Determining The Level of Knowledge About the Use of Personal Protective Equipment by Medical School Students in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that personal protective equipment (PPE) is necessary to prevent the acquisition and transmission of infectious diseases, but its correct use in clinics is generally low. The aim of this study is to investigate medical school students' experiences with the use of PPE and to identify opportunities for improvement in education and training programs. The research was carried out with the participation of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Faculty of Medicine students between 01.05.2021 and 01.11.2021. The "Participant Information Form" and the "Personal Protective Equipment Use Information Evaluation Form," developed by the researchers by examining the relevant literature, were used. Two hundred and fifty seven medical faculty students were included in the study. Of the students, 139 (54%) were female, 103 were in basic medicine (40%; Phases 1,2 and 3) and 154 students were in clinical internships (60%; Phases 4,5 and 6). When the scores obtained by the students according to their answers to the questions about PPE practices are examined, the median score of the students in clinical education was 5.0 and the students receiving basic medical education was 3.0, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.0001). The median score of the students who previously heard the concept of PPE, received PPE training, and used PPE was significantly higher (p<0.0001). No significant difference was found between Phase 6 and Phase 4-5 students, except fort he information on the order of wearing PPE. The training on PPE should be repeated in various education years according to the level of the students in the medical faculty and should be made continued during internship period. The training should be standardized and harmonized with the curriculum.

Keywords

• attitude
• COVID-19
• Health knowledge
• Medical Students
• Personnel protective equipment
• practice

TIP FAKÜLTESİ ÖĞRENCİLERİNİN COVID-19 PANDEMİSİNDE KİŞİSEL KORUYUCU EKİPMAN KULLANIMI KONUSUNDA BİLGİ DÜZEYLERİNİN BELİRLENMESİ

Abstract

COVID-19 salgını, bulaşıcı hastalıkların edinilmesini ve bulaşmasını önlemek için kişisel koruyucu ekipmanın (KKE) gerekli olduğunu ancak kliniklerde doğru kullanımının genellikle düşük oranlarda olduğunu göstermiştir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, tıp fakültesi öğrencilerinin KKE kullanımıyla ilgili deneyimlerini araştırmak, eğitim ve öğretim programlarında iyileştirme fırsatlarını belirlemektir. Araştırma, 01.05.2021-01.11.2021 tarihleri arasında Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi öğrencilerinin katılımıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmacılar tarafından ilgili literatür incelenerek geliştirilen, “Katılımcı Bilgi Formu” ve “Kişisel Koruyucu Ekipman Kullanımı Bilgi Değerlendirme Formu” kullanılmıştır. Çalışmaya 257 tıp fakültesi öğrencisi dahil edilmiştir. Katılanların 139’unun (%54) kadın; 103’ünün temel tıp (%40; 1, 2 ve 3. dönem), 154’ünün ise klinik staj (%60; 4, 5 ve 6. dönem) dönemlerinde oldukları gözlenmiştir. Öğrencilerin KKE uygulamaları hakkındaki sorulara verdikleri yanıta göre aldıkları puanlar incelendiğinde; klinik eğitimdeki öğrencilerin aldığı puanın ortancası 5.0, temel tıp eğitimi alan öğrencilerin ise 3.0 bulunmuş ve aradaki farkın istatistiksel olarak anlamlı olduğu görülmüştür (p<0.0001). Daha öncesinde KKE kavramını duyan, KKE eğitimi alan ve KKE kullanan öğrencilerin puan ortancaları anlamlı olarak daha yüksek bulunmuştur (p<0.0001). Dönem 6 öğrencileri ile Dönem 4-5 öğrencileri arasında KKE giyme sırası bilgisi hariç anlamlı fark bulunmamıştır. KKE ile ilgili eğitimler tıp fakültesinde öğrencilerin seviyesine göre çeşitli eğitim yıllarında tekrarlanarak sürekli hale getirilmeli ve intörnlük döneminde de devam ettirilmelidir. Eğitimler standardize edilmeli ve müfredata uyum sağlamalıdır.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• personel koruyucu ekipman
• sağlık bilgisi
• tıp öğrencileri
• tutum
• uygulama

References

1. Amin TT, Al Noaim KI, Bu Saad MA, Al Malhm TA, Al Mulhim AA, Al Awas MA. Standard precautions and infection control, medical students’ knowledge and behavior at a Saudi University: the need for change. Global J Health Sci. 2013;5(4):114-25.
2. Ault A. COVID-19 Exposes Potential Gaps in PPE Training, Effectiveness. Medscape. [Internet]. Erişim tarihi: 20 Aralık 2022. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/928163.
3. Barratt R, Wyer M, Hor SY, Gilbert GL. Medical interns’ reflections on their training in use of personal protective equipment. BMC Med Educ. 2020;20(1):328.
4. Brown R, Brown AM, Markman S, Mian R, Arora VM, Umscheid CA. Assessing the confidence, knowledge and learning preferences of healthcare workers regarding personal protective equipment use during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, pp. 1–4, Cambridge University Press, (2022).
5. Cresswell P, Monrouxe LV. ‘And you’ll suddenly realise “I’ve not washed my hands”: medical students’, junior doctors’ and medical educators’ narratives of hygiene behaviours. BMJ Open. 2018;8(3):e018156.
6. Çalışkan H. Sağlık Hizmetlerinde Kişisel Koruyucu Ekipman Kullanma Davranışını Etkileyen Faktörler. Hacettepe Sağlık İdaresi Derg. 2017;20(3):313-28.
7. Doll M, Feldman M, Hartigan S, et al. Acceptability and necessity of training for optimal personal protective equipment use. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2017;38(02):226-9.
8. Giard M, Laprugne-Garcia E, Caillat-Vallet E, et al. Compliance with standard precautions: results of a French national audit. Am J Infect Control. 2016;44(1):8-13.

9. Haas-Heger T, Pook CJ, Kirkman M, Simmonds S. Healthcare students’ experience of personal protective equipment shortages during COVID-19. J Clin Nurs. 2021 Oct 22;10.1111/jocn.16108.
10. John A, Tomas ME, Hari A, Wilson BM, Donskey CJ. Do medical students receive training in correct use of personal protective equipment? Med Educ Online. 2017;22(1):1264125.
11. Koenig S, Chu J. Senior medical students knowledge of universal precautions. Academic Medicine. 1993;68(5):372-4.
12. Mitchell R, Roth V, Gravel D, et al. Are health care workers protected? An observational study of selection and removal of personal protective equipment in Canadian acute care hospitals. Am J Infect Control. 2013;41(3):240-4.
13. Nair SS, Hanumantappa R, Hiremath SH, Siraj MA and Raghunath P. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Hand Hygiene among Medical and Nursing Students at a Tertiary Health Care Centre in Raichur, India. ISRN Prev Med. 2014 Feb 6;2014:608927.
14. Piché-Renaud PP, Groves HE, Kitano T, et al. Healthcare worker perception of a global outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and personal protective equipment: Survey of a pediatric tertiary-care hospital. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2021;42(3):261-7.
15. Siegel JD, Rhinehart E, Jackson M, Chiarello L. Health care infection control practices advisory committee. 2007 guideline for isolation precautions: preventing transmission of infectious agents in health care settings. Am J Infect Control. 2007;35(10 Suppl 2):S65-164.
16. van de Mortel TF, Apostolopoulou E, Petrikkos G.A. Comparison of the Hand Hygiene Knowledge, Beliefs, and Practices of Greek Nursing and Medical Students. American Journal of Infection Control. 2010;38(1):75-7.