Prevention Practice of COVID-19 Using Personal Protective Equipment and Hand Hygiene Among Healthcare Workers in Public Hospitals of South Wollo Zone, Ethiopia

Objective: The use of personal protective equipment and hand hygiene are often the most recommended line of defense against coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). The purpose of this study is to determine the magnitude of compliance and associated factors of personal protective equipment (PPE) utilization and hand hygiene practice among healthcare workers in public hospitals of South Wollo Zone, Northeastern Ethiopia.Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 489 healthcare workers in public hospitals of South Wollo Zone, Northeastern Ethiopia from June 15 to July 30, 2021. Proportional sample size allocation to each selected hospital followed by simple random sampling techniques were used to select the study participants using human resource records from each hospital. A pre-tested and structured self-administered questionnaire with WHO's standardized hand hygiene and PPE utilization observational checklist were used to collect data. Bivariate and multivariable analyses with 95% CI and p-value < 0.05 were employed to identify the associated factors of personal protective equipment utilization.Results: About 32 and 22.3% of healthcare workers were compliant with personal protective equipment utilization and hand hygiene practice, respectively. Feedback for safety (AOR = 2.05; 95% CI: 1.26–3.35), training on COVID-19 prevention (AOR = 3.43; 95% CI: 2.01–5.86), and perception to infection risk (AOR = 1.98; 95% CI: 1.18–3.33) were significant factors of good compliance with personal protective equipment utilization.Conclusion: The magnitude of good compliance with personal protective equipment utilization and hand hygiene was low. Interventions to promote personal protective equipment utilization and hand hygiene should focus on feedback for safety, training on COVID-19 prevention, and perception of infection risk.

Practical Application of QR Code Electronic Manuals in Equipment Management and Training

Objective: To explore the application value of QR code electronic manuals in operating theater equipment management and training.Methods: The control group adopted the traditional management mode. Training was carried out before each device was put into use in the department. A unified operation process and a paper card manual for common faults were formulated and hung next to each device. For the observation group, the electronic manuals generated by the QR code were pasted on the operating theater equipment for management and training. The management and training effect was compared between the two groups.Results: The efficiency of equipment management and training using the QR code electronic manuals was significantly higher than that of traditional training, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).Conclusion: The QR code manuals are very effective in operating theater equipment management and training. They can be read and learned in time to improve the operating theater equipment utilization rate, accuracy rate, and equipment management and training quality.

Managing the resource allocation for the COVID-19 pandemic in healthcare institutions: a pluralistic perspective

PurposeAs COVID-19 outbreak has created a global crisis, treating patients with minimum resources and traditional methods has become a hectic task. In this technological era, the rapid growth of coronavirus has affected the countries in lightspeed manner. Therefore, the present study proposes a model to analyse the resource allocation for the COVID-19 pandemic from a pluralistic perspective.Design/methodology/approachThe present study has combined data analytics with the K-mean clustering and probability queueing theory (PQT) and analysed the evolution of COVID-19 all over the world from the data obtained from public repositories. By using K-mean clustering, partitioning of patients’ records along with their status of hospitalization can be mapped and clustered. After K-mean analysis, cluster functions are trained and modelled along with eigen vectors and eigen functions.FindingsAfter successful iterative training, the model is programmed using R functions and given as input to Bayesian filter for predictive model analysis. Through the proposed model, disposal rate; PPE (personal protective equipment) utilization and recycle rate for different countries were calculated.Research limitations/implicationsUsing probabilistic queueing theory and clustering, the study was able to predict the resource allocation for patients. Also, the study has tried to model the failure quotient ratio upon unsuccessful delivery rate in crisis condition.Practical implicationsThe study has gathered epidemiological and clinical data from various government websites and research laboratories. Using these data, the study has identified the COVID-19 impact in various countries. Further, effective decision-making for resource allocation in pluralistic setting has being evaluated for the practitioner's reference.Originality/valueFurther, the proposed model is a two-stage approach for vulnerability mapping in a pandemic situation in a healthcare setting for resource allocation and utilization.

