The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by police during a public health crisis: An experimental test of public perception

Objectives To experimentally evaluate the effects of personal protective equipment (PPE) on participants' perceptions of police during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods As part of the experimental paradigm, participants were randomly assigned to read a fictitious news article about the utility of PPE (i.e., pro-PPE, anti-PPE, or neutral), and then rate images of a police officer using different items of PPE (i.e., masks, goggles, face shields, and/or medical gloves) along eight dimensions. Results The analyses reveal that participants overwhelmingly perceived the use of PPE as both important and beneficial, regardless of condition. The analyses also reveal that the use of PPE impacted perceptions of the pictured officer, but that the specific perceptual effects of such PPE varied by the item used. Conclusions Police worldwide have attempted to reduce the risks associated with COVID-19 by using PPE. In addition to functional benefits, many items of PPE also present perceptual benefits.

Automated summary

The study found that participants overwhelmingly viewed the use of PPE as important and beneficial regardless of their attitude towards it. The use of PPE had an impact on the perceptions of the pictured officer, with different items of PPE resulting in different perceptual effects.