Original Contribution
Pattern of Utilization of Personal Protective Equipment among Doctors and
Nurses during COVID-19 Pandemic
1.Dr. Humaira Tul Jannat, MPH Fellow (Hospital Management), Department of Public Health and Hospital
Administration, National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM), Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212,
Bangladesh. humaira.sdc@gmail.com
2. Professor Dr. Baizid Khoorshid Riaz, PhD, Additional Director General (Administration), Directorate General of
Medical Education (DGME), Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh.
3. Dr Nushrat Choudhury, MPH Fellow, Department of Health Education, National Institute of Preventive and Social
Medicine (NIPSOM), Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh.
4. Dr. Muhammad Abdul Hadi Khan, Assistant Professor (Dental Public Health) and Deputy Program Manager
(Admin & Finance), National TB Control Program (NTP), Leprosy Hospital Compound, TB Gate, Mohakhali,
Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh.
5. Dr. Muhammad Syeeful Ameen, Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Sheikh Hasina Medical College,
Jamalpur 2000, Bangladesh.
6. Dr. Ummul Khair Alam, Assistant Professor and Head, Department of Maternal and Child Health, National
Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM), Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh.
7. *Dr. Md Golam Abbas, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH),
National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM), Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh.
abbasgolam@yahoo.com
*For correspondence
Abstract
Background: Personal protective equipment (PPE) is necessary that helps to protect healthcare
workers (HCWs) from coming toward contact with or being exposed to diseases that are
transmissible. It became the leading issuefor HCWs, who worked with patients with COVID-19
infection in Bangladesh. Therefore, proper utilization of PPE is crucial.
Methods: The cross-sectional study was directed to assess the pattern of utilization of PPE among
157 doctors and nurses working in two COVID-19 dedicated hospitals during COVID-19
pandemic from January 2020 to December 2020 through face-to-face interview by a pre-tested
questionnaire.
Results: The mean age of the doctors was 36.8±5.9 years and the nurses was 34.3±7.9 years. All
the respondents wore medical masks. Among the doctors and nurses, 97.1% and 95.5% used N-95
respirator; goggles or face-shields were used by most of the doctors (98.6%) and nurses (93.2%).
About two-thirds of the respondents (73.9% and 65.9%) mentioned that they followed the correct
sequence of steps during donning and doffing of PPE. Regarding reuse, 69.3% of nurses and 59.4%
of doctors reported reusing. Respondents who reused any PPE material, among them, 65.6% of
nurses reused within ≤4 days while 51.2% of the doctors reused within 5-8 days. 91.3% of doctors
and 87.5% of nurses maintained aseptic precaution during donning and doffing. 73.9% of the
doctors and 79.5% of nurses had correct knowledge about the doffing steps. There were
statistically significant association of sequence of wearing multiple masks, duration of reusing the
PPE, influencing factors regarding provision of PPE by the authority and knowledge of doffing
steps (p<0.05) with the doctors and nurses.
Conclusion: To achieve the proper utilization of PPE among doctors and nurses, periodic formal
training programs should be reinforced and raise more awareness about the importance of wearing
PPE.
[Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Med Col J 2023, Jul; 8 (2):76-87]
Keywords: Utilization, personal protective equipment, covid-19 pandemic, Bangladesh
Full Article
