Knowledge and practice of medical students of the usage of personal protective equipment: A comparison of two cohorts of students at the International Medical University
- Author:
Thiruselvi Subramaniam
;
Rosalind Chi Neo Loo
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Personal protective equipment (PPE);
standard practice;
patient safety;
attitudes;
medical students
- MeSH:
Patient Safety;
Students, Medical
- From:International e-Journal of Science, Medicine and Education
2015;9(2):25-31
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction: Standard precautions in health care
is the essence of medical practice encompassing the
safety of patients and health care workers including
medical students. Barriers to the proper use of personal
protective equipment (PPE) exist across the world but
identification of areas of weaknesses and appropriate
remedies will reduce them. This study assesses knowledge
and use of PPE among fourth year students after a period
of educational interventions.
Objective: To evaluate appropriate use, awareness and
knowledge about PPE among fourth year students after
interventions.
Method: A cross- sectional study where forty year
4 students (Group B) were randomly observed and
later asked to answer a questionnaire. Students had
undergone interventions to improve PPE use, which
included lectures and video sessions during each
posting. Results were compared with a previous group
(Group A). Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test was
used to analyse the data.
Results: There was statistically significant improvement
in the use of PPE like wearing and removing mask during
invasive procedures (p < 0.001) and hand-washing before
and after a non- invasive task (p < 0.001) . Comparison
of Groups A and B on the results of the questionnaire for
‘Questions in which more than 10% students answered
incorrectly’, showed that there was improvement in
Group B in all the questions, some being statistically
significant with p value=0.01.
Conclusion: An overall improvement in the use of the
PPE and knowledge was noted. Sometimes, students’
attitude and personality may be a challenge and these
students may defy changes, but this can be overcome
if the strategies are embedded in the curriculum and
taught from as early as the first semester
- Full text:P020150903535196387404.pdf
