Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Associated with COVID-19 among Egyptian House Officers: Online Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Background and study aim: House officers' adherence to fight COVID -19, especially after declaration ‎of WHO that coronavirus as a pandemic, is essential. This is markedly ‎influenced by their knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAPs)‎. We aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and the practice toward (COVID-19) ‎among Egyptian house officers‎ ‎‎. Method: ‎A questionnaire-based- online survey by Google Forms was carried out over ‎three months, between March 2020 and May 2020. Answers to all ‎questionnaire items were obligatory, and submission was not allowed till ‎all questions were answered. Each questionnaire consists of two main ‎parts. Personal information (name, age). Additionally, we assess ‎knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19 pandemic ‎‎ (prevention, diagnosis, lines of treatment, and others) ‎‎.‎ Results: One hundred five of house officers participated in this study (64.7% of ‎them were females and 35.3% were males). Regarding the ‎Knowledge of the house officers about COVID-19 infection 61.7% of ‎the participants mentioned that the use of PPE and physical isolation for ‎two weeks must be observed by health care workers who had contact ‎with COVID-19 patients. The total score for House officer's knowledge ‎was 6/7. About 71% of house officers mentioned that they are happy to ‎be a physician despite this; 31.4% only accepted that the physician takes ‎considerable respect from the community and the government. 63.7% ‎said that they could share the responsibility to fight the COVID-19 ‎pandemic with the health care providers. The total score for attitude was ‎‎47. Precautions during the training courses at the hospital were ‎observed in 81.4% of house officers. The total score of house officer's ‎practice was 2/4‎‎. Conclusion: Most of the house officers had good knowledge and a positive attitude ‎toward COVID-19. However, this was less than we hope for their ‎essential role in this pandemic. We recommend continuous educational ‎courses for COVID-19 diagnoses and management for house officers to ‎be one of the first lines for COVID-19 fighting‎‎‎‎.