Evaluation of Knowledge, Practices, Attitude, and Anxiety of Nurses towards COVID-19 during the Current Outbreak in Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Since the emergence of the novel coronavirus, the front line soldiers during this pandemic are the healthcare professionals because of their direct association with COVID19 patients. In the management of such patients, nurses play a significant role through proper care and preventive measures. Due to its contagious nature, fatality, and no proper medicine, it is a risk to the health and life of nurses and has an impact on their psychological health. The aim of the current study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, practices, and anxiety levels of the frontline nurses. Methods: It was an online questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey targeting only those nurses involved in the management of COVID-19 patients from different hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan. SPSS 21 was used for data analysis. Descriptive analysis, Chi-Square, and t-tests were applied. P-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Data of 78 nurses were analyzed. We observed that nurses possess good knowledge about COVID-19, its sources, symptoms, and routes of transmission of the Virus, etc. The knowledge mean score was calculated at 14.67 ± 3.36. Health Department /Hospital and social media are the main sources of information regarding COVID-19. We investigated that 92.3% of the nurses had mild to severe anxiety and anxiety levels are significantly higher among females (P<0.05). Conclusion:-We concluded that the nurses performing their duties with COVID-19 positive patients have good knowledge and attitude. But their anxiety levels are high. Psychological interventions along with training should be given.

Impact of Fear of COVID-19 Pandemic on Job Insecurity and Subjective Well-Being

“…Furthermore, there have been more than eighteen thousand deaths, out of which the death count of nurses and paramedics is estimated to be 360. 16 Low levels of psychological support, scarcity of first-hand medical information, shortage of personal protective equipment, and lack of training on infection control measures have severely affected the health and well-being of nurses. As a result, they have experienced high levels of stress and psychological distress.…”

Correlation of Midwives’ Knowledge about COVID-19 to Anxiety in Providing Care during COVID-19 Pandemic

“…7,9,10 Disease transmission is also associated with a lack of understanding and consciousness. 11 With proper knowledge about this disease can positively impact attitudes and practices, there is less chance of infection, and it will reduce anxiety levels. 12 According to these studies that 46.7% of nurses have good knowledge, and 65% have an anxiety level in the mild category.…”

“…10 The majority of the medical practitioners correctly understood preventing COVID-19 transmission. 11,[13][14][15][16] In this case, it is necessary to support health workers to strengthen their knowledge of health workers so that anxiety levels can be reduced. [13][14][15][16] Midwives are the health workers at the forefront of maternal and toddler health services in health facilities such as hospitals or clinics.…”

Fear and Perception of People to Visit Dentists during COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Suggestions

“…The harmful impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic encompass high rates of infections and death, government and individuals' financial burden, stress, and fear of uncertainty. 3 Due to COVID-19, not only healthcare workers are under psychological stress, 4,5 but those seeking treatment or in need of healthcare facilities and patients with varying diseases suffer from anxiety, depression, and fear. 6 A study on pregnant women reported that 83% of women did not worry about their health, but during the current pandemic, over half of the women were worried.…”