Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Healthcare Professionals on COVID-19 and Risk Assessment to Prevent the Epidemic Spread: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study from Punjab, Pakistan
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Methodology
2.1. Study Design
2.2. Study Setting
2.3. Study Participants
2.4. Sampling Strategy
2.5. Study Instrument
2.6. Data Collection
2.7. Ethical Approval
2.8. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Demographics of Participants
3.2. Knowledge of Healthcare Professionals
3.3. Attitude of Healthcare Professionals
3.4. Practices and Risk Assessment of Healthcare Professionals
4. Discussion
5. Limitations
6. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Characteristics | Frequency (n) | Percentage (%) |
---|---|---|
Age Groups (Mean Age = 28.73 ± 6.31 years) | ||
<=25 | 142 | 36.9 |
26–29 | 125 | 32.5 |
30+ | 118 | 30.6 |
Gender | ||
Male | 181 | 47.0 |
Female | 204 | 53.0 |
Marital Status | ||
Married | 195 | 50.6 |
Unmarried | 190 | 49.4 |
Highest Level of Education | ||
Bachelor | 181 | 47.0 |
Masters | 170 | 44.2 |
Doctorate | 34 | 8.8 |
Occupation | ||
Physician | 144 | 37.4 |
Pharmacist | 128 | 33.2 |
Nurse | 113 | 29.4 |
Workplace Organization Type | ||
Public | 196 | 50.9 |
Private | 189 | 49.1 |
Locality | ||
Urban | 340 | 88.3 |
Rural | 45 | 11.7 |
Items | Yes n (%) | No n (%) | Do Not Know n (%) |
---|---|---|---|
Have you heard about the novel corona virus and the related terms COVID-19 or 2019-nCoV? | 385 (100%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
COVID-19 disease is a viral infection. | 385 (100%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
COVID-19 can be transmitted through close contact with infected people and infected animals. | 381 (99%) | 4 (1%) | 0 (0%) |
COVID-19 virus can be transmitted through contaminated food and water. | 162 (42.1%) | 198 (51.4%) | 25 (6.5%) |
Fever, sore throat, cough, and shortness of breath are possible symptoms of COVID-19 infection. | 385 (100%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
The novel coronavirus is a similar virus as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. | 308 (80.0%) | 31 (8.1%) | 46 (11.9%) |
Does the virus survive on surfaces of doors, tables and other objects? | 371 (96.4%) | 9 (2.3%) | 5 (1.3%) |
Is the COVID-19 infection the same illness as flu or cold? | 69 (17.9%) | 309 (80.3%) | 7 (1.8%) |
Is there any laboratory test to confirm the presence of COVID-19 infection? | 369 (95.8%) | 12 (3.1%) | 4 (1.0%) |
The incubation period of COVID-19 infection is 1–2 weeks. | 375 (97.4%) | 3 (0.8%) | 7 (1.8%) |
Can COVID-19 infection be caught from a person who presents no symptoms and has recently visited the affected area? | 369 (95.8%) | 10 (2.6%) | 6 (1.6%) |
A vaccine for the COVID-19 virus is now available in the market. | 14 (3.6%) | 361 (93.8%) | 10 (2.6%) |
Antibiotics are useful for the treatment of COVID-19 infection. | 142 (36.9%) | 233 (60.5%) | 10 (2.6%) |
People with a compromised immune system and old age people are at more risk of developing the infection. | 384 (99.7%) | 1 (0.3%) | 0 (0%) |
Patients with comorbidities are at more risk of developing the infection. | 373 (96.9%) | 7 (1.8%) | 5 (1.3%) |
Health care workers and hospitalized patients who are near to infected patients are at more risk of developing the infection. | 384 (99.7%) | 1 (0.3%) | 0 (0%) |
People in crowded places are at increased risk of getting affected by the disease. | 385 (100%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
Patients of COVID-19 infection should be immediately isolated to avoid the transfer of infection to other people. | 384 (99.7%) | 1 (0.3%) | 0 (0%) |
Healthcare professionals are well prepared to cater to the people in case there is a spread of COVID-19 disease. | 326 (84.7%) | 50 (13.0%) | 9 (2.3%) |
Items | SD n (%) | D n (%) | N n (%) | A n (%) | SA n (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
The disease can be transmitted by coughing and sneezing. | 4 (1.0%) | 2 (0.5%) | 3 (0.8%) | 106 (27.5%) | 270 (70.1%) |
Transmission of COVID-19 infection can be prevented through wearing masks. | 0 (0%) | 6 (1.6%) | 18 (4.7%) | 182 (47.3%) | 179 (46.5%) |
Transmission of COVID-19 infection can be prevented through washing hands and face regularly with antiseptics and sanitizers. | 2 (0.5%) | 0 (0%) | 8 (2.1%) | 146 (37.9%) | 229 (59.5%) |
Transmission of COVID-19 infection can be prevented through the isolation of COVID-19-infected patients. | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 9 (2.3%) | 141 (36.6%) | 235 (61.0%) |
Transmission of COVID-19 infection can be prevented by taking antibiotics. | 114 (29.6%) | 92 (23.9%) | 29 (7.5%) | 64 (16.6%) | 86 (22.3%) |
