RESUMO
This study was conducted to determine changes in overall costs associated with conversion to powder-free gloves including cost of workers' compensation cases for natural rubber latex (NRL)-related symptoms and health care workers' glove satisfaction. The study, a 2-year, longitudinal design with retrospective and prospective aspects, was developed to determine health care worker use of powder-free, low-protein NRL gloves, sensitization, cost, and glove satisfaction. Informed consent was obtained from 103 health care workers. Prior to glove conversion, nearly one-half (44%, 36 of 82) of the operating room staff reported symptoms related to NRL exposure. At the end of the 14-month data collection period, only 27% (22 of 82, McNemar test = .007) reported symptoms related to NRL exposure. Additionally, a cost savings of 10,000 dollars per year for gloves was evident with reports of increased user satisfaction. This study demonstrated that conversion to the use of powder-free, low-protein NRL gloves not only reduces health care worker NRL symptoms, but also positively affects the costs of glove purchases and workers' compensation.
Assuntos
Luvas Cirúrgicas , Hipersensibilidade ao Látex/prevenção & controle , Doenças Profissionais/prevenção & controle , Adulto , Atitude do Pessoal de Saúde , Redução de Custos , Efeitos Psicossociais da Doença , Análise Custo-Benefício , Feminino , Luvas Cirúrgicas/efeitos adversos , Luvas Cirúrgicas/economia , Luvas Cirúrgicas/normas , Hospitais Universitários , Humanos , Hipersensibilidade ao Látex/economia , Hipersensibilidade ao Látex/etiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Doenças Profissionais/economia , Doenças Profissionais/etiologia , Exposição Ocupacional/efeitos adversos , Exposição Ocupacional/economia , Exposição Ocupacional/prevenção & controle , Recursos Humanos em Hospital/psicologia , Pós/efeitos adversos , Estudos Prospectivos , Estudos Retrospectivos , Borracha , Inquéritos e Questionários , Indenização aos Trabalhadores/economiaRESUMO
This study examined health care worker satisfaction with the use of non-powdered natural rubber latex (NRL) surgical gloves to determine the impact of non-powdered NRL gloves on the NRL sensitization of operating room personnel. The study used a 1-year longitudinal design to obtain recall information from employees about their NRL exposure. Additionally, a survey was completed by participants related to their satisfaction with non-powdered NRL gloves. Informed consent was obtained from 103 employees. After conversion to an operating room using non-powdered NRL, there was a significant decrease in reported symptoms with NRL exposure (42% pre- and 29% post-conversion, Fisher's exact, two-tailed, p = .0001). This study demonstrated that the conversion to non-powdered low-protein NRL gloves resulted in decreased symptoms because of NRL exposure.