Assessment of Awareness and Optimal Utilization of Personal Protective Equipment during COVID-19 Pandemic by Health Care Workers

This chapter provides an overview of knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) regarding the use of PPE during COVID-19 pandemic among health care workers at a tertiary care center. This cross-sectional study was conducted among Health Care Workers (HCW) including all resident doctors and nursing staff working at Mahatma Gandhi Missions’ (MGM) hospital which is a dedicated

Covid-19 tertiary health care center situated in Navi Mumbai, India. A pre-designed, pre-validated, semi-structured questionnaire regarding the use of PPE was distributed online to eligible HCW and their responses were recorded electronically between April 14, 2020 and April 20, 2020. A total of 423 out of 475 eligible participants successfully submitted their responses and were included in the present study which included junior resident doctors (55.70%), senior resident doctors (19.60%) and nursing staff (24.60%). The Mean total knowledge score was 4.169 ± 1.006 with an overall correct response rate of 75.8%. The result of one-way ANOVA indicated that there is significant difference in the mean total knowledge score according to designation (F=6602, p<.01) with improved knowledge score seen in HCW with higher designation. Frontline HCW are at increased risk of acquiring nosocomial infection in hospital settings as seen in outbreaks of transmissible infectious diseases in the past. More than one-fifth (21%) of patients who acquired severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) which emerged in 2002 were HCW. Majority of HCW had positive attitude and appropriate practices regarding the use of PPE. Appropriate utilization of PPE is extremely crucial to prevent transmission of infection to health care workers and other patients. This will avoid collapse of existing health care system already burdened during pandemic. Completeness and accuracy of PPE usage depends on adequate knowledge, right attitude and correct practices of health care workers. Its assessment enables health authorities to undertake quick key policy decisions and interventions at various levels of health care.