Awareness regarding personal protection measures during COVID 19 pandemic among undergraduate students in a teaching hospital in South India

Abstract

Background: WHO declared corona virus disease as a pandemic on March 11th 2020. Health care workers are at a greater risk of infection as they come into contact with the patients. Consistent use of personal protective equipment is important to reduce nosocomial transmission and stops further spread of the disease. The main aim of the study was to assess the awareness of personal protective measures among undergraduate students.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among Final MBBS part-1students of Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool from August to September, 2020, after obtaining IEC clearance. Assuming an awareness of 50%, allowing 20% error, a sample size of 100 was obtained using the formula 4pq/l2. The study subjects were selected by simple random sampling. Questionnaire is based on “Center for Disease Prevention and Control” of health care personnel and sent to the participants through Google forms.Results: Overall, 51% were males, 85% were aware of source of infection, close contact (87%), hand hygiene practices(84%), usage of masks (82%), sequence of donning (58%) and doffing (42%) of PPE.Conclusions: 83% (>10/15 responses) were aware about personal protection and prevent the spread of the disease but very few of them knew in depth about the same, hence a need to reiterate these facts.