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

Authors

  • Muhammad Salman Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Zia Mustafa District Headquarter Hospital, Pakpattan, Pakistan
  • Noman Asif Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Haider Abbas Zaidi Gulab Devi Educational Complex, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Naureen Shehzadi Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Tahir Mehmood Khan Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Zikria Saleem Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Khalid Hussain Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.12878

Keywords:

Coronavirus, COVID-19, health professionals, Pakistan

Abstract

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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Published

2020-07-31

How to Cite

1.
Salman M, Mustafa Z, Asif N, Zaidi HA, Shehzadi N, Khan TM, Saleem Z, Hussain K (2020) Knowledge, attitude and preventive practices related to COVID-19 among health professionals of Punjab province of Pakistan. J Infect Dev Ctries 14:707–712. doi: 10.3855/jidc.12878

Issue

Section

Coronavirus Pandemic