DOI: 10.36347/sjmcr.2023.v11i02.001

Pages: 73-78

To date, there are more than 207 million confirmed cases and more than 4.3 million deaths reported worldwide. Given the high transmissibility and modes of transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2, healthcare workers (HCWs) are required to continue using maximum barrier precautions with personal protective equipment (PPE). Infection control and prevention is an integral component of the healthcare system in any setting to reduce risks for morbidity and mortality in patients and healthcare professionals at all levels. Healthcare professionals have a great responsibility for infection risk reduction in patients across the entire continuum of care and through a variety of direct care activities, especially during the highly contagious COVID-19 pandemic. Aim: This cross-sectional study was designed to assess awareness of COVID-19 disease and its related infection control practices among healthcare workers. Design: An online self-reported cross-sectional survey was designed to assess awareness and recent training of HCWs about common IPAC (Infection Control and Prevention) measures necessary in dealing with droplet infection. All HCWs involved are working in facilities dealing with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases. A total number of 1347 HCWs, working in facilities dealing with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients responded to the survey in various countries. Descriptive and analytic statistics were performed for all groups and subgroups based on their responses. Results: We found that 949 of the participants work in healthcare facilities dealing with COVID-19 patients. Around 52.5% of them performed N95 respirator fit testing while around two third of them received recent PPE and hand hygiene training. We also found that 837 HCWs reported providing direct service to COVID-19 patients and 52.5 % of them performed N95 respirator fit testing while around 62.5% of them received PPE training and 59.9% of them received hand hygiene training. We set a total score of 70% as . .......