Knowledge and Perceptions of COVID-19 Among Health Care Workers: Cross-Sectional Study
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
- 30 April 2020
- journal article
- Published by JMIR Publications Inc. in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
- Vol. 6 (2), e19160
- https://doi.org/10.2196/19160
Abstract
Journal of Medical Internet Research - International Scientific Journal for Medical Research, Information and Communication on the Internet #Preprint #PeerReviewMe: Warning: This is a unreviewed preprint. Readers are warned that the document has not been peer-reviewed by expert/patient reviewers or an academic editor, may contain misleading claims, and is likely to undergo changes before final publication, if accepted, or may have been rejected/withdrawn. Readers with interest and expertise are encouraged to sign up as peer-reviewer, if the paper is within an open peer-review period. Please cite this preprint only for review purposes or for grant applications and CVs (if you are the author). Background: During the first week of March, the surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases reached over 100 countries with more than 100,000 cases. Healthcare authorities have already initiated awareness and preparedness activities beyond borders. A poor understanding of the disease among healthcare workers (HCWs) may result in delayed treatment and the rapid spread of infection. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and perceptions of HCWs about COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional, web-based study was conducted among HCWs about COVID-19 during the first week of March 2020. A 23-item survey instrument was developed and distributed randomly to HCWs using social media; it required 5 minutes to complete. A chi-square test was used to investigate the level of association among variables at the significance level of p<0.05. Results: Of 529 participants, a total of 453 HCWs completed the survey (response rate: 85.6%); 51.6% were males, 32.1% were aged 25-34 years, and most were doctors (30.2%) and medical students (29.6%). Regarding COVID-19, most of the participants used social media to obtain information (61%), and a significant proportion of HCWs had poor knowledge of its transmission (61%) and symptom onset (63.6%) and showed positive perceptions of COVID-19 prevention and control. Factors such as age and profession were associated with inadequate knowledge and poor perception of COVID-19. Conclusions: As the global threat of COVID-19 continues to emerge, it is critical to improve the knowledge and perceptions of HCWs. Educational interventions are urgently needed to reach HCWs beyond borders, and further studies are warranted.Keywords
Other Versions
This publication has 17 references indexed in Scilit:
- A Novel Coronavirus from Patients with Pneumonia in China, 2019The New England Journal of Medicine, 2020
- Knowledge and beliefs about Ebola virus in a conflict-affected area: early evidence from the North Kivu outbreakJournal of Global Health, 2019
- Associations with Zika Knowledge and Conspiracy BeliefsPublished by Center for Open Science ,2019
- Institutional trust and misinformation in the response to the 2018–19 Ebola outbreak in North Kivu, DR Congo: a population-based surveyThe Lancet Infectious Diseases, 2019
- Infection Rates and Risk Factors for Infection Among Health Workers During Ebola and Marburg Virus Outbreaks: A Systematic ReviewThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2018
- Risk for interspecies transmission of zoonotic pathogens during poultry processing and pork production in Peru: A qualitative studyZoonoses and Public Health, 2018
- Delays in Global Disease Outbreak Responses: Lessons from H1N1, Ebola, and ZikaAmerican Journal of Public Health, 2018
- MERS, SARS and other coronaviruses as causes of pneumoniaRespirology, 2017
- Improving the Quality of Web Surveys: The Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES)Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2004
- Wet markets—a continuing source of severe acute respiratory syndrome and influenza?The Lancet, 2004