Abstract
Introduction: Although the use of advanced surgical instruments has facilitated surgical processes, the smoke generated by them contains hazardous particles, including chemicals and biological agents, endangering the health of the surgical team. Exposure to this smoke can cause eye and skin irritation, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and other complications. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and preventive performance of the surgical team regarding the risks of surgical smoke in the teaching hospitals of Yazd, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019 using a valid researcher-made questionnaire. The questionnaires were completed by 244 members of the surgical team (surgeons and surgical technologists) in teaching hospitals via the census method, and the data were analyzed using SPSS 21.
Results: The means±standard deviations for knowledge, attitudes, and preventive performance were 10.6±1.3, 43.7±7.2, and 7.3±1.8, respectively. There was a significant direct correlation between the knowledge scores of the surgical team and their attitude (P=0.001, r=0.25). Furthermore, a significant direct correlation was found between knowledge and preventive performance (P=0.001, r=0.27).
Conclusion: The findings indicated inadequate knowledge, attitudes, and preventive performance practices among the surgical team regarding the risks of associated with surgical smoke. Considering the serious health hazards associated with inhaling surgical smoke, it is essential to strengthen educational policies to increase the awareness, promote appropriate attitudes, and improve preventive practices among surgical team members. These measures can ultimately help protect their health.