[{"command":"settings","settings":{"basePath":"\/","pathPrefix":"","setHasJsCookie":0,"ajaxPageState":{"theme":"iaqa_u","theme_token":"qPjflrgw8BZbsF5eP0wFLfCFO-NMehGjbx2p_x80Jv8","jquery_version":"1.10"},"CToolsModal":{"loadingText":"Loading...","closeText":"Close Window","closeImage":"\u003Cimg typeof=\u0022foaf:Image\u0022 class=\u0022img-responsive\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/university.iaqa.org\/sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/ctools\/images\/icon-close-window.png\u0022 alt=\u0022Close window\u0022 title=\u0022Close window\u0022 \/\u003E","throbber":"\u003Cimg typeof=\u0022foaf:Image\u0022 class=\u0022img-responsive\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/university.iaqa.org\/sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/ctools\/images\/throbber.gif\u0022 alt=\u0022Loading\u0022 title=\u0022Loading...\u0022 \/\u003E"},"edu-modal-style":{"modalSize":{"type":"fixed","width":"auto","addHeight":700,"height":"auto"},"modalOptions":{"background-color":"black"},"closeText":"\u003Ci class=\u0022fa fa-times-circle\u0022 title=\u0022Close\u0022\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E","loadingText":"","modalTheme":"edu_modal_theme","animation":"fadeIn","animationSpeed":"medium","throbberTheme":"edu_modal_throbber"},"better_exposed_filters":{"views":{"course_modal":{"displays":{"block":{"filters":[]}}}}}},"merge":true},{"command":"modal_display","title":"Respiratory Protection for Bearded Healthcare Workers: Evaluation of the Under-Respirator Elastic Band Beard Cover (Singh Thattha Technique)","output":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022view view-course-modal view-id-course_modal view-display-id-block view-dom-id-03aa693fe4f4d5b9d4c7d30919c283e3\u0022\u003E\n        \n  \n  \n      \u003Cdiv class=\u0022view-content\u0022\u003E\n        \u003Cdiv class=\u0022views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last\u0022\u003E\n      \n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022views-field views-field-field-edu-body\u0022\u003E        \u003Cdiv class=\u0022field-content\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPresenter Bio: Charles Bodas\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ECharles Bodas Having worked as an industrial hygiene and occupational health and safety consultant for over 20 years in fields such as asbestos, occupational and environmental noise assessment, and hazardous substances exposure monitoring, in 2021 Mr Bodas joined the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) providing a technical lead role for the Respiratory Protection Program (RPP). The RPP at RMH is responsible for respiratory protection for its 10,000+ employees. Respirator fit testing is a key part of the program, which also includes risk assessments and ventilation\/indoor air quality improvement projects. Since its inception the RPP has also broadly contributed to research on respiratory protection of healthcare workers with the publication of several papers, most recently in the Medical Journal of Australia. In November 2021, the RPP was awarded the Excellence in Allied Health and Clinical Support Services Award at the Melbourne Health Celebrating Excellence Awards 2021. A selection of recently published papers is outlined below: Ng, I., Kave, B., Begg, F., Bodas, C. R., Segal, R., \u0026amp; Williams, D. N95 respirators: quantitative fit test pass rates and usability and comfort assessment by health care workers. Medical Journal of Australia. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5694\/mja2.51585\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.5694\/mja2.51585\u003C\/a\u003E (open access article) Williams, D., Kave, B., Begg, F., Bodas, C., \u0026amp; Ng, I. (2022). Quantitative fit-test concordance of a pair of similar-fit 3M Aura respirator models, 3M 9320A and 3M 1870: A randomized crossover study. Infection Control \u0026amp; Hospital Epidemiology, 1-4. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/ice.2022.67\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/ice.2022.67\u003C\/a\u003E (open access article) Williams, D., Kave, B., Begg, F., Bodas, C., \u0026amp; Ng, I. Randomized crossover study comparing quantitative fit tests between Trident\u2122 and 3M\u2122 Aura\u2122 N95\/P2 respirators, Infection, disease \u0026amp; health, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 61\u201365, 2022. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.idh.2021.10.002\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.idh.2021.10.002\u003C\/a\u003E Williams, D., Begg, F., Bodas, C., \u0026amp; Ng, I. Respiratory protection preparedness in critical care healthcare workers: An observational audit of facial hair at a major tertiary hospital in Australia, Infection, disease \u0026amp; health, 2022, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.idh.2022.01.003\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.idh.2022.01.003\u003C\/a\u003E References 1. Singh, R, Safri, HS, Singh, S, et al, 2020, \u0027Under-mask bear cover (Singh Thattha technique) for donning respirator masks in COVID-19 patient care\u0027, Journal of Hospital Infection, Vol 106, pp. 782-785 2. Under-mask beard cover (Singh Thattha technique): preliminary summary 22 October 2021. Victorian Department of Health.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EPresentation Description:\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAim\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETo evaluate the under-respirator elastic band beard cover (Singh Thattha technique) at Royal Melbourne Hospital, in order to provide respiratory protection to bearded healthcare workers (HCWs).\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EProblem\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHCWs who are unable to shave due to religious, cultural or medical reasons are prevented from working in areas that require the use of a fitted N95\/P2 respirator. This has compounded staff shortages during a period of unprecedented demand on the healthcare system.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMethods\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAn under-mask elastic band beard cover, also known as the Singh Thattha technique1, has been identified as a potential solution that would enable the use of tight-fitting respirators for this cohort of workers. This technique involves the use of a long elastic band, such as a TheraBand\u00ae (used for resistance exercise and Pilates) that is placed over the beard, secured closely around the sides of the face and tied on top of the head. The respirator is then worn with the seal formed on the band (artificial skin). This is a relatively novel technique with limited evidence into its reliability and effectiveness2.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERMH is conducting a multi-faceted study assessing the effectiveness of this technique using disposable filtering facepiece respirators that are available to Victorian healthcare workers.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EResults\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFinal results are still pending as the trial is in progress \u2013 this will take approximately another 6 weeks. Initial results are very encouraging, with every participant able to achieve 3 consecutive passes with at least one disposable FFR in a quantitative fit test (including doffing and donning the elastic band each time).\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\n\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E  \u003C\/div\u003E  \u003C\/div\u003E\n    \u003C\/div\u003E\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n\u003C\/div\u003E"}]