COVID-19: Training activities, adherence, and use of personal protective equipment in Primary Health Care.

Objective: to analyze the association between participation in training activities and the adherence to and use of personal protective equipment by workers and professionals involved in Health Residency Programs in Primary Health Care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: a cross-sectional study in Brazil between August/2020 and March/2021. We utilized the EPI-APS COVID-19 instrument and its adapted version for resident professionals.

Results: 455 PHC workers and 102 residents participated in the study. Among them, 54.5% and 55.9%, respectively, engaged in training activities. We observed an association between participation in training activities and the proper use of gloves (p<0.001), gowns (p=0.009), goggles/face shields (p=0.002), and overall adherence (p<0.001) among PHC workers, and the proper use of surgical masks (p=0.028) among residents. Adherence rates of ≥75% were identified in 6.9% of PHC workers and none among the residents.

Conclusion: training activities are associated with increased adherence to and proper use of PPE.