Muhammad Salman1, Zia Mustafa2, Noman Asif3, Haider Abbas Zaidi4, Naureen Shehzadi5, Tahir Mehmood Khan6, Zikria Saleem7, Khalid Hussain8. 1. Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan. msk5012@gmail.com. 2. District Headquarter Hospital, Pakpattan, Pakistan. zia.ucp@gmail.com. 3. Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. naumanchawla@hotmail.com. 4. Gulab Devi Educational Complex, Lahore, Pakistan. haz51214@gmail.com. 5. Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. naureentanveerkhan@gmail.com. 6. Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. 7. Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan. xikria@gmail.com. 8. Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. hussain_761@yahoo.com.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Considering health professionals among high-risk individuals, we aimed to evaluate their knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) regarding COVID-19. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was conducted among the health professionals (medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, hospital technicians and technologists) providing services at seven hospitals of Punjab province of Pakistan. A self-administered questionnaire was used to evaluate knowledge, attitude and practices regarding COVID-19. RESULTS: All of the participants (N = 429) reported that they were aware of COVID-19 and social media was the major source (65%) of this information. Mean knowledge score was 12 ± 2.1, with 75.5% of participants having satisfactory knowledge. Doctors were found to have significantly better knowledge scores than the other health professionals (p = 0.001). Mean attitude score was 8.0 ± 1.2, with a wide majority of health professionals (86.5%) having positive attitudes. Regarding preventive practices, around 64% reported of always covering nose and mouth with a tissue paper during sneezing or coughing and nearly 65% disposed of the dirty tissue paper in trash bin. Only 40% of the participants reported that 'if they do not have tissue, they cough or sneeze into upper sleeves'. Around 45% reported that they used face mask during their working hours in hospitals nowadays. Mean practice score was 23.3 ± 3.6, with 73.4% of health professionals having satisfactory practices. CONCLUSIONS: The overall COVID-19 related KAP of Pakistani health professionals are satisfactory, however some misperceptions and malpractices uncovered in the present study must be addressed to effectively combat COVID-19. Copyright (c) 2020 Muhammad Salman, Zia Mustafa, Noman Asif, Haider Abbas Zaidi, Naureen Shehzadi, Tahir Mehmood Khan, Zikria Saleem, Khalid Hussain.
INTRODUCTION: Considering health professionals among high-risk individuals, we aimed to evaluate their knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) regarding COVID-19. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was conducted among the health professionals (medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, hospital technicians and technologists) providing services at seven hospitals of Punjab province of Pakistan. A self-administered questionnaire was used to evaluate knowledge, attitude and practices regarding COVID-19. RESULTS: All of the participants (N = 429) reported that they were aware of COVID-19 and social media was the major source (65%) of this information. Mean knowledge score was 12 ± 2.1, with 75.5% of participants having satisfactory knowledge. Doctors were found to have significantly better knowledge scores than the other health professionals (p = 0.001). Mean attitude score was 8.0 ± 1.2, with a wide majority of health professionals (86.5%) having positive attitudes. Regarding preventive practices, around 64% reported of always covering nose and mouth with a tissue paper during sneezing or coughing and nearly 65% disposed of the dirty tissue paper in trash bin. Only 40% of the participants reported that 'if they do not have tissue, they cough or sneeze into upper sleeves'. Around 45% reported that they used face mask during their working hours in hospitals nowadays. Mean practice score was 23.3 ± 3.6, with 73.4% of health professionals having satisfactory practices. CONCLUSIONS: The overall COVID-19 related KAP of Pakistani health professionals are satisfactory, however some misperceptions and malpractices uncovered in the present study must be addressed to effectively combat COVID-19. Copyright (c) 2020 Muhammad Salman, Zia Mustafa, Noman Asif, Haider Abbas Zaidi, Naureen Shehzadi, Tahir Mehmood Khan, Zikria Saleem, Khalid Hussain.
Entities:
Keywords:
COVID-19; Coronavirus; Pakistan; health professionals
Authors: Sulaiman Kanu; Peter Bai James; Abdulai Jawo Bah; John Alimamy Kabba; Musa Salieu Kamara; Christine Ellen Elleanor Williams; Joseph Sam Kanu Journal: J Multidiscip Healthc Date: 2021-01-11
Authors: Caterina Rizzo; Ilaria Campagna; Elisabetta Pandolfi; Ileana Croci; Luisa Russo; Sara Ciampini; Francesco Gesualdo; Alberto Eugenio Tozzi; Lara Ricotta; Massimiliano Raponi; Marta Luisa Ciofi Degli Atti Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-04-04 Impact factor: 3.390