This study aimed to assess the perceptions of operating room workers regarding surgical smoke exposure and their personal well-being levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conducted as a descriptive study between May and June 2022, the research included 82 operating room staff members from a public hospital in Istanbul. Data were collected using a questionnaire covering sociodemographic details, surgical smoke exposure, and the personal well-being scale. Descriptive statistical methods were used to analyze the data. Among the participants, 89% believed that they had been exposed to surgical smoke. Symptoms reported among those exposed included headaches (45.1%), coughing (11%), throat irritation (31.7%), eye discomfort (56.1%), excessive tearing (34.1%), and respiratory issues (20.7%). To minimize exposure, staff relied on protective measures such as surgical masks (74.4%), aspiration catheters (59.8%), gowns (74.4%), goggles (74.4%), filters (35.4%), and filtration masks (6.1%). In addition, 93.9% expressed a desire for training on surgical smoke. The mean score on the personal well-being scale was X̄ = 41.76, indicating low well-being. The findings suggest that preventive measures in operating rooms were inadequate during the pandemic, leading to various health symptoms among staff and reduced well-being. More efforts are needed to control and eliminate surgical smoke in operating rooms. It is necessary to investigate cost-effective smoke extraction methods and investigate the long-term effects of chronic exposure among healthcare personnel.
