Knowledge of Handling the Personal Protective Equipment by Frontline Allied Health Professionals in COVID-19 Outbreak—A Web-Based Survey Study

Ever since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged, the number of affected individuals has been increasing exponentially. The frontline health workers are in constant risk because of the etiology and mode of transmission of the disease. Thus, the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is very crucial during this pandemic. This study is to assess the knowledge regarding the handling of PPE among frontline allied health professionals who are directly in contact with patients with COVID-19. A standard questionnaire was prepared in Google Forms and circulated within the network of health-care workers via online platforms. A total of 143 frontline health workers participated in the questionnaire survey. It was found that only 44.1% of the total participants had previously undergone training regarding the handling of PPE. About 86.0% of participants gave correct response to the safety etiquette questions. For another knowledge-based question about using the N95 respirator in conjunction with a face shield, 86.7% of participants responded correctly. Only 67.8% of participants gave the right response to the question regarding the sequence of donning and doffing of PPE. The last question was regarding knowledge about the disposal of PPE, where 95.8% of participants responded correctly. Despite the safety precautions and procedures set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for handling patients with COVID-19, the health-care workers are still prone to occupational hazards. The only barrier standing between the health-care workers and COVID-19 is the PPE. Thus, in-depth training and education should be imparted on the health-care workers in the present pandemic situation.