Knowledge, attitude and practice towards COVID-19 and perceived challenges of working during the movement control order: a quantitative analysis among healthcare workers in a Malaysian northwestern state

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to assess COVID-19 knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) among healthcare workers (HCWs) in northwest Malaysia and recognize the challenges faced working during the Movement Control Order (MCO). Commonly referred to as “MCO”, this order enforcement is a series of national quarantine and cordon sanitaire measures implemented by the federal government of Malaysia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as of 18th March 2020. It is akin to a national lockdown.

Methods

A multi-centric cross-sectional web-based study was conducted from 29th May to 27th July 2020 among HCWs in Perlis, Malaysia using a 19-item validated questionnaire [Cronbach’s alpha: 0.61 (knowledge domain), 0.74 (attitude domain), and 0.72 (practice domain)]. Challenges when working during MCO were identified from a self-rated five-point Likert scale of 14-item.

Results

There were a total of 373 respondents (response rate more than 40%); 48.0% were nurses, 14.7% were medical doctors, and 12.9% were administrative and technical support staffs. Majority of HCWs (90.1%, n = 336) had good knowledge, optimistic attitude (54.7%, n = 204) and good COVID-19 preventive measure practices (90.9%, n = 339). Multiple logistic regression demonstrated that profession was the single significant factor for good COVID-19 KAP. Though having lesser odds of good knowledge (aOR 0.07, 95% CI:0.01–0.36, p = .009), nurses showed greater odds of good attitude (aOR 3.14, 95% CI: 1.71–5.76, p = .011) and practice (aOR 10.69, 95% CI:2.25–50.86, p = .022) as compared to doctors and dentists. Main challenges identified when working during MCO were increased workload (44.5%, n = 166), difficulty going out shopping (48.3%, n = 180), to exercise (40.2%, n = 150) and meet with family members (64.3%, n = 240).

Conclusion

Generally, HCWs in Perlis had good KAP with regards to COVID-19 infection and its preventive measures. Challenges underlined by HCWs while working during the MCO were increased workload, difficulty to shop for daily essentials, exercise and meet with family members. Should good COVID-19 KAP be sustained, they might contribute to success in combating this disease.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• challenges
• health personnel
• knowledge
• attitude and practice
• movement control order

Transparency

Declaration of funding

This research did not receive any sponsorship or funding from agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript.

Author contributions

Conceptualization: AA and OW; Methodology: AA and OW; Software: AA; Validation: AWC and OW; Formal analysis: AA; Data curation: NMAM, SNAW and NAS; Writing of original draft preparation: AA and AWC; writing, reviewing, and editing: AA, AWC, OW, NMAM, SNAW and NAS; Visualization: AA; Supervision: NAS and OW; Project administration: OW. All named authors meet the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria for authorship for this article, declare their responsibility for the integrity of the work as a whole, and have given their approval for this version to be published.

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank the Director-General of Health Malaysia for his permission to publish this paper and express gratitude to all HCWs in Perlis who participated in this study.