KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT PREPAREDNESS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: AUDIT BY RADIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF PAKISTAN
Abstract
Abstract
Objective: Audit to assess Radiology Department Preparedness for COVID-19 in Hospitals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by Radiological Society of Pakistan. Standard: There is no WHO standard guideline specifically for radiology department preparedness in such pandemic. Target: 100% adherence to infection control measures and staff protection as reference from published data from Ebola outbreak and COVID-19 publications online.
Material and methods: This is cross sectional observational study and two cycle audits were done to assess radiology preparedness among contacted hospitals of KPK. A questionnaire was devised that measured the knowledge and preparedness of radiology departments from different regions of KPK regarding infection control as well as staff protection. The department was considered prepared if it had, 1. Designated imaging equipment for COVID-19 2. Disinfection and transfer route planning 3. Workforce preservation 4. Adequate PPE for staff. Data was entered in Microsoft Xcel worksheet and analyzed for adherence with standard infection control measures.
Results: Total of 50 radiology departments were contacted in second cycle and 21 in first cycle. First cycle results showed that only one center was prepared in March 2020 and that too was a designated COVID-19 center. In second cycle, the results showed 12 of the departments were fully prepared meaning they had a designated equipment for COVID-19, had transfer route planned, had made measures for workforce preservation and had sufficient PPE for their staff. Rest of the 38 centers were partly prepared. Most of the radiology departments not prepared was DHQ of different parts of KPK. Majority of the centers reserved their workforce by dividing duties into groups, alternating in weeks or days depending on the staff number. Precautionary measures were being taken by all the staff in the contacted centers. However, provision of PPE was very limited and only to the persons entering the isolation area in 42 centers. The most deficient part was Transfer route and disinfection planning. Resource dependent self- efforts like alcohol wipes, sterilum wipes was being encouraged in many departments.
Conclusion: We concluded from our results that out of 50 KPK centers, 24% centers were fully prepared. Overall the most deficient preparedness was in transfer route planning and designating separate equipment for COVID-19 imaging, the reason being limited resources. Most of the centers not fully prepared were DHQs. RSP guidelines were forwarded to all centers to increase efficacy of preparedness.
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