Publication: Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Related to COVID-19 among Healthcare Personnel in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Nepal: A Cross-sectional Survey
Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
COVID-19 is significantly affecting the healthcare system globally. As a result,
healthcare workers need to be updated on the best practices for the proper
management of the disease.
Objective
The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP)
related to COVID-19 among healthcare personnel.
Method
This was a cross-sectional study conducted among medical personnel at Dhulikhel
Hospital Kathmandu University Hospital using a semi-structured questionnaire on
KAP related to COVID-19 from May 8th to June 8th, 2020. We analyzed survey data
by using descriptive statistics. Spearman rank correlation, chi-square test and binary
logistic analysis were used to examine the association between sociodemographic
characteristics with KAP related to COVID-19.
Result
Among 220 participants, the majority were nurses (60%) followed by doctors
(27.7%), paramedics (10%) and technicians (2.3%). The results showed that 68.6% of
healthcare personnel had a good knowledge with appropriate practices (98.5%) and
negative attitude (59.3%). In the multivariate binary logistic analysis, the healthcare
workers with the clinical experience level of one to five years (OR:.42, 95% CI:.19-
.96) and more than 5 years (OR: .16, 95% CI: .04-.63) were significantly associated
with negative attitude. The confidence score for managing COVID-19 (OR:1.16, 95%
CI:1.02-1.34) was significantly associated with an optimistic attitude.
Conclusion
Healthcare workers are knowledgeable about COVID-19 and proactively practising to
minimize the spread of infection but lack optimistic attitudes. Hence, the constantly
updated educational programmes related to COVID-19 for targeted groups will
contribute to improving healthcare workers’ attitude and practices.
KEY WORDS
Awareness, COVID-19, Infectious disease
Description
Basnet S,1 Dahal S,1 Tamrakar D,2 Shakya YR,3 Jacobson C,1,4 Shrestha J,5 Shrestha SK1
1Department of General Practice and Emergency Medicine,
2Department of Community Medicine,
3Department of General Surgery,
4Fulbright U.S. Student Program,
The United States Education Foundation.
Kathmandu 44600, Nepal.
5Department of Nursing,
Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital
Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences,
Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal
Keywords
Awareness, COVID-19, Infectious disease