Abstract
Background: With the onset of a global pandemic in 2020, substantial emphasis has been placed on cleaning and disinfection in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This research was performed in order to assess disinfectant use compliance in the University of Johannesburg Chiropractic clinic (UJCC). Aim: The aims of this study were to determine if the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns affected the disinfectant use and the number of patients that visited the UJCC and to explain the possible factors that could have affected each of these variables. Method: This study was a descriptive, longitudinal study using retrospective data analysis. Data was collected daily by the primary researcher for a 10- month period. Daily disinfectant usage and the number of patients treated in each room of the UJCC was recorded. This data was then sorted and analysed in order to identify trends. Results: Data was collected for 172 days. A positive correlation was noted between disinfectant use and the number of patients treated at the UJCC. South Africa’s implementation of various lockdown levels affected how disinfectant was used and affected the number of patients that visited the UJCC. Student interns that worked in the UJCC from July 2020- June 2021 did follow the hygiene protocol implemented in the UJCC. Conclusion: Disinfectant use compliance in the UJCC is sufficient. Student interns used the disinfectant provided efficiently during this research period, although an overuse of disinfectant is also noted. Various lockdown levels affected how the disinfectant was used but also affected the number of patients that visited the UJCC.
M.Tech. (Chiropractic)