Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of COVID-19 Among Medical Staff Doctors at Tripoli University Teaching Hospitals
The Corona virus disease 19 (COVID-19) is a new global pandemic.
World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a public health
emergency of international concern. Health Care Works (HCWs) are the primary
sectors in contact with suspected patients. Thus, the knowledge, attitudes and
practices of HCWs towards COVID-19 remain unclear. The objectives: To
investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Medical doctors about
COVID-19 at Tripoli University Teaching Hospitals. Methods: This crosssectional survey was conducted from April 30 to 29 May, the week immediately
after first case of COVID-19 reported in Libya. A pilot trail questionnaire was
distributed and filled by taking the relevant information from medical staff
doctors working at various medical and surgical units. The data coded according
to variable and analysed by SPSS. Results: Of (250) participants, a total (100) of
Medical staff doctors completed the surve\ (response rate 40%). The participants¶
qualification was (64%) MBBS, (14%) Master degree, (16%) PhD and (6%)
professors. the mean age 35 years. (42%) were male and (58%) female participants. Most of the medical staff doctors (70%) were GPs, (22%) were
specialists, (6%) were internship doctors and (2%) were consultants.
Questionnaire survey revealed that (18%) of the respondents reported working
experience of >20 years. The survey was considered if the Medical doctor in
frontline healthcare workers (FLHCWs), our results demonstrate that, only 30%
of medical staff doctors was provided care of COVID-19 patients while 70% was
not in the FLHCWs. Most participants (79%) reported that no specific treatment
of COVID-19. A significant proportion of medical doctors (68%) had good
knowledge of the transmission, diagnostic method & prevention of COVID-19.
According to the case report definition of WHO and ECDC, the survey results
showed (69%) of the respondents reported that, the test should be repeated if the
first RT-PCR results were negative from the patient represent the typical clinical
symptoms of COVID-19. Our questionnaire survey revealed that (68%) of the
medical staff doctors¶ participants agree that wearing face masks prevent the
infection while (32%) reported that wearing face masks could not prevent the
infection.
Overall, Medical staff doctors in Tripoli University Teaching Hospital
showed expected level of knowledge and attitudes about COVID-19. The findings
survey suggests that due to the limited medical staff doctor¶s representative, it
must be cautious when generalizing these findings to other medical doctors
residing in other regions of the country. As intentional threat of COVID-19
continuous to emerge, the results survey highlights the importance of continuous
health educational programs from the government and national health authorities
that well improve and updated knowledge of the HCWs regarding COVID-19,
which also result in increasing their attitudes and practices towards COVID-19.
Further studies are warranted to confirm our findings. arabic 17 English 99
ِAbdusalam Sharef (12-2020)