Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Preparedness toward COVID-19 Pandemic among Healthcare Workers in Designated COVID Hospitals of a North-Eastern State of India

Abstract

The knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of healthcare workers (HCW) toward the COVID-19 pandemic influence their preparedness to accept the preventative measures. This study investigates KAP toward COVID-19 among the HCWs working in two designated COVID hospitals. It was a cross-sectional study. The overall KAP scores were calculated, and the difference in mean scores among various demographic and other variables was tested using t-test and one-way ANOVA. The participants were knowledgeable about transmission modes and disease symptoms and were aware of the preventive measures like hand sanitisations for 96% and 91% for wearing masks. Among the knowledgeable group, 87% were aware of the control measures of COVID-19 infection like isolation and treatment of the infected; quarantine of their close contacts; and 92% had the acquaintance about the avoidance of public transport and crowded places as a safety measure. The HCWs also showed a positive attitude toward keeping distance and staying at home (81.13% strongly agreed) and regularly washing hands (agreed 91%). The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores of the study participants were 19.67(±1.85), 27.95(1.81) and 4.61(0.51), respectively. Nurses were found to have significantly better knowledge, attitude, and practice toward COVID-19 than laboratory technicians and pharmacists. HCWs having higher education levels were also found to have better knowledge about COVID-19. The majority of the HCWs who participated in the study also strongly agreed that the referred hospitals are well prepared for infection prevention and control (IPC). Better knowledge, attitude and practices toward COVID-19 may considerably decrease the risk of getting the disease.

Keywords:

• Healthcare practice
• preventive measures
• coronavirus infection
• emergency management

Acknowledgements

Thanks to all the participants who helped us by participating in this research. All the departmental colleagues who helped us access the departmental set-up for completing this work.

Authors’ Contribution

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis, and interpretation; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Data Availability

The data used to support the findings of this study are included in the article

Disclosure Statement

The author reports no conflicts of interest in this work.

Ethical Corrections

All data of the cases were treated with confidentiality, following the declaration of Helsinki.