Anesthesiologists’ attitude and approach regarding personal usage of protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic

Baran, amp; Iacute,

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the attitudes and approaches of anesthesiologists about the use of personal protective equipment in intensive care and/or operating rooms during the novel Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: After obtaining ethics committee approval, 205 anesthesiologists were invited to participate in this study through social media tools and by e-mail. Responses of the participants to survey questions were analysed. Results: Of those who participated in the study 32.7% (n=67) were research assistants and 51.2% (n=105) were specialists. While the participants were from teaching and research hospital (n=121;59%, state hospitals (n=31;15.1%) university hospitals (n=43;21, and private hospitals (n=10;4.9%). Ten (4.9%) participants had Covid-19 infection. The results showed that anesthesiologists had free access to daily used PPE such as surgical mask (83%), however, 60% of the participants had to provide their own respirator masks, visors and goggles to use in the work place. It was determined that anesthesiologists felt safer about the use of PPE over time compared to the beginning of the pandemic [median 5 (1-10)] and median 7 (1-10), p<0.001)]. The rate of corectly donning and doffing was 12.7% (n=26) and 18.5% (n=38), respectively. The analysis of correctly donning and participant characteristics showed that, the rate of correctly donning was higher among specialists (n=20;19%), in the 16-20 year- experience group (n=8;40%) and those worked in the teaching hospitals (n=21;17.4%), (p=0.020, p=0.020, p=0.001). Conclusion: During the Covid-19 pandemic anesthesiologists experienced problems with access to PPE. According to the results of our investigation, educational activities for new planning and development of methods for anasthesiologists is required so as to provide access to PPEs, and accurate use of equipments.