Objective: The aim of this study is to improve the effectiveness of training in putting on and removing personal protective equipment (PPE) during COVID-19.
Methods: An information–motivation–behavioral skills (IMB) model intervention team was established with the adoption of the IMB model to intervene in putting on and removing PPE by medical staff during COVID-19. Specifically, the information intervention was strengthened through the formulation of the hospital manual for PPE application. In the present study’s five-stage motivational interview, the personal motivation and social motivation of medical staff were deeply understood, helping the medical staff to improve their belief in the importance of correct PPE application and to establish the correct attitude toward PPE application. In terms of behavioral skills, there are numerous issues that could interfere with the establishment of proper PPE application, including material supply, double duty, simultaneous supervision of entering and leaving, continuous supervision, video supervision, and nosocomial infection inspection. The scores relating to PPE application knowledge and self-efficacy as well as the PPE usage qualification rate were calculated in the control group and the IMB intervention group and subsequently compared.
Results: For the control group and the IMB intervention group, the scores for PPE application knowledge were 87.78 ± 10.46 and 95.56 ± 9.06 points, respectively. For self-efficacy, the scores were 25.19 ± 0.97 and 33.79 ± 2.05 points, and the PPE usage qualification rates were 64.8% and 90.0%, respectively. The differences in all the scores were statistically significant between the two groups.
Conclusion: The application of the IMB model could improve the relevant knowledge relating to PPE application, strengthen the belief in the importance of and motivation for correct PPE application, improve the qualification rate for PPE application, and provide a theoretical and practical basis for reducing the occurrence of nosocomial infection.
Keywords: information–motivation–behavioral skills model, COVID-19, personal protective equipment