The influence of interpersonal relationships in adherance to the use of Personal Protective Equipment

The proposed incentive programs in biosecurity practices focus predominantly on epidemiological, biological and economic aspects with the socio-cultural and interpersonal relationships usually left in the background. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of interpersonal relationships in the adherence to the use of personal protective equipment by nursing staff. This was a qualitative descriptive study conducted in 2008 in a teaching hospital in Goiania/GO, in which 15 employees of the nursing staff participated. Data were collected through focus groups and analyzed by the “Interpretation of Meanings” method, from which emerged the category “motivation of interpersonal relationships or non-adherence to the use of personal protective equipment’. The results also show that the interpersonal relationship influences security and personal protection issues at various levels in the workplace, both in organizational aspects and management such as in relationships with other professional catagories and other hospital sectors. The relationships in the workplace appeared to be determinate and often decisive for taking protection related decisions. It was concluded that adherence to the use of personal protective equipment is influenced by interpersonal relationships established by the professionals, because in them, values and beliefs are shared and can be decisive in personal choices.