Niharika B.1, R. Suchitra2, Shreenivas Shouri3, Posina Priyanka4
BACKGROUND
The healthcare personnel are the first ones to get exposed to corona virus disease
(COVID 19) infection while serving the patients in the hospital. Correct knowledge
and practice regarding personal protective equipment (PPE) kit usage is the need
of the hour which acts as a barrier for infection. The level of knowledge on PPE,
method of guidance and the perceived need for PPE by healthcare personnel play
an important role in controlling the infections in hospital settings.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Covid Care Center of a Tertiary Care
Hospital of Ananthapuramu district among healthcare staff using a pre-structured
closed-ended questionnaire regarding socio-demographic details and usage of
personal protective equipment. The score obtained was classified as good if the
score ranges from 6 to 8 & poor if the score is from 0 to 5.
RESULTS
28 out of 64 subjects (43.7 %) had good knowledge & practice regarding PPE kit
usage. Majority of them had given correct responses for PPE kit components,
wearing masks and disposal of PPE while most of them scored poorly in donning
and doffing steps, wearing gloves and foot covers.
CONCLUSIONS
Most of the study subjects had good knowledge regarding wearing masks, PPE kit
components, & method of disposal of PPE. Majority of them did not know the
correct steps for donning & doffing of PPE & wearing gloves. Most of the doctors
did not even have adequate knowledge on appropriate usage and disposal of PPE.
As per the study, neither gender nor job title could determine the level of
knowledge & practice of PPE kit. Well planned training sessions for health care
workers (HCWs) regarding the steps of donning and doffing of PPE, correct
method of disposal of PPE & using right substitutes is important.
