Table 3.

The most common reasons cited by respondents for not using recommended PPE

Reason cited*	Respondents, n (%) (N = 40)†
I didn't know the patient had pH1N1 or ILL	22 (55)
The recommended PPE was not available near my patients' rooms.	12 (30)
I didn't think I needed it for the activity I was performing.	8 (20)
The facility ran out of the recommended PPE.	7 (18)
I just entered the room for a brief time.	5 (13)
I didn't touch the patient.	5 (13)
The facility didn't provide the recommended PPE.	4 (10)
I didn't come within 6 feet of the patient.	4 (10)
I was too busy to wear PPE.	4 (10)
Inconvenient to use recommended PPE when caring for patients with flu.	4 (10)

^*Respondents could cite more than one reason and cited up to 7 reasons each.

^†Respondents comprised those who reported close contact with a patient with confirmed or probable pH1N1 or ILI and self-reported not always wearing recommended PPE.