Usage of Personal Protective Equipments during Covid-19 Pandemic: Quality assessment and problems faced by the workers in Pediatric Covid-19 Ward of Medical College, Kolkata

Abstract

Background: Covid-19 pandemic is a rapidly spreading outbreak which has caused sudden respiratory distress and death all over the world. This pandemic situation is a major concern for all the health related professionals globally. Treating patients, reducing spread of infection and side by side protecting themselves during rendering care to patients is the main concern for health care workers. Objectives: The study is aimed at assessing training status, correctness of use, problems faced during use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and occurrence of Covid-19 positivity among health care workers at Pediatric Covid-19 ward at Medical College, Kolkata. Patients and methods: 194 doctors, nurses, technician, house -keeping staffs from Pediatrics department of Medical College Kolkata, engaged in Covid-19 related care from June 2020 to October, 2020, were included in this prospective observational study. A self administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Statistical analysis was done in MS-Excel. Descriptive statistics were calculated in terms of number & proportions.Results: 84(43.3%) doctors, 70 (36.1 %) nurse, 20 (10.3%), scavengers, 20(10.3%) technician participated in the present study. Headache and difficulty in vision due to fogging, 'fear of infection', 'early irritability' are main health problems as stated by the participants after wearing PPE. Availability of PPE in different sizes, quality improvement was some of the key suggestions. 10.5% of participants contracted COVID-19 in three months follow up period. Conclusion: Adequacy of supply and familiarity with PPE was not a concern for the study subjects but there was poor comfort and difficulty in doffing.