Table 3.
Self-reported TB infection control practices
| Always | Often | Sometimes | Never | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | |
| Personal Protective Equipment | ||||
| I use an N95 respirator when collecting sputum from a patient | 106 (52.2) | 27 (13.3) | 44 (21.7) | 26 (12.8) |
| I use an N95 respirator in the TB consultation room | 104 (50.0) | 35 (16.8) | 37 (17.8) | 32 (15.4) |
| I interact with patients while using a N95 respirator | 111 (50.5) | 30 (13.6) | 49 (22.3) | 30 (13.6) |
| Environmental | ||||
| I open windows when possible to increase natural ventilation | 216 (95.2) | 10 (4.4) | 1 (0.4) | |
| I explain to patients why it is important to keep windows open | 213 (91.8) | 13 (5.6) | 5 (2.2) | 1 (0.4) |
| I may turn off fans if they become too noisy or cause cold air to blow around | 25 (10.7) | 25 (10.7) | 55 (23.6) | 77 (32.6) |
| Administrative | ||||
| I order sputum specimens when I suspect TB | 209 (95.2) | 6 (2.7) | 7 (3.1) | 4 (1.8) |
| Patients with suspected TB are isolated from other patients | 107 (49.1) | 24 (11.0) | 39 (17.9) | 48 (22.0) |
| I ask each patient who enters the clinic if they are coughing and for how long | 205 (88.7) | 10 (4.3) | 12 (5.2) | 4 (1.7) |
| I move TB suspects to a separate waiting area | 113 (53.1) | 28 (13.1) | 28 (13.1) | 44 (20.7) |
| I move TB suspects to the front of the queue to minimise the amount of time that they spend in the waiting area around other patients | 159 (70.9) | 27 (12.3) | 22 (10.0) | 15 (6.8) |
| I give tissues/surgical masks to coughing patients | 145 (67.1) | 22 (10.2) | 30 (13.9) | 19 (8.8) |