Utilization of personal protective equipment and associated factors among large-scale factory workers using health belief model in Debre-Berhan town, Amhara region, Ethiopia, 2021

BackgroundPersonal protective equipment is designed to protect workers from serious workplace injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards. ObjectiveTo determine Personal Protective Equipment utilization and its associated factor based on health belief model among large scale factory workers in Debre-Birhan, Ethiopia. MethodsAn institution-based cross-sectional study was employed in Debre Berhan Town, North Shoa Ethiopia from April 1 st to May 1 st , 2021 using an interviewer administered structured questionnaires. A total of 412 samples were selected by systematic random sampling method. The data was entered by Epi-data version 3.1 and analyzed by SPSS. variables with a p-value of 0.2 was fitted for multiple logistic regressions and a p-value of <0.05 was statistically significant. ResultA total of 412 workers were participated in the study with a 100% response rate. The mean age was 29 (±7.3) years. Most workers 367 (89 %) knew that PPE can prevent work related injury and illness. Over all 172 (41.7 %) of the workers were considered to have good PPE utilization. Perceived susceptibility [AOR=1.2, 95 %, CI (1.076-1.38)], perceived severity, [AOR=1.1, 95 %, CI (1.088-1.163)], perceived self-efficacy, [AOR=1.2, 95 %, CI (1.082-1.349)], and Perceived barrier [AOR=0.87, 95 %, CI (0.800 -0.956)] were found to be significant predictors of good PPE utilization. ConclusionThe study revealed that good Personal protective equipment utilization in large scale factory workers. Perceived susceptibility perceived severity, perceived barrier and perceived self-efficacy were found to be predictors of PPE utilization.

Utilization and Cost Estimation Models for Highway Fleet Equipment

Highway agencies need to manage the utilization of their highway equipment assets to reduce fleet management costs, balance equipment use, and provide the required services. Predictive equipment utilization and operational cost models are required for optimal management; however, there are no widely accepted models for this purpose. Although the utilization data is collected by state DOTs, the literature does not show any specific statistical model to predict equipment utilization as a function of contributing factors such as asset age, fleet size, costs, and demand for service. This study will bridge this gap and develop a predictive model to estimate the utilization of fleet equipment. The main objective of this paper is to develop a set of predictive models to estimate the annual utilization of seven non-stationary highway equipment types based on several explanatory variables including their annual fuel cost, downtime hours, age, and weight. Furthermore, another set of models are fit to predict the annual operational cost for these equipment types based on the most important contributing factors. The prediction models are developed after a nationwide data collection. Several years of collected data from seven states are processed and used for model development. This research has identified annual mileage as an appropriate and widely used utilization metric. Various model structures to predict annual mileage are considered. The logarithmic function of annual mileage has provided the most appropriate structure. The final annual mileage predictive models have R-squared values that are between 0.65 and 0.89, which indicates a good fit for all models. The models are validated by performing several statistical tests and they have satisfied all required assumptions of regression analysis. The result of modeling and statistical analysis showed that the proposed models accurately estimated the utilization and operational cost for highway equipment assets.

Patient Perceptions Toward the Changes in Outpatient Oncology Service During the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 crisis has posed an enormous challenge for all healthcare services. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the cancer patients’ knowledge and perceptions on oncology service quality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cancer outpatient knowledge and perceptions toward the changes in chemotherapy and radiotherapy service in response to the pandemic was evaluated using a questionnaire. Majority of the 230 participants were knowledgeable about the pandemic and more than 95% of them claimed to sufficiently practice preventive measures. Television and the internet were their main source of information, and despite the fear of being infected by the COVID-19 virus, less than 15% of the respondents thought to stop or delay hospital visits. Generally, the changes in oncology service were well-received by the patients and they trust the health care workers in maintaining their safety. Also, oncology services delivery to outpatients remains consistent despite several alterations in hospital policies. Personal protective equipment utilization by health care workers and patients proved to be an important factor in reducing anxiety during hospital visits. Policy makers need to fully utilize the internet and associated mobile applications as an education tool.

