Table 5 Review eligibility criteria

Types of participants

Healthcare workers volunteers

Intervention treatment

Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) studied separately or within a personal protective equipment (PPE).

Hybrid PAPR (hybrid PAPR is designed as both a self-contained breathing apparatus, PAPR and a standard mask—their design features may not reflect a true PAPR device intended for healthcare use)

Comparator

Any other respiratory protective equipment, FFP3/FFP2/N95, or surgical masks.

Outcomes

-Healthcare worker infection rates utilizing PAPR technology within a PPE program as infection with SARS-Cov-2, SARS-Cov-1, EBOLA, or MERS;

-Contamination of skin or clothing measured with any type of test material to visualize contamination;

-Compliance with guidance on the use of PAPR measured with, e.g., observation checklist;

-Level of wearer comfort whilst using the PAPR;

-Objective and/or subjective measures of work of breathing during the use of PAPR;

-Costs of resource use of PAPR equipment;

-Impact of structured training programs on PAPR use;

Study design

Randomized controlled trials

Non-randomized studies

Observational studies (cohort studies, case-control studies, cross-sectional studies, case series)

Case reports

Surveys

Study setting

Inpatient care/critical care/intensive care;

Timing

Perioperative process-preadmission, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative setting

Studies incorporating long-term (greater than 3 months) postoperative rehabilitation