Biosafety: physiotherapy students’ knowledge about techniques and behavior in cross-infection control

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Biosafety consists in the set of measures applied to prevent the spread of infectious agents. Through biosafety, it is possible to avoid and inhibit the risks that compromise the health of the individual, animals and the environment. Objective: To evaluate the knowledge about biosafety in undergraduate physiotherapy students and physiotherapists. Methods: The work was a field study with a defined universe, and classified as descriptive, exploratory, quantitative-qualitative. The sample consisted of 93 physiotherapy students from the Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná (State University of Northern Paraná), Jacarezinho, Brazil, and 10 professionals working in the region. Data were collected through a questionnaire on knowledge about biosafety and cross-infections. A statistical analysis was performed using SPPS software version 25.0, and the data was evaluated by the Shapiro-Wilk normality test, and the variables expressed as median and interquartile range (25% -75%). The chi-square test was applied to determine statistically significant differences between the different years of the physiotherapy course and the trained professionals. Through content analysis, open treatment and analysis of qualitative data were chosen. The level of significance used was 5%. Results: There was a small deficit in the knowledge of biosafety; however, this knowledge increased to some extent with the evolution of students in the course (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Most students and professionals have enough knowledge to control or even eradicate the risks of certain activities and prevent cross-infection in the practice of physiotherapy. The perceived deficit in knowledge in biosafety can be easily resolved with the adequate dissemination of knowledge on the subject.