Assess the Level of Practice on Usage of Personal Protective Equipment among Health Care Workers

Abstract

Background: Personal protective equipment (PPE) provides a physical barrier between microorganism and wearer. It’s important to assess the level of compliance with use of PPE by the various health care workers (HCWs) who make direct contact with patients. Methods: Non-experimental descriptive design was used with quantitative survey approach. Setting of the study was in a tertiary hospital, Bengaluru. Samples were all HCWs those who were available during study period. Sample size was total 200. Non probability, purposive sampling technique was used for the study. The data was collected using an observational checklist. Results: Out of 200 HCWs, majority (34%) was nursing students and remaining (33%) of each were doctors, and staff nurses. Percentage wise distribution of HCWs according to the level of practice on usage of PPE in wards showed that majority (60%) had average practice, whereas the lowest percentages (6%) had poor practice. Majority (72%) of HCWs in intensive care unit (ICU), operation theatre (OT) and labour room (LR) had good practice whereas the lowest percentage (1%) had poor practice. There was significant association found between the practice scores on usage of PPE with the selected demographic variables i.e. HCWs, age, educational qualification and years of work experience. Conclusion: Findings of the present study concluded that there is a requisite to improve the practices of HCWs’ on usage of PPE. Periodic reinforcement and training programs are needed for all level of HCWs in order to maintain adherence with appropriate use of PPE.