Personal Protective Equipment in Health Workers during Coronavirus Disease-19 Outbreak

Authors

  • Dragan Mijakoski Department of Allergy, Institute of Occupational Health of RM, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia; Department of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius, University in Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
  • Sasho Stoleski Department of Allergy, Institute of Occupational Health of RM, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia; Department of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius, University in Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
  • Dragana Bislimovska Department of Allergy, Institute of Occupational Health of RM, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia; Department of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius, University in Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
  • Elena Pazheska-Dimitrioski Health Centre, Prilep, Republic of Macedonia
  • Elizabeta Karasmanakis Health Centre, Bitola, Republic of Macedonia
  • Jordan Minov Department of Allergy, Institute of Occupational Health of RM, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia; Department of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius, University in Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
  • Jovanka Karadzinska-Bislimovska Department of Allergy, Institute of Occupational Health of RM, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia; Department of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius, University in Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2020.5621

Keywords:

pandemic, masks, gloves, satisfaction, quality, availability, SARS-CoV-2, healthcare

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus (CoV) disease (COVID)-19 pandemic has put immense pressure on the healthcare systems worldwide.

AIM: The aim of the actual study was to assess the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) in health workers (HWs) during an outbreak.

METHODS: The study was conducted in April-May 2020 using an on-line questionnaire. Completed surveys were returned by 560 HWs (297 physicians, 79 nurses/technicians, 78 dentists, 9 pharmacists, and 97 other HWs).

RESULTS: High proportion of HWs was using one surgery mask for two or more times or not using it at all when contacting patients who were self-isolated (35.3%) or severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV (SARS-CoV)-2 positive (19.3%). More than 90% of participants were using surgery masks and gloves every time or almost every time while working with patients who were self-isolated or SARS-CoV-2 positive. High frequency of participants reported: No isolation zones at the workplace (61.2%), no triage of patients at the entrance (33.4%), and not attended a training course about the correct usage of PPE (72%).

CONCLUSION: The data obtained can be used in the creation of specific interventions in healthcare settings aimed at providing high-quality PPE through the development of a national healthcare strategy that can lead to the prevention of COVID-19 in HWs.

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Author Biography

Dragan Mijakoski, Department of Allergy, Institute of Occupational Health of RM, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia; Department of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius, University in Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

ÐÑиÑÑ‚. д-Ñ€ Драган МијакоÑки е роден на 21. V 1977 год., во Прилеп. ОÑновно образование и природно-математичка гимназија Ñо одличен уÑпех завршил во 1995 година. Ðа МедицинÑкиот факултет при Универзитетот “Св. Кирил и Методиј“ во Скопје дипломира во 2002 година Ñо проÑечен уÑпех 9,19. Од учебната 2002/2003 година е запишан како редовен Ñтудент на поÑледипломÑки Ñтудии при МедицинÑкиот факултет во Скопје од облаÑта хигиена и медицина на трудот, кои ги завршува во 2009 година и Ñе Ñтекнува Ñо звањето магиÑтер на медицинÑки науки. Изработката на докторÑката диÑертација од облаÑта на медицината на трудот ја започнува во 2012 година.

ПоÑле изборот за помлад аÑиÑтент на Катедрата за медицина на трудот при МедицинÑкиот факултет во Скопје во октомври 2003 година, активно е вклучен во процеÑот на едукација на Ñтудентите по медицина и Ñтоматологија, виÑоката школа за медицинÑки ÑеÑтри, физиотерапевти и логопеди. Во 2010 година е избран за аÑиÑтент на Катедрата за медицина на трудот при МедицинÑкиот факултет во Скопје. Специјализацијата по медицина на трудот на МедицинÑкиот факултет во Скопје ја завршува во ноември 2008 година, а ÑубÑпецијализацијата по пулмологија и реÑпираторна алергологија ја започнува во декември 2012 година. Од 2003 година работи во Центарот за алергија при ИнÑтитутот за медицина на трудот на РМ - Скопје, Колаборативен центар на СЗО и Колаборативен центар на GA2LEN.

Солидно ги познава компјутерÑката информатика и англиÑкиот јазик. Член е на МакедонÑкото реÑпираторно здружение, МакедонÑкото  здружение за медицина на трудот, Меѓународната комиÑија за медицина на трудот, ЕвропÑкото реÑпираторно здружение и ЕвропÑката академија за алергологија и клиничка имунологија.

Како Ñоработник - иÑтражувач уÑпешно е вклучен во активноÑтите на научноиÑтражувачките проекти во кои учеÑтвува ИнÑтитутот за медицина на трудот. Соработник е во проектот â€Ð¢Ñ€ÐµÐ½Ð¸Ð½Ð³ и иÑтражување во облаÑта на здравÑтвената екологија и медицината на трудот на Балканот†(TREHB), предводен од Државниот универзитет во Мичиген, ИнÑтитут за интернационално здравје, финанÑиран од Фогарти Фондацијата, 2006-2010, а иÑтражувач е и во Ñтудијата за епидемиологијата на аÑтмата и алергиÑките болеÑти во Европа која Ñе изведува во рамките на Global European Asthma and Allergy Network (GA2LEN). Од 2009 година е вклучен во активноÑтите на FP7 проектот Ñо наÑлов “Подобрување на квалитетот и безбедноÑта во болниците: ПоврзаноÑÑ‚ помеѓу организациÑката култура, Ñиндромот на Ñогорување и квалитетот на здравÑтвените уÑлуги†(ORCAB), интернационален проект кој што Ñе Ñпроведува во 9 европÑки земји (Грција, ИрÑка, Велика Британија, Турција, Португалија, Романија, Бугарија, ХрватÑка и Македонија).

            Како лекар, во ИнÑтитутот за медицина на трудот, СЗО Колаборативен центар, активно ги Ñледи и ги проучува Ñпецифичните проблеми од медицината на трудот кои Ñе Ñреќаваат во Ñекојдневната практика, а Ñе однеÑуваат на профеÑионалните болеÑти од облаÑта на пулмоалергологијата, индуÑтриÑката токÑикологија и Ñл. СоглаÑно Ñо неговите компетенции, ангажиран е во Ñтручните и научните активноÑти на ИнÑтитутот. Ðвтор или коавтор е на над 100 Ñтручни и научни труда кои Ñе објавувани во домашни и ÑтранÑки ÑпиÑанија.

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Published

2020-12-25

How to Cite

1.
Mijakoski D, Stoleski S, Bislimovska D, Pazheska-Dimitrioski E, Karasmanakis E, Minov J, Karadzinska-Bislimovska J. Personal Protective Equipment in Health Workers during Coronavirus Disease-19 Outbreak. Open Access Maced J Med Sci [Internet]. 2020 Dec. 25 [cited 2024 Nov. 21];8(T1):634-41. Available from: https://oamjms.eu/index.php/mjms/article/view/5621

Issue

Vol. 8 No. T1 (2020): T1 - Thematic Issue "Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)"

Section

Public Health Disease Control

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Copyright (c) 2020 Dragan Mijakoski, Sasho Stoleski, Dragana Bislimovska, Elena Pazheska-Dimitrioski, Elizabeta Karasmanakis, Jordan Minov (Author); Jovanka Karadzinska-Bislimovska

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