Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Perceived Usability of Respirators Among Thai Healthcare Personnel During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
3. Results
3.1. Characteristics of Participants
3.2. Knowledge of Respirator Use
3.3. Attitude of the Respirator Use
3.4. Practice of Respirator Use
3.5. Perceived Usability
4. Discussion
4.1. Situation and Characteristics
4.2. Respirator Knowledge
4.3. Attitude Toward Respirator Usage
4.4. Practice of Respirator
4.5. The Perceived Usability of Respirators
4.6. A Key Recommendation for Improvement
4.7. Strengths and Limitations
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Characteristics | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Physician (n = 152) | Nurse (n = 180) | Other (n = 147) | p-Value | |
Sex, n (%) | ||||
Female | 80 (52.6) | 163 (90.6) | 107 (72.8) | <0.001 * |
Male | 72 (47.4) | 17 (9.44) | 40 (27.2) | |
BMI, mean + SD. | 22.6 (4.0) | 22.2 (4.3) | 23.9 (4.8) | 0.017 * |
Working experience (year), median (P25th–P75th) | 4.2 (3.1–6.3) | 5.8 (2.4–21.4) | 6.1 (0.5–21.0) | 0.1105 |
Working hour/week (year) median (P25th–P75th) | 60 (40–72) | 45 (40–56) | 41 (28–56) | <0.001 * |
Working condition, n (%) | ||||
Hot and dry | 27 (17.8) | 27 (15.0) | 9 (6.1) | 0.001 * |
Hot and humid | 33 (21.7) | 28 (15.6) | 22 (15.0) | |
Cold and dry | 13 (8.5) | 9 (5.0) | 5 (3.4) | |
Cold and humid | 1 (0.7) | 2 (1.1) | 2 (1.4) | |
Air-conditioning | 65 (42.8) | 108 (60) | 90 (61.2) | |
Normal temp | 13 (8.5) | 6 (3.3) | 19 (12.9) |
Questions | Answer | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Physician (n = 152) | Nurse (n = 180) | Other (n = 147) | p Value | |
1. Correctly classified respirator and non-respirator | ||||
1.1 Surgical mask | 18 (12.3) | 23 (13.1) | 16 (12.3) | 0.967 |
1.2 Cloth mask | 88 (60.27) | 89 (51.2) | 77 (59.2) | 0.198 |
1.3 Carbon mask | 68 (46.9) | 55 (31.4) | 41 (31.8) | 0.008 * |
1.4 Filtering face piece (N95, Kn95, KF95) | 140 (95.9) | 170 (97.1) | 119 (91.5) | 0.083 |
1.5 Elastomeric half face | 114 (78.1) | 144 (82.3) | 93 (72.1) | 0.110 |
1.6 Elastomeric Full face | 109 (74.6) | 148 (84.6) | 96 (73.8) | 0.033 * |
1.7 PAPR | 124 (84.9) | 160 (91.4) | 103 (79.2) | 0.009 * |
2. Do you know that there are respirators for both industrial and medical use? | ||||
Yes | 73 (57.5) | 98 (59.4) | 67 (54.9) | 0.696 |
No | 22 (17.3) | 24 (14.5) | 26 (21.3) | |
Not sure | 32 (25.2) | 43 (26.1) | 29 (23.8) | |
3. What standards do you have knowledge of? | ||||
3.1 NIOSH (N95,N99,N100) | 78 (51.3) | 132 (73.3) | 74 (50.3) | <0.001 * |
3.2 FDA | 23 (15.1) | 17 (9.4) | 6 (4.1) | 0.005 * |
3.3 ASTM | 28 (18.4) | 50 (20.8) | 27 (18.4) | 0.061 |
3.4 GB (KN95, KN99, KN100) | 49 (32.2) | 52 (29.0) | 26 (17.7) | 0.010 * |
3.5 EN (FFP1, FFP2 FFP3) | 12 (7.9) | 9 (5.0) | 3 (2.0) | 0.064 |
3.6 ISO | 24 (15.8) | 33 (18.3) | 15 (10.2) | 0.109 |
3.7 Other | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (2.0) | 0.028 * |
No | 31 (20.4) | 19 (10.6) | 34 (23.1) | 0.005 * |
