Practice of Personal Protective Equipment among Dental Surgery Assistants: Survey from a Public Sector Hospital

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practices about personal protective equipment (PPE) among dental surgery assistants in a Public Sector Teaching Hospital of Multan. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among dental surgery assistants in the dental outpatient departments of a public sector hospital of Multan city from Aug to Oct 2019. Pre-structured questionnaire which comprised of socio-demographic data, questions related to knowledge, attitude and practices was used. In the domain of knowledge there were 6 items. Dental assistant who scores ≤4 were considered to have appropriate knowledge for PPE. In the domain of attitude there were 5 items. Dental assistant who scores ≤3 were considered to have positive attitude for PPE. In the domain of practices there were 6 items. Dental assistant who scores ≤4 was considered good practicing of PPE. Results: Of 80 participants, 65 (81.25%) were males and 15 (18.75%) were females. Majority (n=54, 67.5%) of them were between 21-30 years of age. Appropriate knowledge was observed in 77 (96.3%) participants, positive attitude in 53 (66.3%) while, only 8 (10%) participants practiced good PPE. A significant difference was reported in the practices of dental assistants when compared with their knowledge (p-value 0.046) while attitude was found to be insignificant (p-value 0.710). Conclusion:Dental surgery assistants of the renowned public sector teaching hospital of Multan city reported sound and apposite knowledge, moderate attitude while inappropriate practices about PPE.

Vaccination Status of Demonstrator’s of a Private Dental College/Institiute of Multan Against The Hepatitis B Virus

“…In this study eighty percent participants are vaccinated which is more than twice that reported in another study by Javaid M et al 19 . Our results are similar to that reported by Muqeet A et al (80%) 20 .…”

Knowledge, Awareness & Practice about Cross Contamination Control among the Students of Dentistry

“…In this study, all the partakers reported that usage of PPE has a foremost part in the prevention of cross contamination. This is like the results told by Javaid M where every respondent believed that PPE has a foremost part in the prevention of cross contamination 21 . In this study, 90% of the partakers were totally aware about universal precautions to avert the cross contamination.…”

“…This is less than half of that described by Mohiuddin S (40.8%) 23 . Head covering was in use by 25% contributors of another examination which is almost same as of this study 21 .…”

“…This percentage is greater when related with that described by R. Varshan where 76% of the partakers considered that dental clinics/hospitals are more liable to infection 20 . Literature has also shown that oral care professionals are remarkably in danger of accomplishing infection 11,21 .…”

Interventions for the Current COVID-19 Pandemic: Frontline Workers' Intention to Use Personal Protective Equipment

“…Our sample of FLWs consist of respondents from Police, Rescue emergency service, non-profit organizations, and disaster management volunteer organizations. The rationale of targeting this specific segment is that there have already been many studies conducted examining the intention of health workers and paramedic staff regarding the acceptance and use of PPE (24)(25)(26)(27). In this vein, FLWs is the only segment which has never been considered and studied in any context before.…”