Willingness of Patients to Use The Xray Changing Gown at Three Tertiary Hospitals in Maiduguri Metropolis During Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background

The x-ray changing gown is a long, loose piece of clothing designed to protect the dignity of the patient during radiological examinations. However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the psychology of patients regarding the use of the x-ray changing gown.

Objective

To assess the willingness of patients towards the use of the x-ray changing gown during radiological examinations and to identify factors responsible for the unwillingness of some patients to use the gown.

Materials and Methods

A self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was designed and distributed containing three sections. Section A covered the demography of the respondents, section B included inquiries on the willingness of the respondents to wear the x-ray changing gown, and section C explored the factors that hindered the respondents from wearing the x-ray changing gown. A total of 300 questionnaires were distributed using a convenience sampling technique. The data collected were analyzed descriptively using frequency and percentage.

Results

All the questionnaires were returned (100%). Out of the 300 respondents, 27.3% (n = 82) attended higher education, while 72.7% (n = 218) attended either secondary education (20%, n = 60) or primary school and below (25%, n = 75) or did not attend any level of education (27.7%, n = 83). The result of the study shows that 32.0% (n = 96) of the respondents were comfortably willing to use the x-ray changing gown, while 31.0% (n = 93) were not. The major factors responsible for patient unwillingness to wear the gown were that the changing gown was not fitting to their body stature and gender (33.3%, n = 100), and unsuitable for wearing (37.7%, n = 113). Lack of good hygiene (31.0%, n = 93) and cultural or religious beliefs (34.7%, n = 104) were also significant factors.

Conclusion

More than half of the patients were unwilling to wear the x-ray gown. The lack of fitted gowns for body size and gender, lack of good hygiene, and cultural or religious beliefs were responsible for this unwillingness.