Health care workers’ perceptions and reported use of respiratory protective equipment: A qualitative analysis

•Healthcare workers know and mostly follow respiratory protection protocols.•Social norms encourage protocol adherence during high-risk situations.•Diagnostic uncertainty and mistrust of protocols may lead to inappropriate use.•Clinical experience served as a personal protocol in cases of uncertainty.•Respiratory protective equipment nonadherence includes overuse. BackgroundLittle is known about health care workers’ (HCW) perceptions of, or...