JMIR Publications

Background:

Healthcare providers (HCPs) are the frontline workers amidst the COVID-19 pandimic and they are potentially in direct contact with infected patients. Thus, they are prone to a many adverse consequences such as getting infected and psychological stress.

Objective:

To measure levels of knowledge, awareness, and stress about COVID-19 among health care providers (HCP) in Jordan.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional study on 397 HCPs that utilized an internet-based validated questionnaire to evaluate knowledge about COVID-19, availability of personal protective equipment (PEE), future perceptions, and psychological distress. Univariate and multivariate ordinal logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate factors associated with degree of knowledge and psychological stress.

Results:

Overall, 97 (24.4%) showed excellent knowledge, while 216 (54.4%) and 84 (21.2%) demonstrated good and poor knowledge, respectively. Social media (61.7%) and medical papers (57.7%) were the most commonly used sources of information. Being female (β= 0.521, 95% CI 0.049 to 0.992), a physician (β=1.421, 95% CI 0.849 to 1.992), or using published literature to gain knowledge (β= 1.161, 95% CI 0.657 to 1.664) were positive predictors of higher knowledge levels. While having higher levels of stress (β= -0.854, 95% CI -1.488 to -0.221) and using social media (β= -0.434, 95% CI -0.865 to -0.003) or conventional media (β= -0.884, 95% CI -1.358 to -0.409) to gain information were negative predictors of knowledge levels. The availability of N95 masks (33.5%) and disposable eye protectors or face shields (26.7%) was significantly associated with lower psychological stress (P=.01).

Conclusions:

HCPs are advised to use the published literature as a source of information about the virus, its transmission, and the best practice to attain sufficient knowledge regarding COVID-19. PPEs should be secured for HCPs to the psychological stress associated with treating COVID-19 patients.

Clinicaltrial: