Background: Nurses have had an essential role in health promotion (hand washing, social distance and wearing a mask) during COVID-19 pandemic. However, some patients wear gloves, which is a possible barrier to proper examination. The aim of this study was to determine the difference in oxygen saturation measurement with or without the use of powder-free nitrile gloves.
Methods: A prospective quasi-experimental before and after study was conducted in a primary care practice (PCP) from Madrid. Intervention consisted in measuring oxygen saturation (SpO2) for each participant covering a finger with a powder-free nitrile glove and a posterior measure without glove. Data collection was obtained from June to July 2020 with patients of the PCP. Variables included were demographic data (age and sex), respiratory medical history and suspicion of COVID-19. Descriptive statistics were expressed as frequencies or means with its standard deviation (SD). Effect of gloves was obtained performing Student’s t-test and agreement was determined by Bland-Altman analysis. Data was stratified by age range.
Results: 177 patients participated in the intervention, mean age was 58.7 (SD: 18.8) years and 53.7% were female, 19.8% had smoke habit, 18.1% had respiratory medical history and 27.7% were suspicious COVID-19 case. No differences were observed in SpO2 intervention across age groups (p value 0.058 with gloves and 0.150 without). There were statistical significance difference in: patients <50 years (SpO2: +0.65), 50-75 years (SpO2: +0.62), females (SpO2: +0.79), smokers (SpO2: +0.60) and COVID suspicious cases (SpO2: +0.64). Bland-Altman analysis was performed, mean difference was -0.56 ± 1.38% (95% CI, -0.77 to -0.35), and the limits of agreement were -3.32 and 2.19%.
Conclusions: The use of powder-free nitrile glove do not change SpO2 with pulse oximetry in general population. However, those patients with potential lung affection might have measures without gloves. Nursing is crucial to educate and prevent from COVID-19 infection.