Method and Frequency of Stethoscope Cleaning among Respiratory Therapists in Intensive Care Units at KAMC, Riyadh Al-Shahry Fayz S.1,*, Al-Enazi Fahad Holil2, Al-Naam Nawaf Abdul-alkarim2, Aloraibi Saleh3 1Assisstant Prof, CAMS. KSAU-HS. Consultant Rehab KAMC. Riyadh 2RT Students, College of Applied Medical Sciences King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh 3Prof, College of Applied Medical Sciences King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh *Corresponding Author: Dr. Fayz S. Al-Shahry Assisstant Prof, College of Applied Medical Sciences King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Email: Shahryf@hotmail.com
Online published on 21 February, 2019. Abstract Nosocomial infection identified as a major problem that affects the health care quality and a leading cause of morbidity, mortality and health care cost (1).Moreover, nosocomial infection remains a significant risk for hospitalized patients. Medical devices including stethoscope approved as potential source of nosocomial infection. Method A cross sectional study performed to identify method and frequency of stethoscope cleaning among respiratory therapists in intensive care units in King Abdul-Aziz Medical City (KAMC) in Riyadh., KSA. The data was collected from 64 respiratory therapist both RT I and RT II. Self-administered questionnaire designed and collected data from ICU respiratory therapists. The questionnaire have 5 main sections, including personal characteristics, the awareness of importance of the subject, frequency of stethoscope cleaning, method of stethoscope cleaning, and barriers of stethoscope cleaning. Result Study variables entered into SPSS software. result showed that 79.7% of the samples did not received proper training on cleaning technique of stethoscope. Of the total population result shows that 89.1% of the samples agree that the cleaning of stethoscope is important. it is also shows that the major barrier of cleaning of stethoscope is forgetfulness, while concern of damaging the stethoscope has the lowest frequency, and lack of time or too busy has a percentage of 40.6%. Discussion and Conclusion In summary, this study found that the highest percentage of RTs at King Abdul-Aziz Medical City has not received previous information on stethoscope cleaning. it isimportant for policy-makers to initiate education programs. In addition, this study shows that the major barrier of stethoscope cleaning is forgetfulness; according to this, we suggest an existence of warning posters to remind RTs and other health care providers of stethoscope cleaning. Top Keywords Stethoscope Cleaning, Frequency of Cleaning, Method Cleaning, Barriers of Cleaning, Respairatory Therapist. Top |