Availability, accessibility and proper use of personal protective equipment in wards at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) Blantyre, Malawi: an observational study
Madziatera, Davie, Msofi, Kondwani Stanslas, Phiri, Thokozani V., Mkandawire, Samuel Devaughn, and Comber, Amy (2020) Availability, accessibility and proper use of personal protective equipment in wards at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) Blantyre, Malawi: an observational study. Malawi Medical Journal, 32 (3). pp. 124-131.
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Abstract
Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the availability, accessibility and proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the wards at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH).
Methods: We conducted an observational study with a cross-section design. Convenience sampling method was used for selection of healthcare workers (HCWs) in wards. HCWs filled a checklist on accessibility of PPEs and they were observed on proper use of PPE while conducting clinical procedures. Nurse ward in-charge was asked to fill out a checklist on availability of PPE in their ward.
Results: PPE was available in 75.8% of wards, not available in 12.5%. Goggles were absent in 70.8% of wards. PPEs were 71.4% accessible and 28.6% inaccessible to healthcare workers in the wards. The most inaccessible PPEs were goggles (83.2%) and footwear (73.7%) while facemasks, sterile and non-sterile gloves and aprons were readily accessible. Non sterile gloves were 100% available and accessible. Only 13.5% of the HCWs had good compliance with PPE standard procedures. The average PPE compliance score of those who had been trained was 6 % greater than those who were not trained.
Conclusion: This study identified areas of improvement in healthcare system delivery regarding standard precautions with emphasis on PPE. Improvements in training during professional college education and in-service refresher training could improve compliance with appropriate use of PPE for relatively low cost. Management support could improve availability and accessibility of PPE in the wards at QECH, with active supervision to improve adherence levels to personal protective equipment usage. The study can also help in the development of policies and guidelines regarding PPE usage by showing that most HCWs need to be trained in proper PPE usage.
| Item ID: | 64936 |
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| Item Type: | Article (Research - C1) |
| ISSN: | 1995-7270 |
| Keywords: | infection prevention, hospital acquired infections, personal protective equipment, healthcare worker, compliance of standard precautions |
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| Copyright Information: | Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND): Allows users to copy and distribute the Article, provided this is not done for commercial purposes and further does not permit distribution of the Article if it is changed or edited in any way, and provided the user gives appropriate credit (with a link to the formal publication through the relevant DOI), provides a link to the license, and that the licensor is not represented as endorsing the use made of the work. |
| Funders: | College of Medicine Research and Ethics Committee |
| Date Deposited: | 11 Mar 2021 02:18 |
| FoR Codes: | 42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4203 Health services and systems > 420399 Health services and systems not elsewhere classified @ 100% |
| SEO Codes: | 92 HEALTH > 9299 Other Health > 929999 Health not elsewhere classified @ 100% |
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