RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Does Examination Table Paper Use Mitigate the Risk of Disease Transmission in a Family Medicine Clinic?
JF The Annals of Family Medicine
JO Ann Fam Med
FD American Academy of Family Physicians
SP 230
OP 232
DO 10.1370/afm.3092
VO 22
IS 3
A1 Chiarlitti, Nathan
A1 Graves, Zachary
A1 Lavoie, Curtis
A1 Reid, Ryan E. R.
YR 2024
UL http://www.annfammed.org/content/22/3/230.abstract
AB Reducing examination table paper (ETP) use may help curb carbon emissions from health care. Six participants applied Glo Germ (DMA International) to their hands before a common physical examination (abdominal, cardiorespiratory, hip and knee) both with and without ETP. After each exam, UV light was shined on the exam table and photographs were taken. The number of hand touches on ETP-covered areas and uncovered areas were tallied and compared using t tests. Despite covering more surface area, participants touched areas without ETP significantly more than ETP-covered areas (P <.05). Despite its continued use, patients do not have much hand contact with ETP during common clinical examinations.