Effect of Personal Protective Equipment on Physiological Parameters of Healthcare Professionals in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Manequin Study

Background: Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) has become an important element of hospital equipment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this process, use of PPE has been quite challenging for healthcare workers, and it’s thought that use of PPE causes stress on the body and lack of attention. This study aimed to examine effects of PPE use during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on various physiological parameters and attention. Methods: 27 volunteers were included in study and participants were divided into two groups with PPE and without PPE. The physiological parameters of the volunteers were reported before and after each application. Advanced Cardiac Life Support application was applied on a model (SimMan Resusci Anne QCPR Laerdal. Stavanger, Norway). Results: In measurements made before and after CPR without the use of PPE, in addition to weight loss, the increase in lactate, glucose and end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) was found to be statistically significant. Among the parameters evaluated after CPR, increase in heart rate, weight loss, lactate, perfusion index and ETCO₂ was statistically significant. When both groups were evaluated with initial IPAQ scores and Beck Anxiety Inventory, no statistically significant difference was detected between the groups. Conclusion: The study shows that use of PPE has serious physiological effects on the user, especially in procedures that require intense physical effort, such as CPR.