Naima Luqman, Summaira Hassan, Rabia Asgher, Amna Samreen, Jamil Ahmed Shaheen, Muhammad Khalid, Mueeza Niaz.
Dermatological Morbidity Induced by the use of Personal Protective Measures in Frontline Doctors During COVID Pandemic.
J Pak Assoc Derma Jan ;31(3):420-8.

Background: Frontline doctors performing duties during Covid 19 pandemic have to use the personal protective equipment to avoid the exposure and decrease the risk due to the Covid 19 infection. These protective measures may lead to various cutaneous manifestation and problems which affect their working.    Objective: To assess dermatological morbidity due to use of personal protective equipment (PPE).    Material and methods: This descriptive observational study was conducted on 220 doctors performing duties on frontline in Covid 19 pandemic. Data was collected through e- questionnaire regarding demography, daily duty, daily PPE wearing time, cutaneous manifestation, their type and site. Participants voluntarily allowed and submitted the questionnaire through the cell phones.    Results: 52% of frontline doctors using PPEs while performing duties in covid-19 showed dermatological morbidity. Most of them belong to the age group >35 years, males, married, having postgraduate qualification. Most of the frontline doctors having dermatological manifestation were performing regular OPD duties for > 4 hours. Presence of comorbidities and hand washing for more than 10 times were also associated factors.    Conclusion: Thera is 52% dermatological comorbidity in frontline doctors using PPEs while performing duties in covid-19 pandemic and it was statistically significantly associated with male gender, postgraduate qualification, >4 hours/ day OPD duty, presence of comorbidities and hand washing >10 times per day.    Key words: Dermatological morbidity, covid-19, doctors, frontline, personal protective equipment (PPE), cutaneous manifestations. 

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