4. Do you know fit-testing? | ||||
Yes | 96 (75.6) | 124 (75.2) | 37 (30.3) | <0.001 * |
Not sure | 15 (11.8) | 22 (13.3) | 34 (27.9) | |
No | 16 (12.6) | 19 (11.5) | 51 (41.8) | |
5. Can a valve respirator protect from infection? | ||||
Protect only the user | 69 (50.4) | 90 (57.7) | 46 (31.7) | <0.001 * |
Protect both user and others | 46 (33.6) | 38 (24.4) | 70 (48.3) | |
Cannot protect both user and others | 22 (16.1) | 28 (17.9) | 29 (20.0) |
Question | Answer | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Physician (n = 152) | Nurse (n = 180) | Other (n = 147) | p-Value | |
1. Are you confident using an industrial respirator instead of a medical one to prevent infection? | ||||
Confidence | 35 (27.6) | 36 (21.8) | 42 (34.4) | 0.040 * |
Not confidence | 59 (46.5) | 91 (55.1) | 63 (51.6) | |
Not sure/Do not know | 33 (26.0) | 38 (23.0) | 17 (13.9) | |
2. Are you willing to use a reprocessed sterile respirator during a shortage? | ||||
Yes | 47 (37.0) | 58 (35.2) | 31 (25.4) | 0.041 * |
No | 46 (36.2) | 75 (45.5) | 67 (54.9) | |
Not sure | 34 (26.8) | 32 (19.4) | 24 (19.7) | |
3. If you have to reuse a respirator, how many times you suggest reusing it? | ||||
1 | 47 (37.0) | 74 (44.9) | 51 (41.8) | 0.619 |
2 | 40 (31.5) | 49 (29.7) | 45 (36.9) | |
3 | 19 (15.0) | 26 (15.8) | 16 (13.1) | |
4 | 3 (2.4) | 4 (2.4) | 1 (0.8) | |
5 | 12 (9.4) | 7 (4.2) | 5 (4.1) | |
More than 5 | 6 (4.7) | 5 (3.03) | 4 (3.3) | |
4. Do you think you can wear a respirator properly? | ||||
Yes | 87 (68.5) | 141 (85.4) | 81 (66.4) | <0.001 * |
No | 23 (18.1) | 10 (6.1) | 26 (21.3) | |
Not sure | 17 (13.4) | 14 (8.5) | 15 (12.3) | |
5. Do you think wearing a respirator has any adverse health effects? | ||||
Only for those with some health conditions | 32 (25.6) | 39 (23.6) | 22 (18.0) | <0.001 * |
Yes, for every body | 61 (48.8) | 56 (33.9) | 35 (8.7) | |
They are safe for everyone | 32 (25.6) | 70 (42.4) | 65 (53.3) |
Question | Answer | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Physician (n = 152) | Nurse (n = 180) | Other (n = 147) | p-Value | |
1. Which types of respiratory protective equipment have you used to prevent airborne infections? | ||||
Surgical mask | 129 (93.5) | 158 (91.9) | 120 (93.0) | 0.895 |
Cloth mask | 39 (28.3) | 54 (31.4) | 40 (31.0) | 0.836 |
Carbon mask | 51 (37.2) | 52 (30.4) | 59 (45.7) | 0.025 * |
Filtering face piece (n95) | 135 (97.8) | 159 (92.4) | 115 (89.2) | 0.012 * |
Elastomeric face mask half face | 32 (23.4) | 24 (14.1) | 25 (19.9) | 0.112 |
Elastomeric face mask full face | 26 ( (19.0) | 23 (13.5) | 22 (17.0) | 0.414 |
PAPR | 48 (35.0) | 97 (56.7) | 57 (44.2) | 0.001 * |
2. How long have you used respirators? | ||||
Less than 1 year | 46 (39.2) | 59 (35.8) | 46 (37.7) | 0.064 |
1–3 years | 44 (34.6) | 39 (23.6) | 23 (18.9) | |
More than 3 years | 37 (29.1) | 67 (40.6) | 53 (43.4) | |
3. How often do you use a respirator? | ||||
Less than 1–2/week | 65 (51.2) | 83 (50.3) | 44 (36.1) | 0.001 * |
1–2/week | 22 (17.3) | 18 (10.9) | 21 (17.2) | |
