BMC Health Serv Res. 2026 Apr 10. doi: 10.1186/s12913-026-14512-3. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an intelligent interaction voice prompting system (IIVPS) for guiding medical staff in the removal of personal protective equipment (PPE).
METHODS: A total of 152 medical staff members were enrolled via convenience sampling. Using a one-group pretest-posttest design, system effectiveness was evaluated by comparing pre- and post-intervention PPE removal accuracy, psychological stress, and operational fatigue, with nonparametric tests for statistical analyses. User experiences and suggestions for improvement were collected via questionnaires and face-to-face interviews.
RESULTS: All participants achieved correct PPE-removal procedure adherence while using the IIVPS. The use of the IIVPS was associated with a significant increase in PPE-removal accuracy from 78% to 100% (P < 0.001). The median psychological stress score decreased from 3.00 (3.00, 4.00) to 2.00 (1.00, 2.00) (Z = -8.610, P < 0.001), and the median operational fatigue score decreased from 3.00 (3.00, 4.00) to 1.50 (1.00, 2.00) (Z = -9.172, P < 0.001). Significant differences in system mastery were observed based on PPE training history and familiarity (P < 0.05), while learning acceptance varied by age, work experience, and PPE familiarity (P < 0.05). Analysis of qualitative feedback revealed overwhelmingly positive responses (95.39%), with key themes including “effective operational guidance” and “stress reduction”.
CONCLUSIONS: The IIVPS may effectively guide medical staff in standardised PPE removal and potentially reduce psychological stress and operational fatigue. However, this study’s one-group design and short-term evaluation limit causal inferences, and long-term effectiveness requires verification via randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The system shows promising potential for clinical application and training.
CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.
PMID:41964050 | DOI:10.1186/s12913-026-14512-3
