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Table 3 Self-reported TB infection control practices

From: Factors associated with good TB infection control practices among primary healthcare workers in the Free State Province, South Africa

 

Always

Often

Sometimes

Never

n (%)

n (%)

n (%)

n (%)

Personal Protective Equipment

 I use an N95 respirator when collecting sputum from a patient

106 (52.2)

27 (13.3)

44 (21.7)

26 (12.8)

 I use an N95 respirator in the TB consultation room

104 (50.0)

35 (16.8)

37 (17.8)

32 (15.4)

 I interact with patients while using a N95 respirator

111 (50.5)

30 (13.6)

49 (22.3)

30 (13.6)

Environmental

 I open windows when possible to increase natural ventilation

216 (95.2)

10 (4.4)

 

1 (0.4)

 I explain to patients why it is important to keep windows open

213 (91.8)

13 (5.6)

5 (2.2)

1 (0.4)

 I may turn off fans if they become too noisy or cause cold air to blow around

25 (10.7)

25 (10.7)

55 (23.6)

77 (32.6)

Administrative

 I order sputum specimens when I suspect TB

209 (95.2)

6 (2.7)

7 (3.1)

4 (1.8)

 Patients with suspected TB are isolated from other patients

107 (49.1)

24 (11.0)

39 (17.9)

48 (22.0)

 I ask each patient who enters the clinic if they are coughing and for how long

205 (88.7)

10 (4.3)

12 (5.2)

4 (1.7)

 I move TB suspects to a separate waiting area

113 (53.1)

28 (13.1)

28 (13.1)

44 (20.7)

 I move TB suspects to the front of the queue to minimise the amount of time that they spend in the waiting area around other patients

159 (70.9)

27 (12.3)

22 (10.0)

15 (6.8)

 I give tissues/surgical masks to coughing patients

145 (67.1)

22 (10.2)

30 (13.9)

19 (8.8)