A study about the relationship between disaster awareness and use of mask – the sample of Gümüshane University Faculty of Health Sciences

Medical masks from the range of personal protective equipment (PPE) are used to reduce the amount of contact and spread of biological hazards that can be transmitted by the respiratory tract. The formation of the habit of using medical masks and knowing the correct use can contribute to the reduction of the negative effects of biological risks that may be transmitted through the air. The aim of study was to determine the level of medical mask knowledge of students studying in the field of health and to evaluate whether it is related to disaster awareness. In the study method, 5-point likert type surveys related medical mask and awareness of disaster were applied to 491 students. The results were calculated as mean±standard deviation values and compared with sociodemographic variables using SPSS analysis methods. As a result of the study; The mean of the participants' medical mask knowledge levels (4.60±0.51) and disaster awareness perception (4.25±0.57) were high. The knowledge levels of medical mask use were statistical differently due to variables of age, gender, department and urban (p<0.05). In addition, it was a positive correlation between the perception of disaster awareness and the level of knowledge of medical mask use (p<0.01). Finally, it is thought that the concept of disaster awareness is important in the use of medical masks and it may be a positive contribution to disaster management processes with further researches of disaster awareness related with PPE, education, gender and the access of information resources.