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COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey of Safety Practices among Eye Care Workers in Nigeria.
- Source :
- Annals of Public Health Issues; Jan2022, Vol. 2 Issue 1, p1-9, 9p
- Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- Objective: To assess safety practices among eye care workers in Nigeria during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: This research was a cross-sectional study. A structured electronic questionnaire was distributed among eye care workers (ophthalmologists, optometrists, ophthalmic nurses) across the six geographical zones of Nigeria. Information on socio-demographics, COVID-19 infection, current working conditions and safety practices were obtained. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Inc. Chicago Illinois, USA) for windows, version 22. Results: A total of 236 eye care workers participated in the study; their mean (±SD) age was 37.13 (±8.141) years, 125 (53%) were females, and 145 (61.4%) worked in a tertiary care hospital. All participants described COVID-19 as a viral disease and 98.3% agreed that the disease can affect the eyes. Outpatient clinic consultation was recorded as the highest (77.7%) service provided during the pandemic. Regarding preventive practices, 95% of eye care workers wore facemasks, 82.4% wore gloves during ophthalmic examination and Hazmat suit was the least used protective device (2.5%). About three-quarters (77.5%) reported feeling unsafe in their working environment and 63.9% were dissatisfied with the personal protective device provided by hospitals to eye care workers. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic presented an unprecedented challenge for eye care workers; with the practice of ophthalmology posing a high risk of transmission of the virus. Efforts should be made to provide the required personal protective devices needed for optimum protection of eye care workers in healthcare settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- PROFESSIONAL practice
MEDICAL masks
WORK environment
INDUSTRIAL safety
PROFESSIONS
CONFIDENCE intervals
ATTITUDES of medical personnel
EYE care
CROSS-sectional method
OPHTHALMOLOGISTS
OPHTHALMIC nursing
PROTECTIVE clothing
OPTOMETRISTS
NURSES
DISEASE prevalence
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
GLOVES
INFECTIOUS disease transmission
DATA analysis software
PERSONAL protective equipment
STATISTICAL sampling
PATIENT safety
COVID-19 pandemic
OUTPATIENT services in hospitals
DISEASE risk factors
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 27201961
- Volume :
- 2
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Annals of Public Health Issues
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 173459563
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.2478/aphi-2022-0001