3–5/week | 19 (15.0) | 11 (6.7) | 12 (9.8) | |
Every day | 21 (16.5) | 53 (32.1) | 45 (36.9) | |
4. What is the usual duration of respirator use per session? | ||||
More than 8 h | 4 (3.2) | 11 (6.7) | 11 (9.0) | 0.044 * |
4–8 h | 6 (4.7) | 11 (6.7) | 3 (2.5) | |
2–4 h | 7 (5.5) | 19 (11.5) | 11 (9.0) | |
1–2 h | 30 (23.6) | 28 (17.0) | 24 (19.7) | |
30–60 min | 34 (26.8) | 29 (17.6) | 16 (13.1) | |
15–30 min | 25 (19.7) | 28 (17.0) | 18 (14.8) | |
Less than 15 min | 21 (16.6) | 39 (23.6) | 39 (32.0) | |
5. Have you ever done a fit check before? | ||||
Always | 47 (37.0) | 102 (61.8) | 52 (42.6) | <0.001 * |
Sometimes | 50 (39.4) | 47 (28.5) | 37 (30.3) | |
Never | 16 (12.6) | 12 (7.3) | 21 (17.2) | |
Do not know what a fit test is | 14 (11.0) | 4 (2.4) | 12 (9.8) | |
6. Have you ever had a fit test? | ||||
Yes | 36 (28.4) | 36 (21.8) | 12 (9.8) | 0.001 * |
No | 91 (71.6) | 129 (78.1) | 110 (90.2) | |
6.1 If yes, what type of fit test did you receive? | ||||
Quantitative | 9 (25) | 7 (19.4) | 5 (41.7) | 0.093 |
Qualitative | 8 (22.2) | 3 (8.3) | 1 (8.3) | |
Both | 2 (5.6) | 3 (8.3) | 3 (25.0) | |
Not sure/do not know | 17 (47.2) | 23 (63.9) | 3 (25.0) |
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Share and Cite
Wangsan, K.; Sapbamrer, R.; Sirikul, W.; Kiratipaisarl, W.; Ongprasert, K.; Assavanopakun, P.; Surawattanasakul, V.; Kitro, A.; Panumasvivat, J.; Wongcharoen, A. Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Perceived Usability of Respirators Among Thai Healthcare Personnel During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Healthcare 2025, 13, 1186. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101186
Wangsan K, Sapbamrer R, Sirikul W, Kiratipaisarl W, Ongprasert K, Assavanopakun P, Surawattanasakul V, Kitro A, Panumasvivat J, Wongcharoen A. Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Perceived Usability of Respirators Among Thai Healthcare Personnel During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Healthcare. 2025; 13(10):1186. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101186
Chicago/Turabian StyleWangsan, Kampanat, Ratana Sapbamrer, Wachiranun Sirikul, Wuttipat Kiratipaisarl, Krongporn Ongprasert, Pheerasak Assavanopakun, Vithawat Surawattanasakul, Amornphat Kitro, Jinjuta Panumasvivat, and Amnart Wongcharoen. 2025. "Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Perceived Usability of Respirators Among Thai Healthcare Personnel During the COVID-19 Pandemic" Healthcare 13, no. 10: 1186. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101186
APA StyleWangsan, K., Sapbamrer, R., Sirikul, W., Kiratipaisarl, W., Ongprasert, K., Assavanopakun, P., Surawattanasakul, V., Kitro, A., Panumasvivat, J., & Wongcharoen, A. (2025). Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Perceived Usability of Respirators Among Thai Healthcare Personnel During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Healthcare, 13(10), 1186. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101186