Availability of personal protective equipment among dermatologists in the COVID-19 pandemic: Assessment and risk factors in a web-based, global study

Abstract

Background: The availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) among dermatologists during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has not been studied. Methods: We have assessed PPE availability among dermatologists and relevant aspects of hospital service by surveying 733 dermatologists. Results: Considerable percentages of respondents had to purchase their own PPE (40.2%) and were not provided with it at the hospital (37.7%). Only 27% of respondents provided hospital service, and 18.4% were assigned to nondermatologic duty. A substantial percentage (64.4%) indicated the availability of hospital-issued management guidelines (HIMG) for COVID-19 patients. Nearly half of the survey participants (49.1%) responded that the health care system was not equipped for the pandemic. Purchasing one's own PPE was strongly associated with the private practice setting and continent, with the highest rates in Central and South America and in Europe (P < .001). PPE availability at a hospital was associated with 2 continents, with the highest rates in Europe and in North America (P < .001). In logistic regression, the most important factor reducing the odds ratio (OR) for purchasing their own PPE was HIMG for COVID-19 patients (OR, 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32-0.97). Respondents’ assessment that the health care system was equipped for COVID-19 was the most powerful increaser of OR for PPE availability (OR, 9.43; 95% CI, 5.37-16.56) followed by >1,000 COVID-19 cases in a participant's country. Conclusions: Substantial percentages of respondents had to purchase their own PPE and were not provided with it at the hospital. Strategies to increase PPE availability should be implemented by hospitals, industry, and government authorities.