Use of Portable Air Cleaners in Washington State Schools

A Qualitative Analysis Based on the Technology Acceptance Model

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21354259
AutoresNancy Carmona (0000-0002-2235-5043, Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences University of Washington Seattle 98195 WA USA, autor de correspondencia), Edmund Seto (0000-0003-4058-0313, Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences University of Washington Seattle 98195 WA USA), Lisa Hayward (Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences University of Washington Seattle 98195 WA USA), Lisa S Hayward (University of Washington), Shirlee Tan (Department of Public Health – Seattle and King County, Environmental Health Services Division Seattle 98104 WA USA), Sinang Lee (Department of Public Health – Seattle and King County, Environmental Health Services Division Seattle 98104 WA USA), Brandon Kemperman (Department of Public Health – Seattle and King County, Environmental Health Services Division Seattle 98104 WA USA), Jenna Truong (Department of Public Health – Seattle and King County, Environmental Health Services Division Seattle 98104 WA USA), Elena Austin (0000-0002-4724-1042, Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences University of Washington Seattle 98195 WA USA)
Año2024
Volumen94
Número10
Páginas939-949
Fecha de publicación2024-10-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of School Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0022-4391 • E-ISSN: 1746-1561
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/josh.13482
PMID38890148
OpenAlexW4399827584
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas41

BACKGROUND: The US government allocated over $2.5 billion in "Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER)" funds to Washington State for COVID-19 response and ventilation improvements. Despite available funding, gaps persist in supporting schools to successfully use portable air cleaners (PACs). We evaluated PAC needs within King County, Washington and characterized factors influencing schools' purchase and use of PACs. METHODS: Public Health-Seattle & King County (PHSKC) assessed school's ventilation systems and IAQ improvements through a survey (N = 17). Separately, semi-structured interviews (N = 13) based on the technology acceptance model (TAM) were conducted with school personnel. A thematic analysis using inductive and deductive coding was conducted and logistic regression models assessed the predictive capability of the TAM. RESULTS: The PHSKC survey findings informed our recommendations. Positive attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs in ease of use and effectiveness of PACs were facilitators to PAC use. While barriers included a lack of training, education, and concerns about PAC maintenance and sustainability. TAM constructs of perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEU) were predictive of having the intention to use PACs in schools. CONCLUSIONS: There is a critical need for solutions to circumvent challenges to implementing PACs in schools. This characterization provides insight for promoting PAC use in IAQ-impacted schools.

Environmental health · Government (linguistics) · Logistic regression · Medical education · Public health · Qualitative research · Sociology · Sustainability · Technology Acceptance Model · Thematic analysis · Usability · Air Quality Monitoring and Forecasting · Computer Science · Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure · Infection Control and Ventilation · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology