scholarly journals Utilization of Alcohol-based Hand Sanitizers and Associated Health Risks Among Healthcare Professionals Amid COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Desta Assefa H/mariam ◽  
Tadesse Gudeta
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Skin Irritation ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Skin Damage ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hand Sanitizer

Abstract Background: Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is a crucial and widely used product to avert the rapid spreading of corona-virus disease (COVID-19). However, frequent apply of alcohol-based hand sanitizer mainly at the point-of-care can cause health risks and shortages in and outside the healthcare facilities. The present study was designed to assess the utilization of alcohol-based hand sanitizers and the incidence of associated health risks among health care professionals in COVID-19 pandemic times. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Jimma University Medical Center, Ethiopia, between April 01 and June 27, 2020. The collected data were analyzed and described using IBM SPSS Statistics software version 21.Results: Ninety-six health care professionals with 28.69+4.048 years of mean age participated in the study. 95.8% of them practiced alcohol-based hand sanitizers to avert COVID-19 virus transmission in the healthcare setting and community. But they were challenges to practice hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand sanitizers. The common problems were alcohol-based hand sanitizers unavailability 66(68.8%), costly 50(52.1%), and skin damage 8(8.3%). Most of them experienced health risks such as skin dryness 60(62.5%), skin irritation 27(28.1%), ocular irritation 11(11.5%), cough 11(11.5%), and others. These health risks resulted in that 9(9.4%) of them did not practice hand hygiene by alcohol-based hand sanitizers (p-value = 0.999). Conclusion: To prevent COVID-19 virus transmission by alcohol-based hand sanitizers, health care professionals faced different challenges, such as access to alcohol-based hand sanitizers and reported health risks. Therefore, the regulatory and public health bodies should promote local production of alcohol-based hand sanitizers with careful follow-up, and its health risks management plan should gain attention.

scholarly journals Utilization of Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers and Associated Health Risks among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Desta Assefa ◽  
Tadesse Gudeta
Keyword(s):  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Skin Irritation ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Skin Damage ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hand Sanitizer

Abstract Background Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is a crucial and widely used product to prevent the spreading of corona-virus disease (COVID-19). However, frequent use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer mainly at the point-of-care can cause health risks and shortages in and outside the healthcare facilities. Objective The present study was designed to assess the utilization of alcohol-based hand sanitizers and the incidence of associated health risks among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Jimma Medical Center, Ethiopia, between April 01 and June 27, 2020. The collected data were analyzed and described using descriptive statistical tests with SPSS version 21. Results Ninety-six healthcare workers with 28.69 ± 4.048 years of mean age participated in the study. 95.8% of them used alcohol-based hand sanitizers to prevent COVID-19 virus transmission in the healthcare setting and community. But they encountered challenges to practice hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand sanitizers. The common problems were alcohol-based hand sanitizers unavailability 66(68.8%), costly 50(52.1%), and skin damage 8(8.3%). Most of them experienced health risks such as skin dryness 60(62.5%), skin irritation 27(28.1%), ocular irritation 11(11.5%), cough 11(11.5%), and others. These health risks caused that 9(9.4%) of them do not practice hand hygiene by alcohol-based hand sanitizers (p-value = 0.999). Conclusion To stay safe from COVID-19, healthcare workers faced different challenges, such as access to alcohol-based hand sanitizers and reported health risks. Therefore, the regulatory and public health bodies should promote local production of alcohol-based hand sanitizers with careful follow-up, and its health risks management plan should gain attention.

scholarly journals Strategies for Re-opening Physiotherapy OPDs Post COVID-19 Lockdown – A Cross-sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amarjot Singh Gill ◽  
Nistara Singh Chawla ◽  
Sandeep Singh Saini
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Practice Pattern ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Exclusion Criteria ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background: The practices of various health-care professionals have been improvised to accommodate the on-going covid-19 pandemic situation. Different guidelines have been set in place to ease the process of re-opening of non-elective healthcare services like out-patient physiotherapy clinics. Although the measures taken should be guided by evidence based information, major consensus amongst practicing therapists needs to guide the India physiotherapy clinics. Objective: To identify and present the opinions of different physiotherapists about the various strategies for re-opening the out-patient physiotherapy clinics. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted. Over 169 participants were selected to participate in the survey according to the pre-decided inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data was collected and saved via google forms. Result and conclusion: A majority of respondents had a consensus over different strategies for re-opening the physiotherapy OPDs. These were regarding different measures to be adapted including modifications in the clinic infrastructure and the practice pattern. This would help in smoothly re-instating the physiotherapy services post the covid-19 lockdown.

scholarly journals Clinical evaluation of mark induced dermatitis on health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 413
Author(s):  
Sushma I. ◽  
Nivin Simon ◽  
A. J. S. Pravin ◽  
M. K. Padmaprasad ◽  
M. Vijayabharathi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Clinical Evaluation ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Skin Diseases ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Care Workers

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background: </strong>Mask induced dermatitis is common among health care workers now because of the obligatory use of facemask for a longer period during COVID-19, the clinical features vary. Very few studies could be conducted due to the COVID induced constraints. Studies regarding reactions to face masks in health workers published to date are limited and hence we decided to do this study. The objective of this study was to find out the clinical presentations of mask induced dermatitis due to long term use of facemask on healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> A cross sectional study was conducted among 40 healthcare workers attend our OPD with face mask for 6 months. After getting informed written consent clinical evaluation was made by history and dermatologic examination.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Total 40 health care professionals between the age group of 21-50 years (17 females and 23 males) came to our OPD with complaints of itching and dryness with signs of erythema, scaling, papules for 6 months duration. Out of them, 15 (37.5%) patients had exacerbation of pre-existing dermatoses like atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, chronic urticaria, acne. 10 patients (25%) had irritant contact dermatitis 7 patients (17.5%) had sweat-induced dermatitis, 4 patients (10%) had dermatitis due to sponge strip at the nasal bridge, 4 patients (10%) had dermatitis due to vehement use of ear loop involving retroauricular region.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> This study showed that wearing face masks results in the development and aggravation of other skin diseases due to various causes. Itch can induce scratching and thus lead to inappropriate use of face masks, which could compromise their function.</p>

scholarly journals ATTITUDE AND PRACTICING BEHAVIOUR AMONG HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS REGARDING HANDWASHING:A TOOL TO PREVENT EMERGING AND RE-EMERGING INFECTIONS.

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Syed Waseem Tahir ◽  
Sahila Nabi ◽  
Shazia Javaid
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Hand Washing ◽  
Emerging Infections ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Attitude And Practice

Background: Hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to control health care related infection. Every year millions of patients around the world are affected by infections that are transmitted by the health-care professionals(HCPs).(2)(3). Rationale: Nurses and physicians are the main health care workers contacting with patients, representing the vector in the chain of infection. Thus, assessing their knowledge, attitude and practice regarding hand hygiene is very important to decrease the incidence of health care related infection and to improve quality of care. Objective: The objective of our study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of handwashing among healthcare professionals of Kashmir Division. Methods: This study was an institutional based cross sectional study, conducted in various healthcare institutions of Kashmir Division which were selected randomly. A predesigned questionnaire was used to collect the data from the participants. The questionnaires contained questions about four different parts which included sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of hand washing, attitude and practice of hand washing among healthcare professionals. The questionnaires were distributed to various healthcare professionals working in wards, emergency department, laboratories, outpatient departments, injection and dressing rooms, EPI unit and others. The distributed questionnaires were then collected back. Results: A total of 110 participants were included. Out of total 110 participants,53% were male ,36% were nurses 36% of health professionals were working in IPD (In Patient Department). 89% of the participants agreed that, direct or indirect contacts are the most important routes for transmission of hospital-acquired infections,97% agreed that
 proper and consistent hand washing prevents infections in health facilities,100% agreed that health professionals should always wash their hands immediately when they arrive at health institutions,98% said that they knew steps of handwashing(WHO)/rules of hand hygiene,91% agreed that hand washing is the single most effective mechanism to prevent spread of infection and 95% agreed that wearing jewellery, artificial fingernails, damaged skin and regular use of hand cream are associated with increased likelihood of colonisation of hands with harmful germs. 83% of the participants said that they are committed to the proper rules of hand hygiene all the time,78% said they comply with rules of hand hygiene even in emergencies,80% said that they think when they are wearing gloves it is not necessary to wash hands,92% feel irritated when others don’t follow hand hygiene rules,95% advice others to follow the rules of hand hygiene and 97% said it is easy for you to follow rules of hand hygiene. 40%(each) of the participants said that they always and usually wash hands before touching a patient,100% of the participants said that they always wash hands before performing aseptic and clean procedures, 100% of the participants said that they always wash hands after being at risk of exposure to body fluids and 95% of patients said that they wash hands after coming to and before leaving the hospital. DISCUSSION In this study we had a total of 110 participants. Health professionals had a satisfactory knowledge of hand hygiene but some lacunae are still there as is evident in the result part. Thus from this study we conclude adherence to handwashing is lacking among health professionals, so we need to have regular handwashing sessions for health professionals which will regularly sensitize them, also we need to address the reasons of this poor adherence both at the administrative and personal level. We also recommend to conduct more studies in this field so as to highlight the shortcomings in hand hygiene and then to improve upon them.

scholarly journals Knowledge, attitudes and preventive practices of primary health care professionals towards alcohol use: A national, cross-sectional study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. e0216199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esperanza Romero-Rodríguez ◽  
Luis Ángel Pérula de Torres ◽  
Fernando Leiva-Cepas ◽  
José Ángel Fernández García ◽  
Sara Fernández López ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Preventive Practices ◽  
Primary Health
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