Knowledge, Practice and Attitude of Health Care Workers towards COVID-19 during the CurrentOutbreak in Egypt

Mohammed AbdElsadek, Esraa; Samir Kamel, Salwa; Nabil Abd-Elsalam, Shimaa

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2024.399526

Knowledge, Practice and Attitude of Health Care Workers towards COVID-19 during the CurrentOutbreak in Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Clinical Instructor, Faculty of Nursing, Damanhur University

² Professor of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University

³ Assisstant Professor of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University

10.21608/ejhc.2024.399526

Abstract

Background: The world is facing a devastating challenge in the COVID 19 (coronavirus disease 19) outbreak. Healthcare workers (HCWs) provide the first line of defense against any disease outbreak, and they are the key to the continued effort to overcome the pandemic. Aim: Assess knowledge, practices, and attitude of health care workers toward Covid 19 during the current outbreak in Egypt. Design: A descriptive exploratory design was utilized to conduct the study. Setting: The study will be conducted in Fever Itya-Elbaroud Hospital affiliated to El- Behaira governorate in Egypt. Sample: A convenience sample of all available health care workers (150). Tools: Three tools used to collect data: 1) Health care worker's self- administered questionnaire for Covid-19. 2) Observational check list about health care worker's practice caring for patients with COVID-19. 3) Self- administered questionnaire for attitudes of health care workers towards COVID-19. Results: A total of 150 health care workers completed the questionnaire. Less than half of them had a satisfactory level of knowledge, Moreover, the finding showed that majority of physicians were more knowledgeable than nurses and technicians regarding COVID-19. Majority of nurses showed competent level of preventive practices more than physicians and technicians. Only less than half of them had a positive attitude toward COVID-19. There was a highly significant positive correlation between total knowledge and both total practice and total attitude, also there was a highly significant positive correlation between total practice and total attitude. Conclusion: Majority of physicians had satisfactory level of knowledge regarding COVID-19 more than nurses and technicians. Majority of nurses had competent level of practices regarding COVID-19 more than physicians and technicians. About half of the studied HCWs had negative attitude regarding COVID-19. Recommendations: Health education program about COVID-19 is beneficial and essential to overcome the disease. Skilled education is needed among HCWs to elevate the level of knowledge encouraging positive preventive and healthy practices of HCWs and avoiding negative attitudes.

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