Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Health Sciences

.: ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Physiotherapy Students' Knowledge Levels and Information Sources Regarding Protection While Contacting Cases During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Study
Fizyoterapi Öğrencilerinin COVID-19 Pandemisinde Vakalar ile Temas Ederken Korunmaya İlişkin Bilgi Düzeyleri ve Bilgi Kaynakları: Kesitsel Çalışma
Hayriye KUL KARAALİa , Özlem ÖZCANa
aManisa Celal Bayar University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Manisa, Türkiye
Turkiye Klinikleri J Health Sci. 2024;9(3):511-20
doi: 10.5336/healthsci.2024-101675
Article Language: EN
Full Text
ABSTRACT
 Objective: Our aim is to investigate the knowledge and sources of information of physiotherapy students about the precautions to be followed when coming into contact with cases during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Material and Methods: Our study is a cross-sectional study. An online form was created by the researchers. This form included 19 questions about isolation measures, personal protective equipment (PPE) and their appropriate use to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 infection, and the sources of information for students. Results: A total of 503 students participated (374 females, 129 males; mean age 20.82±1.83 years; 1st grade n=128, 2nd grade n=135, 3rd grade n=123 and 4th grade n=117). Students answered all questions about PPEs correctly at a rate of 82.3% to 95.0%. However, they gave less correct answers to the questions about the appropriate use of PPEs compared to other questions (65.2%-41.6%). The least correct answers were given to questions about the order of donning (62.2%) and doffing (49.7%) PPE such as gloves, goggles/face protection, aprons and masks. Students frequently obtained information about protective measures from healthcare professionals, websites and scientific articles (n=273 54.3%, n=263 52.3%, n=197 39.2%, respectively) and they most often accessed the information source between 18:00- 24:00 on weekdays. Conclusion: Our study has revealed the deficiencies of physiotherapy students, a student group that may come into close contact with COVID-19 cases, in certain aspects. Our study may guide education planners about COVID-19 infection.

Keywords: COVID-19; isolation; personal protective equipment; resource guide
ÖZET
 Amaç: Amacımız, fizyoterapi öğrencilerinin koronavirüs hastalığı-2019 [coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)] pandemisinde vakalar ile temas ederken uyması gereken önlemler hakkındaki bilgilerini ve bilgi edinme kaynaklarını araştırmaktır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmamız kesitsel bir çalışmadır. Çalışmacılar tarafından çevrim içi bir form oluşturuldu. Bu form COVID-19 enfeksiyonunun bulaşını engellemek için gereken; izolasyon önlemleri, kişisel koruyucu ekipmanlar (KKE) ve bunların uygun kullanımı hakkındaki 19 soruyu ve öğrencilerin bilgi edinme kaynakları hakkındaki soruları içeriyordu. Bulgular: Toplam 503 öğrenci katıldı (374 kadın, 129 erkek; ortalama yaş 20,82±1,83 yıl; 1. sınıf n=128, 2. sınıf n=135, 3. sınıf n=123, 4. Sınıf n=117). Öğrenciler KKE'ler hakkında yöneltilen tüm sorulara %82,3- 95,0 oranında doğru yanıt verdiler. Ancak KKE'lerin uygun kullanımı hakkındaki sorulara diğer sorulara oranla daha az doğru yanıt verdiler (%65,2-41,6). En az doğru yanıt eldiven, gözlük/yüz koruyucu, önlük ve maske gibi KKE'lerin giyilme (%62,2) ve çıkarılma sırası (%49,7) hakkındaki sorulara verildi. Öğrenciler koruyucu önlemler hakkındaki bilgileri sıklıkla; sağlık çalışanlarından, web sitelerinden ve bilimsel makalelerden ediniyordu (sırasıyla n=273 %54,3, n=263 %52,3, n=197 %39,2) ve bilgi kaynağına en sık hafta içi 18:00-24:00 saatleri arasında ulaşıyorlardı. Sonuç: Çalışmamız, özellikle COVID-19 vakaları ile yakın temas edebilecek bir öğrenci grubu olan fizyoterapi öğrencilerinin belirli yönlerden eksiklerini ortaya koymuştur. Çalışmamız COVID-19 enfeksiyonu konusunda eğitim planlayıcılara yol gösterici olabilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler: COVID-19; izolasyon; kişisel koruyucu ekipman; bilgi kaynağı
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