Audiologists’ knowledge of and adherence to biosafety measures

Duarte, Patrícia Brollo; Aita, Aline Domingues Chaves

doi:10.1590/1982-0216/20222444722

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ORIGINAL ARTICLES • Rev. CEFAC 24 (4) • 2022 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0216/20222444722 copy

Audiologists’ knowledge of and adherence to biosafety measures

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

to identify biosafety measures taken by audiologists and their perception of the risks to which they are exposed.

Methods:

the sample comprised 63 speech-language-hearing therapists who work with clinical and occupational audiology in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The research was conducted online between April and May 2022 via Google Forms^®, collecting data with the Audiology Biosafety Questionnaire proposed by Rocha et al. (2015).

Results:

most professionals reported taking the following measures: washing hands before patient visits (86%), washing hands in-between patient visits (81%), using hand sanitizers (87.5%), wearing white coats that covered their clothes (87%) and keeping them buttoned up (79%), keeping nails clean and trimmed (97%), disinfecting and separating used equipment (94%), and organizing the environment (97%). However, 41% of interviewees left the workplace wearing personal protective equipment, and only 22% and 14%, respectively, wore gloves when performing otoscopy and auditory examinations.

Conclusion:

research results show that most of the interviewed speech-language-hearing therapists who work in audiology know and practice the biosafety measures indicated in the existing norms.

Descriptors:
Audiology; Occupational Exposure; Personal Protective Equipment; Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences; Occupational Risks

BIOSAFETY PRACTICES	Yes		No		Sometimes		Not applicable
BIOSAFETY PRACTICES	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Are there adequate sinks (ANVISA norms)?	58	92	5	8	-	-	-	-
Are earphones and vibrators sanitized in-between patient visits?	48	76	15	24	-	-	-	-
Do you have used equipment disinfected?	59	94	4	6	-	-	-	-
Do you separate used equipment from other pieces and store it in adequate places?	61	97	2	3	-	-	-	-
Is clean equipment adequately stored with its disinfection date?	27	43	36	57	-	-	-	-
Is the sound booth easily sanitized?	32	51	31	49	-	-	-	-
Can wall, floor, and ceiling coverings be washed and disinfected?	50	79	13	21	-	-	-	-
Are there work equipment use instructions?	43	68	20	32	-	-	-	-
Does the professional keep the environment organized?	61	97	2	3	-	-	-	-
Is there an appropriate place to store personal belongings and food?	57	90.5	6	9.5	-	-	-	-

BIOSAFETY PRACTICES	Yes		No		Sometimes		Not applicable
BIOSAFETY PRACTICES	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Do you remove adornments before washing your hands?	36	57	27	43	-	-	-	-
Do you wash your hands before patient visits?	54	86	1	1.5	8	12.5	-	-
Do you wash your hands in-between patient visits?	51	81	1	1.5	11	17.5	-	-
Do you use hand sanitizer?	55	87.5	2	3	6	9.5	-	-
Do you wear gloves to perform otoscopy?	14	22	44	70	5	8	-	-
Do you wear gloves to perform auditory examinations?	9	14	51	81	3	5	-	-
Have you been instructed on PPE use?	47	75	16	25	-	-	-	-
Do you wear a white coat during patient visits?	59	94	2	3	2	3	-	-
Does your white coat cover your clothing?	55	87.5	8	12.5	-	-	-	-
Do you keep your white coat always buttoned up?	50	79	13	21	-	-	-	-
Do you take PPE with you when you leave work?	26	41	37	59	-	-	-	-
Do you keep your hair tied back during patient visits?	41	66	16	26	-	-	5	8
Do you keep your nails clean and trimmed?	61	97	2	3	-	-	-	-
Do you wear adornments (e.g., earrings and bracelets) in the workplace?	46	73	17	27	-	-	-	-
Do you smoke in the workplace?	-	-	63	100	-	-	-	-
Do you handle contact lenses in the workplace?	-	-	63	100	-	-	-	-
Do you eat and drink in the workplace?	22	34	41	66	-	-	-	-

ABRAMO Associação Brasileira de Motricidade Orofacial Rua Uruguaiana, 516, Cep 13026-001 Campinas SP Brasil, Tel.: +55 19 3254-0342 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: revistacefac@cefac.br

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[1] Corresponding address: Patrícia Brollo Duarte, Rua Independência, n° 252, CEP: 95250-000 - Antônio Prado, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, E-mail: patriciaduarte123@hotmail.com