Use of disposable surgical face masks at the surgical environment

Abstract

Surgical masks are essential as for the individual protection of Surgical Center team members as for the patient's protection during the procedure. The present study objective was to assess the wearing of surgical masks by surgical site students and professionals according to time, local and way of use. Thirty-three students and professionals were observed in a Clinic Hospital, from January to February 2008. For data collection, a specific instrument of checklist kind was used, and the evaluation was made based on descriptive statistics and absolute, relative and medium frequency. The main results obtained were: 81,8% of the students and professionals wear the surgical mask covering mouth and nose, 72,7% of the students and professionals wear the mask in the beginning of the procedure, and 60,6% of the students and professionals discarded the mask from the strips. So, the surgical mask was, in general, used in a correct way according to what is advocated by national and international organizations, fact probably connected to the academic environment of the analyzed hospital, where recommended guidelines and patterns divulgation is constant.