Knowledge, attitudes, anxiety, and preventive behaviors towards COVID-19 among health care providers in Yemen: an online cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Background: The current rapid prevalence of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic over the world is associated with a considerable level of scared, anxiety and panic among the public, in particular, healthcare providers (HCPs) as the most vulnerable group at risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. To protect and enhance HCPs' capacity to carry out their duties in responding to COVID-19, healthcare authorities should keep them away from stress and anxiety and improve their knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19 to ensure their compliance to infection control precautions. Therefore, this study aimed to explore knowledge, attitudes, anxiety, and preventive behaviours among Yemeni HCPs towards COVID-19. Methods: A descriptive, web-based-cross-sectional study was conducted among a number of 1231 Yemeni HCPs. The COVID-19 related questionnaire was designed using Google forms. The responses were coded and analysed using the software package (IBMSPSS), version 22.0. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation coefficient test were also used in this study. A p-value of < 0.05 levels with a 95% confidence interval was considered as statistically significant. The data collection started on 22nd April 2020, at 6 PM and closed on 26th April 2020 at 11 AM. Results: The results indicated that out of 1231 of the HCPs participating in this study, 61.6% were male and more than (67%) were in the age group of 20 to 30 years old with a mean of 29.29±6.75. Most of them (86%) had a bachelor degree or above and had 10 years of working experience or less (88.1%). Besides, although 57.1% of the respondents obtained their information via social and news media and 60.0% had never attended lectures/discussions about COVID-19, the results revealed that the majority of respondents had an adequate level of knowledge, an optimistic attitude, moderate anxiety and high performance in preventive behaviors (69.8%, 85.10%, 51.0& 87.70%, respectively) toward the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Although the Yemeni HCPs exhibited an adequate level of knowledge, an optimistic attitude, moderate anxiety and high performance in preventive behaviours toward the COVID-19 pandemic, the results showed gaps in some themes, particularly in their knowledge and attitude on COVID-19 pandemic which need to be updated or refreshed.

COVID-19 Knowledge, Perception, Preventive Measures, Stigma, and Mental Health Among Healthcare Workers in Three Sub-Saharan African Countries: A Phone Survey

“…This finding highlights that health authorities should continue to encourage HCPs to access information from reliable sources and educational courses focusing on less common presentation and management of COVID-19. 28 Even though participants practicing nursing were less likely to be knowledgeable than physicians, the average knowledge score was still 87%, indicating a high level of COVID-19 knowledge among HCPs. The high level of knowledge could be due to a high proportion of HCPs (73%) having received training and scientific information on COVID-19.…”

“…32,33 Therefore, regular updating of scientific information through the official webpages of WHO and health ministries of the respective country is needed to provide HCPs with the most up-to-date scientific information. 28 Even though most HCPs reported wearing masks, washing their hands, and having sufficient sanitizers and washing stations at their workplace, only three-fifths had high levels of COVID-19 prevention measures. The HCPs who worked in a facility with COVID-19 workplace guidelines and cared for COVID-19 patients were more likely to practice high levels of prevention measures than their counterparts.…”

COVID-19 Pandemi sürecinde kaderciliğin etkisi ve salgın tedbirlerine uyum özellikleri: Vaka-kontrol çalışması

“…Artan kaygı ile salgın önlemlerine uyumun arttığını gösteren çalışma sonuçları yanında aşırı kaygının kadercilik eğilimiyle birlikte önleyici tedbirlere uyumu azalttığı da gösterilmiştir. 6,15,21,23 5 Bu sonuç, bireylerin alışılmadık, kontrolleri dışındaki riskleri abartma eğiliminde oldukları bilgisi ile tutarlıdır. 15 Eğitimlilerin ve erkeklerin hastalığın bulaşıcılığı ve ölümcüllüğü hakkında abartılı tahminlerde bulunmadığı belirtilirken, mevcut çalışmada karar ağacı analizlerinde eğitim ve cinsiyetin önemli risk faktörleri olarak modelde yer bulmadığı görülmektedir.…”

“…15 Yemen'de sağlık çalışanları ile yapılan diğer bir çalışmada önleme davranışları kadınlarda daha fazladır ve yaşla farklılaşmamaktadır. 23 Bu çalışmadaki cinsiyete göre farksızlığa ilişkin mevcut bulgu, farklı demografik grupların riskleri farklı şekillerde algılayabildiği ile açıklanabilir.…”