Restricting the travel of COVID-19-infected people to other areas of the world and of people in other areas to affected areas can be beneficial to prevent the spread of the infection. | 1 (0.3%) | 1 (0.3%) | 12 (3.1%) | 158 (41.0%) | 213 (55.3%) |
Having a healthy and well-cooked diet can be helpful in reducing the risk of getting the novel coronavirus disease. | 1 (0.3%) | 13 (3.4%) | 36 (9.4%) | 189 (49.1%) | 146 (37.9%) |
Avoiding touching the nose, mouth, and eyes can reduce the risk of infection. | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 7 (1.8%) | 180 (46.8%) | 198 (51.4%) |
Avoiding touching the surface of doors, furniture, or other things can be helpful in preventing the disease. | 1 (0.3%) | 3 (0.8%) | 26 (6.8%) | 195 (50.6%) | 160 (41.6%) |
If a vaccine is developed against the novel coronavirus, it can significantly reduce the epidemic spread. | 1 (0.3%) | 2 (0.5%) | 26 (6.8%) | 183 (47.5%) | 173 (44.9%) |
The available information about COVID-19 disease is sufficient in Pakistani society. | 18 (4.7%) | 58 (15.1%) | 43 (11.2%) | 138 (35.8%) | 128 (33.2%) |
The government in our country has all the necessary healthcare facilities and is able to control the epidemic situation. | 35 (9.1%) | 63 (16.4%) | 36 (9.4%) | 138 (35.8%) | 113 (29.4%) |
Items | Always n (%) | Mostly n (%) | Sometimes n (%) | Rarely n (%) | Never n (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I advise the general public to eat thoroughly cooked food, especially meat products. | 247 (64.2%) | 111 (28.8%) | 21 (5.5%) | 5 (1.3%) | 1 (0.3%) |
I advise the public to keep themselves warm and hydrated. | 207 (53.8%) | 152 (39.5%) | 23 (6.0%) | 2 (0.5%) | 1 (0.3%) |
I advise people to use soap or sanitizer regularly to wash their hands and face. | 276 (71.7%) | 97 (25.2%) | 11 (2.9%) | 1 (0.3%) | 0 (0%) |
I advise the general public to avoid close contact with people with cough and flu-like symptoms. | 234 (60.8%) | 111 (28.8%) | 21 (5.5%) | 11 (2.9%) | 8 (2.1%) |
During interaction with a COVID-19 patient, I wear the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves, gown, etc. | 238 (61.8%) | 117 (30.4%) | 24 (6.2%) | 4 (1.0%) | 2 (0.5%) |
I perform hand hygiene before and after touching COVID-19 patients or before and after performing an aseptic procedure. | 252 (65.5%) | 101 (26.2%) | 24 (6.2%) | 6 (1.6%) | 2 (0.5%) |
I perform hand hygiene after touching a patient’s surroundings such as beds, tables, doors, etc. | 219 (56.9%) | 125 (32.5%) | 28 (7.3%) | 9 (2.3%) | 4 (1.0%) |
I avoid unnecessary close contact, practice social distancing, and keep at least 1 meter distance from patients and other healthcare workers. | 233 (60.5%) | 98 (25.5%) | 27 (7.0%) | 13 (3.4%) | 14 (3.6%) |
Characteristics | Study Group | p-Value |
---|---|---|
Total Score on Knowledge | Pharmacist–Nurse | 0.162 |
Pharmacist–Physician | 0.000 * | |
Nurse–Physician | 0.000 * | |
Total Score on Attitude | Pharmacist–Nurse | 0.310 |
Pharmacist–Physician | 0.000 * | |
Nurse–Physician | 0.001 * | |
Total Score on Practices and Risk Assessment | Pharmacist–Nurse | 0.000 * |
Pharmacist–Physician | 0.000 * | |
Nurse–Physician | 0.092 |
Study Group | p-Values * | ||
---|---|---|---|
Knowledge | Attitude | Practice | |
Physicians + Nurses + Pharmacists | <0.001 | <0.001 | 0.221 |
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Malik, U.R.; Atif, N.; Hashmi, F.K.; Saleem, F.; Saeed, H.; Islam, M.; Jiang, M.; Zhao, M.; Yang, C.; Fang, Y. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Healthcare Professionals on COVID-19 and Risk Assessment to Prevent the Epidemic Spread: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study from Punjab, Pakistan. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 6395. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17176395
Malik UR, Atif N, Hashmi FK, Saleem F, Saeed H, Islam M, Jiang M, Zhao M, Yang C, Fang Y. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Healthcare Professionals on COVID-19 and Risk Assessment to Prevent the Epidemic Spread: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study from Punjab, Pakistan. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17(17):6395. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17176395
Chicago/Turabian StyleMalik, Usman Rashid, Naveel Atif, Furqan Khurshid Hashmi, Fahad Saleem, Hamid Saeed, Muhammad Islam, Minghuan Jiang, Mingyue Zhao, Caijun Yang, and Yu Fang. 2020. "Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Healthcare Professionals on COVID-19 and Risk Assessment to Prevent the Epidemic Spread: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study from Punjab, Pakistan" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 17: 6395. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17176395