Optimizing Personal Protective Equipment Donning and Doffing Among Intensive Care Unit Nurses: A Quasi‐Experimental Comparison of Mobile App–Based and Traditional Training Using Ultraviolet‐Fluorescent Simulation
Hatice Eda Yoltay, Fatma Demir Korkmaz, Mehmet UyarABSTRACT
Background
Correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for infection prevention in intensive care settings; however, deficiencies in donning and doffing techniques remain common among nurses.
Aim
To compare the effects of mobile application (app)–based and printed educational materials on intensive care unit nurses' knowledge and skills related to PPE donning and doffing.
Study Design
This quasi‐experimental study included nurses working in the anaesthesia intensive care unit of a university hospital in İzmir, Turkey.
Results
A total of 40 nurses participated in the study (printed material group, n = 20; mobile application group, n = 20). Both groups had high baseline knowledge scores (89.00 ± 10.65 vs. 96.33 ± 7.32). Mean PPE skill scores increased from 85.83 ± 6.81 to 97.50 ± 3.14 in the printed material group and from 84.79 ± 7.79 to 94.37 ± 5.61 in the mobile application group immediately after training, but decreased at Week 8 after training (85.62 ± 6.11 and 87.08 ± 6.18, respectively). UV‐fluorescent simulation enabled visualization of contamination areas and increased awareness of contamination routes during PPE use.
Conclusions
Both printed educational materials and mobile app–based education improved PPE donning and doffing performance in the short term. However, declining skill levels indicate that one‐time training is insufficient to maintain PPE competence.
Relevance to Clinical Practice
PPE education in intensive care units should combine structured instruction, repeated practice and visual feedback. UV‐fluorescent simulation may strengthen contamination awareness and support infection prevention training.