Sahiledengle Biniyam, Tekalegn Yohannes, Bekele Kebebe, Tesemma Abdi, Edward Quisido Bruce John
Madda Walabu University Goba Referral Hospital, School of Health Sciences, Public Health Department, Goba, Bale, Ethiopia.
Madda Walabu University Goba Referral Hospital, Department of Surgery, Goba, Bale, Ethiopia.
Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2021 Jan 5;13:3245-3257. doi: 10.2147/RMHP.S289125. eCollection 2020.
Stethoscopes and non-infrared thermometers are the customary medical equipment used by the physicians on a daily basis, among various patients. With the rise of potential infections in the healthcare facilities and the transmission nature of the current COVID-19 pandemic, consistent and correct disinfections of these devices after each use should not be pardoned. This study, therefore, aimed to assess the level of stethoscope and non-infrared thermometer disinfection practices among physicians involved in direct patient contact during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among physicians working in Ethiopia to assess their practice of stethoscope and non-infrared thermometer disinfection. The online survey was circulated using an anonymous and self-reporting questionnaire via Google form with a consent form appended to it. The developed Google form link was shared with physicians through their email addresses and social media pages. A descriptive summary was computed and presented by tables and figures. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated stethoscope and non-infrared thermometer after every use.
The proportion of stethoscope and non-infrared thermometer disinfections after every use was 13.9% (95% CI: 10.9-17.6) and 20.4% (95% CI: 16.7-24.5), respectively. Taking COVID-19 training (AOR: 2.52; 95% CI: 1.29-4.92) and the availability of stethoscope disinfection materials at the workplace (AOR: 3.03; 95% CI: 1.29-7.10) were significantly increased the odds of stethoscope disinfection after every use. The odds of stethoscope disinfection after every use was significantly decreased for those who reported the use of shared stethoscope (AOR: 0.34; 95% CI: 0.12-0.92).
Only a wee share of the respondents reported that they have disinfected their stethoscopes and non-infrared thermometers after every use - possibly jeopardizing both patients and clinicians safety, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
听诊器和非红外体温计是医生日常用于各类患者的常用医疗设备。随着医疗机构中潜在感染风险的增加以及当前新冠疫情的传播特性，每次使用后对这些设备进行持续且正确的消毒不容忽视。因此，本研究旨在评估新冠疫情期间直接接触患者的医生对听诊器和非红外体温计的消毒实践水平。
在埃塞俄比亚工作的医生中开展了一项基于网络的横断面调查，以评估他们对听诊器和非红外体温计的消毒实践。通过谷歌表单使用匿名自填问卷进行在线调查，并附同意书。通过电子邮件地址和社交媒体页面与医生分享所生成的谷歌表单链接。计算描述性总结并用表格和图表呈现。使用多变量逻辑回归模型确定每次使用后与听诊器和非红外体温计消毒相关的因素。
每次使用后听诊器和非红外体温计的消毒比例分别为13.9%（95%置信区间：10.9 - 17.6）和20.4%（95%置信区间：16.7 - 24.5）。接受新冠培训（调整后比值比：2.52；95%置信区间：1.29 - 4.92）以及工作场所具备听诊器消毒材料（调整后比值比：3.03；95%置信区间：1.29 - 7.10）显著增加了每次使用后听诊器消毒的几率。报告使用共享听诊器的医生每次使用后听诊器消毒的几率显著降低（调整后比值比：0.34；95%置信区间：0.12 - 0.92）。
只有一小部分受访者表示他们每次使用后都对听诊器和非红外体温计进行了消毒——这可能会危及患者和临床医生的安全，尤其是在新冠疫情期间。
