چکیده: (10 مشاهده)
Background: Pre-hospital paramedics providing immediate care to patients with contagious disease were at high risk of infection. This study aimed to assess the exposure risk and risk management of pre-hospital paramedics during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 335 paramedics from 49 emergency medical stations in two cities located in northwestern of Iran who were recruited through census. Data was collected using a World Health Organization questionnaire to assess the COVID-19 exposure risk of health workers.
Results: The results showed that the highest risk of exposure (86.0%) was in the domain of occupational exposure and that 55.2% of paramedics were at high risk of exposure to COVID-19. Among paramedics, 95.2% used personal protective equipment when caring for patient and 93.1% when performing aerosol-generating procedures.
Discussion: The results of this study highlight that pre-hospital paramedics have a high exposure risk in designated COVID-19 missions, while this exposure is reduced through infection prevention measures.
Conclusion: A significant number of pre-hospital paramedics were found to be at high exposure risk to COVID-19 during ambulance missions. Therefore, adherence to contact and droplet precautions, taking airborne precautions during aerosol-generating procedures, access to appropriate PPE, proper use of PPE, and appropriate training courses may lead to exposure risk management and improve their safety.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 335 paramedics from 49 emergency medical stations in two cities located in northwestern of Iran who were recruited through census. Data was collected using a World Health Organization questionnaire to assess the COVID-19 exposure risk of health workers.
Results: The results showed that the highest risk of exposure (86.0%) was in the domain of occupational exposure and that 55.2% of paramedics were at high risk of exposure to COVID-19. Among paramedics, 95.2% used personal protective equipment when caring for patient and 93.1% when performing aerosol-generating procedures.
Discussion: The results of this study highlight that pre-hospital paramedics have a high exposure risk in designated COVID-19 missions, while this exposure is reduced through infection prevention measures.
Conclusion: A significant number of pre-hospital paramedics were found to be at high exposure risk to COVID-19 during ambulance missions. Therefore, adherence to contact and droplet precautions, taking airborne precautions during aerosol-generating procedures, access to appropriate PPE, proper use of PPE, and appropriate training courses may lead to exposure risk management and improve their safety.
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