USE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPES) BY DENTAL HEALTH CARE WORKERS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA

Abstract

The aim of this study is to find the use of Personal protective equipment (PPE) among dental health care workers during Covid-19 pandemic in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Data was collected via a well-structured online questionnaire (Google forms) which was sent to 500 dentists working in hospitals and private practices or both in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by sending the link via WhatsApp, Email and other online applications. Out of 500, 151 participants responded. The participants included General Dental Surgeons, house officers, post graduate residents, faculty members of dental colleges/hospitals and private practicing dentists. All the participants had access to internet. Non-dental faculty members and dentists who were not practicing dentistry were excluded. The study was conducted in 2 months duration (February, 2022 – March, 2022).

Facemasks and gloves were more frequently in practice when compared to protective gowns and face-shields. Dental health care workers working in private hospitals observed more compliance with the use of face-shields as compared to those working in government hospitals. Male individuals used protective goggles more often than female ones.

Private hospitals showed maximum compliance with the use of PPEs as compared to government hospitals and private clinics. Although, both genders were equally compliant with the use of PPEs, however, the males were more compliant with the use of protective goggles.