PENDAMPINGAN PADA INDUSTRI MAKANAN

Pengabdian kepada masyarakat merupakan kegiatan yang menjadi salah satu pilar tegaknya Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi. Dengan melaksanakan kegiatan ini, institusi pendidikan tinggi secara langsung mendharmakan dirinya memberikan solusi-solusi untuk masyarakat. Pengabdian kepada masyarakat dilaksanakan dengan program Pendampingan dengan kasus yang disesuaikan dengan kondisi lapangan masing-masing IKM. Lokasi pengabdian adalah sekelompok industri makanan yang berada di seputaran Desa Kecamatan Godean Kabupaten Sleman. Atas saran dan arahan kelompok, sebagai sasaran khusus dipilih Kelompok PKK dengan beragam kondisi dan kemampuan produksi dengan harapan Kelompok tersebut dapat menjadi agent of change bagi kelompok yang lain. Hasil dari kegiatan pendampingan masyarakat adalah, Kesadaran yang rendah terhadap pentingnya keselamatan kerja, Belum adanya perencanaan produksi yang tersistematis, Proses produksi yang masih menggunakan alat tradisional, Tempat kerja yang tidak higienis dan tidak ergonomis, Luas lantai produksi yang tidak optimal, Utilisasi peraalatan yang rendah, Produktivitas rendah Kata kunci: IKM, industri makanan, Produktifitas. Community service is an activity that is one of the pillars of upholding the Tri Dharma of Higher Education. By carrying out this activity, the higher education institution directly dedicates itself to providing solutions for the community. Community service is carried out with the Assistance program with cases adapted to the field conditions of each IKM. The service location is a group of food industries located around the village of Godean District, Sleman Regency. Based on the group's suggestions and directions, PKK groups with various conditions and production capabilities were selected as special targets in the hope that these groups could become agents of change for other groups. The results of community assistance activities are, low awareness of the importance of work safety, absence of systematic production planning, production processes that still use traditional tools, unhygienic and un ergonomic workplaces, non-optimal production floor area, low equipment utilization. , Low productivity Key words: IKM, food industry, productivity.

Spatial structure of pollution areas from combined heat and power plant (CHP) in Moscow

The main tendencies in the nature air pollution in Moscow from thermal power plants are considered. Emission reductions from CHP high rates are determined by a change of the main factors balance from the fuel mix capacity utilization to upgrading facilities equipment utilization optimization. On the Ochakovskaya CHP example was shown that by reducing emissions the concentration of contaminants decreased. However, the spatial structure of the pollution area has remained. Here, the low concentration zone, which is associated with the wind shadow effect, characterized of high sources, is replaced by a zone of maximum concentration, that in dangerous wind conditions velocity increases to more than 6 times. In addition, there is one zone of pollutants accumulation, within which their concentration increases by more than 7 times. For more rapidly settling suspended particles, there is the maximum concentration near the source (0.8–1.5 km). For well-scattering nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide are reached the maximum concentration farther from the source of emissions (5.5–6.5 km).

Perception, Education, and Training of the Chemical Terror Response of Firefighters

This study identifies the characteristics and influencing factors among survey respondents in response to domestic chemical terrorism by targeting firefighters sent to the front line of chemical accidents and chemical terrorism sites. It was carried out to present more efficient improvement measures for chemical terrorism. Regarding “Education and Training on Chemical Terrorism,” there were 3.01 points for “Education’s Information Transferability,” 2.65 points for “Satisfaction with Training Facilities,” 3.11 points for “Training (Theoretical) Effectiveness,” and 3.16 points for “Training (Practice) Effectiveness.” In total, 42.9% of the negative responses were regarding the satisfaction level of training facilities, demonstrating that domestic training facilities were the biggest problem in establishing current countermeasures. Rather than the training curriculum, it was judged that the training facilities were insufficient or absent, and it is necessary to secure and improve these facilities. Based on the survey results, training methods for team-level tactics and joint tactics between departments, hazard and risk assessment training for accident site commanders, and education on effective equipment utilization should be intensively conducted to secure safety and improve the response capabilities of field staff.

Bronchoscopy during the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey study

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the attitudes and behaviors of physicians performing bronchoscopy during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: Between March 2020 and May 2020, a total of 153 physicians were included in the study. An invitation letter for the participation in the study with a structured questionnaire of 18 questions were sent to the mail groups twice with five-day intervals. Participation in the study was allowed, until the third day after the second mail was sent. Results: All participants completed the questionnaire. According to the results, 33% of the physicians did not perform bronchoscopy and the majority of the physicians performed very few procedures during the outbreak, although the participants mostly worked at the tertiary hospitals (mean: 7.2±9.3). A total of 20% of the physicians performed bronchoscopy in potential or proven COVID-19 patients. Almost all of the physicians who participated in the survey reported the use of personal protective equipment such as masks and goggles during the procedure. During the pandemic, 9.7% of the physicians who performed bronchoscopy to potential or proven COVID-19 patients and 4.1% of the participants who did not perform bronchoscopy to any potential or proven COVID-19 patients were found to be infected with the virus (p>0.05). Conclusion: Physicians who perform bronchoscopy during pandemic act in accordance with the recommendations of guidelines. Although there was no statistically significant difference between the SARS-CoV-2 transmission rates of the teams who performed and did not perform bronchoscopy in potential or proven COVID-19 patients in our study, the high rate of personal protective equipment utilization might have played a role in this result.