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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 nurse’s 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.

chapter 1 colorful mask sec 6

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