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European Journal of Physiotherapy Volume 25, 2023 - Issue 3
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Original Articles

Knowledge, attitude and adherence to standard precautions among frontline clinical physiotherapists during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey

Charles I. Ezemaa Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gregory University, Uturu, Nigeria;b Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, NigeriaORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8545-2564
ORCID Icon,
Ogochukwu K. Onyesob Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria;c Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, CanadaCorrespondence[email protected] [email protected]
ORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8821-4075
ORCID Icon,
Udoka A. Okaford Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, NigeriaORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8123-9333
ORCID Icon,
Lance M. Mabrye Department of Physical Therapy, High Point University, High Point, NC, USAORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5942-5108
ORCID Icon,
Mishael E. Adjef Department of Therapeutic Sciences, Trier University of Applied Sciences, Trier, GermanyORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7631-0588
ORCID Icon,
Jessica Shirakug Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The Nairobi Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
,
Jean-Michel Brisméeh Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Center for Rehabilitation Research, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USAORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1037-7704
ORCID Icon,
Frédéric Fromenth Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Center for Rehabilitation Research, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USAORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1961-7249
ORCID Icon,
Aimee Stewarti Department of Physiotherapy, School of Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8333-7220
ORCID Icon &
Olu A. Awosogac Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, CanadaORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3523-5435
ORCID Icon show all
Pages 138-146 | Received 15 Jul 2021, Accepted 14 Dec 2021, Published online: 31 Dec 2021
 
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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the knowledge of pathology and prevention of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), attitude towards clinical practice, and adherence to standard precautions among clinical physiotherapists during the pandemic.

Material and methods

A snowballing method was used to recruit physiotherapists (across 53 countries) who responded to a newly designed and validated survey on the participants’ demographics, knowledge of COVID-19, attitude, practices, and standard precaution adherence during the pandemic. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s Alpha, Pearson’s correlation, and ANOVA.

Results

All participants (n = 2550, 100%) were knowledgeable on COVID-19 symptomatology. However, only (n = 312, 12.2%) were actively involved in the management of confirmed cases. The percentage score of participants’ knowledge regarding COVID-19 pathology, and prevention, their attitude, and adherence to standard precautions averaged 77.73 ± 10.11, 89.70 ± 9.26, 77.44 ± 7.04, and 61.59 ± 16.63, respectively. Knowledge about COVID-19 pathology differed significantly across demographic variables (p < 0.001, Ƞ2 ≤ 0.07). Most participants (n = 1936, 75.9%) reported an inadequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Conclusion

Participants had good knowledge of COVID-19 pathology and a positive attitude towards safe clinical practice. However, adherence to standard precautions was suboptimal due to inadequate infectious disease training and PPE supply.

Acknowledgement

Special thanks to Janis Dougherty of High Point University for creating the graphics in this manuscript.pecial thanks to Janis Dougherty of High Point University for creating the graphics in this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The questionnaire used and datasets analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding authors on reasonable request.

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