KAPB STUDY ON USE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT BY HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL IN A COVID-19 FACILITY
Sujata Banerjee*, Aniruddha Malgaonkar and Sundaram Kartikeyan
ABSTRACT
This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on medical, paramedical and housekeeping staff, of either sex, in a designated COVID-19 facility in Maharashtra state. After explaining the purpose of the study to participants, their informed consent was obtained. A pre-tested and pre-validated questionnaire was used for interviewing the participants, at their convenience. The gender differences in age were not significant for medical (Z=1.878; p=0.060), paramedical (Z=1.705; p=0.089) and housekeeping personnel (Z=0.537; p=0.589). The gender differences in duration of COVID-19 duty were not significant for medical (Z=0.695; p=0.490), paramedical (Z=1.215; p=0.222) and housekeeping personnel (Z=1.699; p=0.089). Significant gender difference (Z=2.031; p=0.042) was seen between paramedical staff who had used personal protective equipment before COVID-19 pandemic, but these gender differences were not significant amongst medical and housekeeping staff. This study has revealed gaps in the existing knowledge, attitude, practice and behaviour of health care personnel in relation to use of personal protective equipment and has drawn attention to missed opportunities for their training and re-training. Health care facilities ought to prepare for future pandemics by establishing norms and periodically auditing the use of personal protective equipment by health care personnel.
Keywords: Coronavirus, COVID-19, Health care personnel, KAPB, PPE.
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