Evaluation the quality of the use of personal protective equipment in medical personnel in the south of Fars province during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021

Medical personnel, as the people who are on the front line of the fight against the Covid-19 disease, and at risk of acquiring the disease due to in contact with or care for patients with COVID-19. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the quality of protective equipment used by medical personnel during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The present study was conducted cross-sectionally on the medical personnel in three hospitals in the south of Fars province in 2021year. The data collected in the present study was based on the risk assessment and management of exposure of health care workers in the context of COVID-19 tool by World Health Organization.

The study conducted on 800 medical personnel, 54.7% (350 N) had a history of contracting covid-19. The most protective equipment used during a health care interaction with a COVID-19 patient were hand hygiene 95.6% (610 N), hand sanitizers 92.5 (588 N) and medical masks 92% (586 N). The least protective equipment used during aerosol-generating procedures on a COVID-19 patients were the waterproof apron %54.3 (343 N), protective glasses 60.5% (383 N) and N95 mask (398 N).

According to the survey conducted, the quality of protective equipment used in medical personnel is low and the risk of exposure to the Covid-19 virus is high. Ongoing training on infection control principle and closely monitor these principles could be effective in increasing the perceived threats of medical personnel and their adherence of it.