Application of SHEL Model in the Management of Respiratory Tract Exposure in Fangcang Shelter Hospitals for COVID-19

OBJECTIVE: To explore the application effect of the (software factors, hardware factors, environmental factors, parties and other factors, SHEL) model in respiratory tract exposure protection of staff in temporary COVID-19 hospitals. METHODS: 207 Staff members working in the isolation units of Fangcang shelter hospitals between 20 May 2022 and 5 June 2022 were selected as research subjects. The SHEL model was used to protect and manage the respiratory exposure of the isolation unit staff to the novel coronavirus. The incidence of respiratory exposure among the staff in the isolation units was compared before the SHEL model’s implementation (20 May 2022–28 May 2022) and afterwards the SHEL model’s implementation (29 May 2022–5 June 2022). RESULTS: Before the implementation of the SHEL model, a total of nine cases (4.35%) from 207 workers had respiratory exposure. Occurrence location: six cases in the isolation room (one-out room, level-one protection zone) and three cases in the drop-off area for patients outside the ward. After implementation, a total of two cases (0.97%) of respiratory tract exposure occurred among the 207 staff members; both occurred in the unprotected zone (two-out room, level-two protection zone), and the difference was statistically significant before and after the implementation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: New coronary pneumonia Fangcang shelter hospitals should use the SHEL model to manage the respiratory exposure of their isolation unit staff to reduce the respiratory exposure risk to staff in isolation units.