Department of Family Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Rhema University, Aba, Nigeria.
West Afr J Med. 2021 Aug 30;38(8):749-755.
Globally, COVID-19 is an emerging health problem. As the spread of COVID-19 infection continues worldwide, measures to protect frontline doctors have been in the spotlight on international biosecurity discussions especially in countries with weak health system and infrastructure.
The study was aimed at describing the drivers, barriers, benefits and perceived dangers of utilization of COVID-19 biosecurity protective items at the point of care among frontline doctors in non-COVID-19 hospitals in Abia State.
This was a cross-sectional study on 220 frontline doctors in Abia State. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaire that elicited information on utilization of COVID-19 biosecurity items (face masks, face shields, hand sanitizers, disinfectant sprays, hand gloves). The drivers, barriers, benefits, and perceived dangers of utilization of biosecurity items were also studied. Utilization was assessed in the preceding 7 days and graded using utilization ordinal scoring system of 0-4 as follows: Always=4 points; most times=3 points; occasional=2 points, rarely=1 point and never=0 point. Those that scored 1 and above were graded as users while 0 score was graded as non-user.
The study participants were aged 24-68 years (mean=32±8.4 years). There were 162(73.6%) males. All the respondents (100%) had used at least one of the biosecurity protective items in the previous 7 days. The most commonly used biosecurity items were face masks (100%) and hand-gloves (100%). Others included hand sanitizers (90.0%), face shields (55.5%) and disinfectant sprays (43.2%). The most common driver was availability of biosecurity items (100.0%). The commonest barrier was physical discomfort and fatigue (100.0%). The commonest benefits were self-protection from contracting COVID-19 (100.0%) and prevention of transmission to patients, colleagues and significant others (100.0%). The most commonly perceived dangers were suffocation (87.7%) and skin irritation (76.4%) for face masks and hand sanitizers respectively.
The most commonly used biosecurity items were face masks and hand gloves while the least utilized was disinfectant sprays. The commonest driver was availability of biosecurity protective items. The most common barrier was physical discomfort and fatigue while the predominant benefits were protection from contracting COVID-19 and transmission to patients, colleagues, and significant others. The most commonly perceived dangers were suffocation and skin irritation for face masks and hand sanitizers respectively.
在全球范围内，COVID-19 是一个新出现的健康问题。随着 COVID-19 感染在全球范围内的持续传播，保护一线医生的措施一直是国际生物安全讨论的焦点，尤其是在卫生系统和基础设施薄弱的国家。
本研究旨在描述在非 COVID-19 医院的一线医生在护理点使用 COVID-19 生物安全防护用品的驱动因素、障碍、益处和感知危险。
这是一项在阿比亚州的 220 名一线医生中进行的横断面研究。使用自我管理的问卷收集数据，该问卷收集了有关使用 COVID-19 生物安全项目（口罩、面罩、洗手液、消毒剂喷雾、手套）的数据。还研究了使用生物安全用品的驱动因素、障碍、益处和感知危险。使用情况在前 7 天内进行评估，并使用利用生物安全用品的使用序数评分系统（0-4 分）进行评分：总是=4 分；大多数时间=3 分；偶尔=2 分，很少=1 分，从不=0 分。得分 1 分及以上的评为使用者，0 分评为非使用者。
研究参与者年龄在 24-68 岁（平均 32±8.4 岁）。其中男性 162 人（73.6%）。所有受访者（100%）在过去 7 天内至少使用过一种生物安全防护用品。最常用的生物安全用品是口罩（100%）和手套（100%）。其他包括洗手液（90.0%）、面罩（55.5%）和消毒剂喷雾器（43.2%）。最常见的驱动因素是生物安全用品的可用性（100.0%）。最常见的障碍是身体不适和疲劳（100.0%）。最常见的好处是自我保护免受 COVID-19 感染（100.0%）和防止传播给患者、同事和重要他人（100.0%）。最常见的感知危险是口罩的窒息（87.7%）和皮肤刺激（76.4%），分别用于洗手液。
最常用的生物安全用品是口罩和手套，而使用最少的是消毒剂喷雾器。最常见的驱动因素是生物安全防护用品的可用性。最常见的障碍是身体不适和疲劳，而主要的好处是防止感染 COVID-19 和传播给患者、同事和重要他人。最常见的感知危险是口罩和洗手液的窒息和皮肤刺激。
