Determination of thermal comfort among nurses working with personal protective equipment in COVID‐19 clinics.

Aims: This study aimed to determine thermal comfort among nurses working with personal protective equipment in COVID‐19 clinic. Methods: In this study, a descriptive design was carried out between June and September 2020. Sample of the study consisted of 246 nurses (77.6%) who worked in the COVID‐19 clinics with personal protective equipment. We used a questionnaire to determine thermal comfort of nurses; a follow‐up form to determine the factors affecting thermal comfort; and the ASHRAE Thermal Sensation Scale. Four measurements and follow‐ups were made three times. Results: More than half of nurses complained of ambient temperature and ventilation, one‐third complained of humidity and nearly half complained of poor air quality. The mean thermal comfort score of nurses working in COVID‐19 clinics was 1.19 (SD = 0.75). The thermal comfort of the nurses was negatively affected in all measurements except before wearing personal protective equipment. The highest scores were measured leaving the patient room and before removing personal protective equipment (M = 2.65, SD = 0.58). Conclusion: The thermal comfort, work performance and stress levels of the nurses were negatively affected by working with personal protective equipment. This study reveals the necessity of improving the working conditions of nurses, including working hours, environment and personal protective equipment. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Thermal comfort is one of the important factors affecting nurses' working performance.The working conditions of the nurses affected their thermal comfort.Due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, health‐care professionals had to work with personal protective equipment. What this paper adds? The thermal comfort of nurses working in patients' rooms with personal protective equipment was negatively affected in COVID‐19 clinics.The temperature and stress levels of the nurses increased, and their performance decreased when working in the patients' rooms with personal protective equipmentThe thermal comfort of nurses working in intensive care units was affected more negatively than nurses working in other services. The implications of this paper: The ventilation systems should be improved to provide thermal comfort for those working with personal protective equipment.Working time and breaks should be organized accordingly considering the negative effects of working with personal protective equipment on nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]