KNOWLEDGE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT USE OF SENIOR PARAMEDIC
STUDENTS BEFORE GRADUATION DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC PERIOD
Abstract
Introduction: This study is planned to determine the knowledge of
personal protective equipment use of senior paramedic students before
graduation during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The research is a
descriptive study. The universe of the study consisted of 180 senior
paramedic students studying at three universities in İzmir. When
evaluating the study data, descriptive findings were expressed as
percentage, mean, standard deviation and median. Results: 38.1% of the
students are between 18-20 years old, 50.0% are between 21-23 years old
and 11.9% are 23 years old and above. 58.3% of the students
participating in the study are females and 41.7% are males. In the
study, 74.4% of paramedic students stated that healthcare personnel
working in ambulance or patient transport vehicles should use medical
masks, gowns, gloves and eye protection while transporting suspected
COVID-19- (SARS-CoV-2) patients to the health institution. 78.5% of the
students answered that an N95/FFP2 mask should be used while intervening
and taking samples in a patient suspected of having COVID-19.
Discussion: As a result, it was found that during the COVID-19 pandemic
period, the knowledge of personal protective equipment use of senior
paramedic students before graduation is sufficient in some cases and not
clear and sufficient in some cases. It is recommended that students
should be given effective training on the use of PPE during the
intervention of the patient with COVID-19 before graduation.