Evaluation of the knowledge and practices of HEALTH care professionals on the precautions about risks of surgical smoke in surgical operation rooms

Inhalation of surgical smoke in operating rooms presents potential risks and negative symptoms for operating room personnel. This study is a descriptive and sectional type of observational work planned to assess the knowledge and practices of healthcare professionals about the surgical smoke that is required due to the risks and exposure of the surgical smoke generated during electro-surgery use in operating rooms. The sample of research was created by the surgeon, anesthesiologist, operating nurse, anesthesia technician and assistant health staff (n=168) who were in the operating unit of the relevant training and research hospital and agreed to participate in the study at the time of the study. At the end of the study; 52.2% of the participants (n=86) did not know which personal protective equipment to use against inhalation of surgical smoke and had no idea of smoke protection. It was observed that 85.1% (n=143) of the participants were exposed to surgical smoke. When the symptoms experienced after surgical smoke were evaluated, it was found that the participants mostly experienced headache (n=110), throat irritation (n=110), fatigue (n=107), cough (n=98) and tearing (n=73). It was determined that most of the participants did not receive education on surgical smoke and more than half of the participants lacked knowledge about smoke evacuation systems. A meaningful relationship was found between the knowledge and practices of healthcare professionals about the risks of surgical smoke and the precautions taken, and their occupation, education level, and working years in the operating room (p<0.05).