Abstract
It is mandatory that healthcare workers wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while caring for COVID-19 patients. Studies have shown that wearing PPE for a prolonged time may lead to symptoms of physical discomfort including headache. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and association between prolonged use of PPE and headaches. This was a cross-sectional study. A convenience sample of healthcare workers who worked with COVID-19 patients in clinical settings was recruited. The data were collected through an electronic survey shared as a link through social media. This study included 1060 participants, 753 (71%) female and 307 (29%) male. Participants were divided into two groups. Group A had 628 (60%) participants who did not have chronic headache before the COVID-19 pandemic, while Group B contained 432 (40%) participants who had a previous chronic headache. Headaches differed significantly between Groups A and B in frequency, type, location, and quality during the COVID-19 period. The analysis found a significant relationship between duration of PPE use and headache occurrence. The significant relationship between the duration of PPE usage and headache occurrence among healthcare workers should be considered when refining policies and procedures regarding prolonged PPE use.
Highlights
The World Health Organization (WHO) identified the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) as a global pandemic in March 2020 [1]
To determine the prevalence of headaches from protective equipment (PPE) use among healthcare workers; To assess the association between prolonged PPE use and headaches; To identify risk factors for the occurrence of headaches among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 outbreak; To identify symptoms associated with headache episodes
The study was conducted in Ministry of Health hospitals, Saudi Arabia, which required the use of PPE during the COVID-19 outbreak
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) identified the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) as a global pandemic in March 2020 [1]. Health authorities of each country mandated that healthcare workers wear personal protective equipment (PPE). The Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) reinforced the importance of standard precautions using the required PPE during this time [2]. The PPE included close-fitting N95 face masks, protective eyewear (goggles, face shields, or face masks), gowns, gloves, or/and the use of powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR) [3]. Many frontline healthcare workers found the PPE uncomfortable and cumbersome, especially when it was worn for a prolonged period of time [4]. Headache was one type of physical discomfort experienced by many frontline healthcare workers due to wearing PPE. Headache may be produced by the sustained compression of the peri-cranial soft tissues by wearing tight bands or straps around the head
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