Knowledge, attitude and preventive practices related to COVID-19 among health professionals of Punjab province of Pakistan

Introduction: Considering health professionals among high-risk individuals, we aimed to evaluate their knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) regarding COVID-19. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted among the health professionals (medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiothe...

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Main Authors: Muhammad Salman, Zia Mustafa, Noman Asif, Haider Abbas Zaidi, Naureen Shehzadi, Tahir Mehmood Khan, Zikria Saleem, Khalid Hussain
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2020-07-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/12878
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author Muhammad Salman
Zia Mustafa
Noman Asif
Haider Abbas Zaidi
Naureen Shehzadi
Tahir Mehmood Khan
Zikria Saleem
Khalid Hussain
author_facet Muhammad Salman
Zia Mustafa
Noman Asif
Haider Abbas Zaidi
Naureen Shehzadi
Tahir Mehmood Khan
Zikria Saleem
Khalid Hussain
author_sort Muhammad Salman
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Considering health professionals among high-risk individuals, we aimed to evaluate their knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) regarding COVID-19. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted among the health professionals (medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, hospital technicians and technologists) providing services at seven hospitals of Punjab province of Pakistan. A self-administered questionnaire was used to evaluate knowledge, attitude and practices regarding COVID-19. Results: All of the participants (N = 429) reported that they were aware of COVID-19 and social media was the major source (65%) of this information. Mean knowledge score was 12 ± 2.1, with 75.5% of participants having satisfactory knowledge. Doctors were found to have significantly better knowledge scores than the other health professionals (p = 0.001). Mean attitude score was 8.0 ± 1.2, with a wide majority of health professionals (86.5%) having positive attitudes. Regarding preventive practices, around 64% reported of always covering nose and mouth with a tissue paper during sneezing or coughing and nearly 65% disposed of the dirty tissue paper in trash bin. Only 40% of the participants reported that ‘if they do not have tissue, they cough or sneeze into upper sleeves’. Around 45% reported that they used face mask during their working hours in hospitals nowadays. Mean practice score was 23.3 ± 3.6, with 73.4% of health professionals having satisfactory practices. Conclusions: The overall COVID-19 related KAP of Pakistani health professionals are satisfactory, however some misperceptions and malpractices uncovered in the present study must be addressed to effectively combat COVID-19.
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spelling doaj-art-b1d7c175c5fa452bad6da4ddab9067c72025-08-20T02:16:18ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802020-07-01140710.3855/jidc.12878Knowledge, attitude and preventive practices related to COVID-19 among health professionals of Punjab province of PakistanMuhammad Salman0Zia Mustafa1Noman Asif2Haider Abbas Zaidi3Naureen Shehzadi4Tahir Mehmood Khan5Zikria Saleem6Khalid Hussain7Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Lahore, Lahore, PakistanDistrict Headquarter Hospital, Pakpattan, PakistanPunjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, PakistanGulab Devi Educational Complex, Lahore, PakistanPunjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, PakistanInstitute of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, PakistanDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Lahore, Lahore, PakistanPunjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan Introduction: Considering health professionals among high-risk individuals, we aimed to evaluate their knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) regarding COVID-19. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted among the health professionals (medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, hospital technicians and technologists) providing services at seven hospitals of Punjab province of Pakistan. A self-administered questionnaire was used to evaluate knowledge, attitude and practices regarding COVID-19. Results: All of the participants (N = 429) reported that they were aware of COVID-19 and social media was the major source (65%) of this information. Mean knowledge score was 12 ± 2.1, with 75.5% of participants having satisfactory knowledge. Doctors were found to have significantly better knowledge scores than the other health professionals (p = 0.001). Mean attitude score was 8.0 ± 1.2, with a wide majority of health professionals (86.5%) having positive attitudes. Regarding preventive practices, around 64% reported of always covering nose and mouth with a tissue paper during sneezing or coughing and nearly 65% disposed of the dirty tissue paper in trash bin. Only 40% of the participants reported that ‘if they do not have tissue, they cough or sneeze into upper sleeves’. Around 45% reported that they used face mask during their working hours in hospitals nowadays. Mean practice score was 23.3 ± 3.6, with 73.4% of health professionals having satisfactory practices. Conclusions: The overall COVID-19 related KAP of Pakistani health professionals are satisfactory, however some misperceptions and malpractices uncovered in the present study must be addressed to effectively combat COVID-19. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/12878CoronavirusCOVID-19health professionalsPakistan
spellingShingle Muhammad Salman
Zia Mustafa
Noman Asif
Haider Abbas Zaidi
Naureen Shehzadi
Tahir Mehmood Khan
Zikria Saleem
Khalid Hussain
Knowledge, attitude and preventive practices related to COVID-19 among health professionals of Punjab province of Pakistan
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Coronavirus
COVID-19
health professionals
Pakistan
title Knowledge, attitude and preventive practices related to COVID-19 among health professionals of Punjab province of Pakistan
title_full Knowledge, attitude and preventive practices related to COVID-19 among health professionals of Punjab province of Pakistan
title_fullStr Knowledge, attitude and preventive practices related to COVID-19 among health professionals of Punjab province of Pakistan
title_full_unstemmed Knowledge, attitude and preventive practices related to COVID-19 among health professionals of Punjab province of Pakistan
title_short Knowledge, attitude and preventive practices related to COVID-19 among health professionals of Punjab province of Pakistan
title_sort knowledge attitude and preventive practices related to covid 19 among health professionals of punjab province of pakistan
topic Coronavirus
COVID-19
health professionals
Pakistan
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/12878
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