every day that helps to improve the life.
 Further, it is also suggested to comply with the laws defined under NHS act that helps to
protect them from getting infected and decreases the chances of death rate as well. By
complying with this strategy, workers will easily treat the people properly.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Al‐Hity, S. and et.al., 2021. Personal protective equipment guidance during a global pandemic:
A statistical analysis of National perceived confidence, knowledge and educational
deficits amongst UK‐based doctors. International Journal of Clinical Practice. 75(5).
p.e14029.
Battista, R.A. and et.al., 2021. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in COVID 19 Pandemic:
Related Symptoms and Adverse Reactions in Healthcare Workers and General
Population. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. 63(2). p.e80.
Cudjoe, K.G. and Martin, V., 2021. Safe PPE use: Protecting our nurses. Nursing made
Incredibly Easy. 19(2). pp.17-20.
Deressa, W. and et.al., 2021. Availability and use of personal protective equipment and
satisfaction of healthcare professionals during COVID-19 pandemic in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia. Archives of Public Health. 79(1). pp.1-14.
Hakim, M. and et.al., 2021. Access and Use Experience of Personal Protective Equipment
Among Frontline Healthcare Workers in Pakistan During the COVID-19 Emergency: A
Cross-Sectional Study. Health security. 19(2). pp.140-149.
Hoernke, K. and et.al., 2021. Frontline healthcare workers’ experiences with personal protective
equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK: a rapid qualitative appraisal. BMJ
open. 11(1). p.e046199.
Ippolito, M. and et.al., 2021. Personal protective equipment use by healthcare workers in
intensive care unit during the early phase of COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: a secondary
analysis of the PPE-SAFE survey. Therapeutic advances in infectious disease. 8.
p.2049936121998562.
Sureka, B. and et.al., 2021. Rational use of PPE and preventing PPE related skin
damage. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care. 10(4). p.1547.