ABSTRACT
AIMS: This study investigated emergency nurses' attitudes and perceptions about personal protective equipment and their association with the willingness to care for COVID-19 patients. BACKGROUND: Emergency nurses are at increased risk for COVID-19 infection as frontline workers and must wear personal protective equipment while attending suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients. METHODS: In September 2021, 188 nurses in four emergency departments completed online questionnaires. RESULTS: Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that as perceptions of COVID-19 infection risk increased by 1 point, 26% of nurses were willing to care of COVID-19 patients. The willingness to care for COVID-19 patients increased in their attitudes by 1.16 point and perceptions by 1.08 points about PPE. CONCLUSIONS: Perceptions of the risk of infection exposure and confidence in safety of personal protective equipment are associated with nurses' willingness to care for COVID-19 patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nurse managers need to assess nurses' needs for safety and provide a supportive climate to mitigate their concerns regarding infection risk and encourage nurses' willingness to care for patients. Nurse managers should provide precise guidelines on correct personal protective equipment use. Repetitive training on personal protective equipment should be provided to encourage nurses' adaptation to its use.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Nurses , Humans , Personal Protective Equipment , COVID-19/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Attitude of Health Personnel , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Lectins, which exhibit viral-interaction abilities, have garnered attention in the current pandemic era as potential neutralizing agents and vaccine candidates. Viral invasion through envelope proteins is modulated by N-linked glycosylation in the spike (S) protein. This study demonstrates the biophysical aspects between lectins and high-mannose and -galactose N-glycans to provide insights into binding events.