Identifying the Efficacy of Colorful Mask as a Mood Indicator and a Medium for the Prevention against Communicable Disease

among Patients and Nurses

CHAPTER I The Problem and Its Background Introduction Clinical settings in the Philippines, especially those which are found in the community, are home for the different types of communicable disease. Moreover, transmission of these communicable diseases can be in the form of direct, indirect, or airborne transmission. Wherein direct transmission (Kozier et.al, 2004) involves immediate transfer of

microorganisms from person to person. These can be in the form of touching, biting, kissing or sexual intercourse. On the other hand, (Navales, 2007) indirect contact can be in two forms- vehicle-borne (through fomites or inanimate objects) or vector-borne ( through animals, usually insects). However, acquiring these potential diseases can also be in the form of airborne transmission. This may involve droplets or dusts. Droplets, according to Navales (2007), are the residue emitted by the infected host through sneezing, coughing or simply

talking. Similarly, dust particles containing the infectious agents can also become airborne. These infectious agents, added by Kozier, et.al (2008), may remain suspended in the air for long periods of time or can be transmitted by air currents towards another host. Among these modes of contact, the airborne transmission is most likely to be the most dangerous and most difficult to deal with since the

particles containing the microorganisms or infectious agents may not be perceived by those people surrounded by it; hence the risk of being contracted by these agents are very high. Because of this, healthcare providers are of great potential to being the host of different diseases found mainly in the public health clinics or hospitals. Nurses who are generally involved in close patient interaction are often times at risk for contracting these infectious agents. That is why saftey precautions among nurses should always be prioritized whenever handling clients suspected with communicable disease. Nevertheless, protective pieces of equipment should always be available for the whole healthcare team. Healthcare providers must also be knowledgable and vigilant not only when interacting with patients already having or suspected to having communicable disease but also should be aware of their working environment as well. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), according to the Northern Ireland Regional Infection Prevention and Control Manual, should be used whenever interacting to patients with suspected contagious or infectious disease. These PPEs, as cited by the institution, are primarily disposable gloves, aprons, masks, eye protection and other face protection. Aside from this, the institution added that the healthcare providers must make a risk assessment for them to be able to select the PPE of choice. The risk assessment mentioned are the; (1) nature of procedure, (2) the risk of exposure to blood or body fluids, (3) the risk of

exposure

to

pathogenic

microorganisms,

and

(4)

the

risk

for

contamination. Among these PPEs, mask is most likely to be considered as the cheapest garment intended to minimize the risk of acquiring infectious agents. There are several modified masks available all over the Philippines and in the world. But this study focused on the usage of colorful masks in the Philippine clinical setting. The controversies behind the efficacy of these colorful mask in safeguarding healthworkers' health (nurses in particular) has always been a trend in the localities; hence, the motivation of the research. Aside from this, the researchers of this study aims to find out whether using this kind of mask elicits a particular mood (e.g the patient being at ease with nurse) on nurse-patient interaction. Nevertheless, the research's primary objective is to identify the pros and cons in utilizing colorful mask as a device of protection and as a means to a smoother nurse-patient interaction.

Statement of the Problem The researchers will seek to find the level of efficiency in using colourful masks in terms of safeguarding nurses health and will identify whether utilizing these masks affect the mood(s) of nurse and patient in the course of their interaction at Fatima University Medical Center and San Lazaro Hospital.

The following inquiries will guide the study to come up with its general theme. 1. What is the profile of the respondents? Nurses 1.1 Age; 1.2 Gender; and 1.3 Area of assignment (for the nurses) Patients 1.1 Age; 1.2 Gender; 1.3 Reason of admission; and 1.4 Length of admission 2. What are the common communicable diseases handled by the staff nurse? 3. What is the level of agreement among staff nurses regarding the effectiveness of colourful mask in decreasing the possibility of acquiring different communicable diseases being it as a medium of protection? 4. From what materials are the colorful mask made of? 5. What are the mood(s) elicited upon wearing colorful mask (during interaction) with the following subjects? a. Nurses b. Patient

6. Is there a significant difference in wearing a colorful mask in preventing the occurrence of communicable diseases and in setting the mood among nurses and patients in comparison with the traditional mask? 7. How do these colourful masks affect the working relationship, the mood between the nurse and the patient, and in the prevention of different communicable diseases based on their experiences?

Hypothesis of the Study There is no significant difference in wearing a colorful mask in preventing the occurrence of communicable diseases and in setting the mood among nurses and patients in comparison with the traditional mask.

Significance of the Study This study aims to clarify if not totally answer the level of efficacy in utilizing colorful mask to safeguard nurses in aquiring infectious disease from potential hosts and moreover, to know the possible mood(s) it provides during the nurse-patient interaction. The study will be beneficial to the following:

Nurses and Student Nurses. The outcome of this research will be beneficial first and foremost to the nurses and student nurse who resort

to colorful mask as a device of protection. This will supplement their knowledge and give them ideas of preference on whether it is appropriate or not, advisable or not, and generally significant to use this kind of mask. Furthermore, this research will be of great use to them by knowing their client's perception regarding colorful mask; hence establishing a fluent (NPR) Nurse-patient relationship.

Hospital Clients. With the result of this study, hospital clients will be able to achieve a well-established care mainly because nurses who render care to them will be more sensitive on what they generally perceive in the clinical setting.

Hospital Management and Healthcare Practice. The researchers of this study aspire to help the hospital management. Administrators of the hospitals are expected to consider the beneficial result of this study and if possible to assimilate the significant results to their healthcare practice in order to primarily guard their health and improve the quality of care being rendered to their client.

Community. This study, although focused in clinical setting, can also be beneficial to the community. Ordinary people in the locale can improve or aquire awareness regarding the importance of mask in protecting

their health. Moreover, locals may be able to actively participate in disease prevention and control.

Future

Researchers.

The

result

of

this

study

may

provide

supplemental data for the future researchers. The research may also be used as a source of reference or basis for their own study.

Researhers. The outcome of the research can support the researcher's assumptions; hence can be used as a potential medium for the advancement in the field of nursing and medicine. INCLUDE RESEARCHER Scope and Limitation of the Study The study will be bound and limited to the responses and insights of the total sample of nurses assigned in the communicable disease ward regarding their preference and utilization of colorful mask as a protective device. The research group will amass a total of 30 respondents between the two (2) study areas. There are fifteen (15) respondents from Fatima University Medical Center and fifteen (15) respondents from San Lazaro Hospital. Additionally, the study will be limited to the (2) two variables of focus. These include: (1) the usage of colorful mask to the most common communicable disease that requires mask for protection; (2) and the mood the colorful mask provides upon nurse-patient interaction.

The duration of data gathering will be carried out from March to April, 2012.