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Self-Efficay with Using Recommended Personal Protective Equipment and COVID-19 Positivity: A Case- Control Study
Journal article   Open access

Self-Efficay with Using Recommended Personal Protective Equipment and COVID-19 Positivity: A Case- Control Study

Robert Niezgoda, Christine Petersen, Natoshia Askelson, Jonathan Platt, John Flunker and Michael Pentella
Journal of Public Health Issues and Practices, Vol.10(1), 259
05/09/2026
DOI: 10.33790/jphip1100259
url
https://doi.org/10.33790/jphip1100259View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Background: Proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and training have been identified as effective measures for decreasing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare settings. However, health care personnel (HCP) self-efficacy of properly using recommended PPE and COVID-19 positivity has not been explored. HCP in clinical and non-clinical roles are a vital part of the healthcare system infrastructure. Understanding how self-efficacy of PPE use affected SARS-CoV-2 positivity is important to inform future pandemic and infection prevention interventions.Objective: The study purpose was to evaluate associations between self-reported comfort with properly using recommended PPE as a measure of self-efficacy among HCP in clinical and non-clinical roles and COVID-19 positivity. We hypothesized that HCP with lower self-efficacy, will have higher odds of COVID-19 positivity.Methods: We conducted a case-control study of the association between self-efficacy as measured by self-reported comfort with using recommended PPE and COVID-19 positivity among HCP using data from the PReventing Emerging infections through Vaccine Effective Ness Testing (PREVENT) study, a multicenter SARS-CoV-2 vaccine effectiveness case-control study of HCP (n=6,983) in academic medical centers located in 15 metropolitan areas of 13 U.S. states between January 2021 and May 2022. We used a categorical variable of self-reported comfort level with properly using recommended PPE (very comfortable, somewhat comfortable, somewhat uncomfortable, very uncomfortable) as the primary exposure variable conceptualized as an indicator of self-efficacy of using recommended PPE.Results: HCP reporting being very uncomfortable with properly using recommended PPE had greater odds of COVID-19 positivity (aOR=1.58, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.44) compared to HCP who were very comfortable using recommended PPE.Conclusions: Findings are important for future pandemic response efforts and infection control strategies. Additional research is warranted regarding HCP self-efficacy of PPE use, efficacy of PPE training modalities, and self-efficacy’s influence on other protective behaviors in the work setting and community.

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