Behaviors and Attitudes towards Personal Protective Equipment Use: A Cross-Sectional Study among Physiotherapy Interns during COVID-19

Abstract

Internships are vital for preparing young healthcare workers for the working life. Examining the behaviors and attitudes of interns about the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and raising their awareness will contribute to the fight against contagious diseases. This study aimed to investigate the behaviors and attitudes towards PPEs in the physiotherapy interns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two hundred twenty-three physiotherapy interns (mean age, 22.55±1.80 years; 162 female) were included into study. The health-related characteristics, vaccination status, use of PPE against the COVID-19, behaviors and attitudes towards PPEs use, and the physical complaints related to the PPEs were questioned. A total of %43.2 interns have tested positive for COVID-19 during the internship. All participants preferred to wear the mask, while %95.1 used protective gloves in case of COVID-19 risk, and %66.4 of the participants stated that they were worried about finding new equipment while removing the PPEs. The most frequently reported physical complaints were dryness, irritation, and scar in the hands. PPEs are essential in protecting against epidemics and infectious diseases that threaten public health; therefore, healthcare systems must prioritize the procurement and distribution of PPEs, and provide adequate training to interns in its use.