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Effective factors on not using the N95 respirators among health care workers: Application of Fuzzy Delphi and Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP)
Author(s) -
Honarbakhsh Marzieh,
Jahangiri Mehdi,
Farhadi Payam
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of healthcare risk management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.221
H-Index - 16
eISSN - 2040-0861
pISSN - 1074-4797
DOI - 10.1002/jhrm.21286
Subject(s) - respirator , delphi , delphi method , analytic hierarchy process , computer science , health care , fuzzy logic , medicine , operations research , engineering , artificial intelligence , materials science , economics , composite material , economic growth , operating system
Using respiratory protective equipment (RPE) including N95 respirators is one of the most important ways to protect health care workers (HCWs) against respiratory hazards. The aim of this study was to identify and prioritize the problems and obstacles in using N95 respirators among HCWs in Iran. In this cross‐sectional study, problems and obstacles in using N95 respirators were identified and ranked by experts, using Fuzzy Delphi and Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP). Additionally, HCWs were asked to give their opinions about obstacles in using N95 respirators in order to form an opinion. Of 15 important obstacles in using N95 respirators identified by Fuzzy Delphi method, 6 factors were entered into the FAHP model: heat around the face, inaccessibility to respirator, difficulty breathing, pressure on the nose, trouble communicating with patients and colleagues, and no one does it. Identified problems and obstacles in using N95 respirators could be controlled during the selection of respirators, as well as by training and administrative measures.