Physicians’ perceptions of their knowledge and the preparedness of health facilities in Angola to diagnose and manage COVID-19

Abstract

Background Healthcare professionals represent a vulnerable group in terms of responding to COVID-19. Knowledge can influence healthcare professionals through adoption of the correct attitudes and practices. The aim of this study was to evaluate, by a questionnaire, the perceptions of physicians about their level of knowledge as well as conditions in their workplaces for dealing with COVID-19. Methods A cross-sectional study of Angolan physicians took place from 11 May to 23 June 2020. A questionnaire was electronically shared across social media and via email. Results The sample consisted of 637 valid questionnaires; 53% of respondents were female, 41% were aged 31–40 y and 79% were from Luanda province. About 51% of physicians perceived that they had adequate knowledge about COVID-19 and 64% used personal protective equipment. These figures were higher among specialists from the province of Luanda. About 81% stated that their health units lacked the technical capacity to diagnose COVID-19. Only 35% of health units have chest tomography equipment; 44% are prepared for the care and/or isolation of patients. Only 33% of units are running intensive care units. The main concerns of physicians were training opportunities and limited access to personal protective equipment. Conclusion The results show that it is necessary to strengthen physicians’ knowledge about COVID-19, as well as to improve the conditions of the health units, so as to promote safe practices.

The Assessment Tools for Measuring Healthcare Workers’ Preparedness for Covid-19

“…The reason why most of the studies that involved with the measurement of HCW preparedness against COVID -19 were mostly done in developing nations was that the the fact that the developing nations had the most impact of COVID 19 and very unprepared from their infrastructures facilities, human resources, and others. (1,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12,13,15,(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26) Most of the studies were cross-sectional studies and it was reasonable because cross-sectional is a type of study for observational the outcome and the exposures at the same time among the study participants. The sample size that had been used in these studies was from 55 participants to 1,645 participants at large.…”

Instrumen Penelitian Pada Pengukuran Kesiapan Tenaga Kesehatan di Era Covid-19

“…Alasan mengapa sebagian besar penelitian yang berkaitan dengan pengukuran kesiapan petugas kesehatan terhadap COVID-19 lebih banyak dilakukan di negara berkembang adalah karena fakta bahwa negara-negara berkembang yang paling terkena dampak COVID 19 dan sangat tidak siap dari hal fasilitas infrastruktur, sumber daya manusia, dan lainnya (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24).…”

“…Kelompok pertama terdiri dari studi yang mendefinisikan kesiapsiagaan dengan pengukuran aspek kumulatif yang tidak terarah yang membentuk definisi kesiapsiagaan, misalnya dalam studi fayyaz et al15, kesiapan untuk COVID-19 dapat diukur dengan pengetahuan, sikap, dan praktik skor kumulatif sementara siu et al27 mendefinisikan kesiapsiagaan sebagai fungsi dari tiga faktor: 1) ketepatan waktu dan kesesuaian komunikasi rekomendasi, 2) sumber daya yang tersedia untuk mengelola dan menanggapi perubahan tuntutan pandemi, dan 3) persepsi keterlibatan sektor Perawatan Jangka Panjang. Kelompok pertama terdiri dari sembilan studi dari 33 studi yang kami temukan (14,25), (21)(22)(23)(24)(26)(27)(28) Kelompok kedua yang memiliki pengukuran lebih langsung dan jelas untuk definisi kesiapsiagaan menggunakan bagian yang terpisah untuk mengukur kesiapsiagaan dalam studi mereka. Misalnya dalam penilaian studi tentang kesadaran, persepsi, sikap, dan kesiapan Profesional Kesehatan yang Berpotensi Terpapar COVID-19 di Uni Emirat Arab oleh Dalky dinyatakan dengan jelas bahwa mereka adalah satu bagian dari kuesioner untuk mengukur dan dengan demikian menggambarkan kesiapan peserta untuk wabah COVID-19.…”

Perceptions of COVID-19 among frontline health workers in Burkina Faso

“…This means that healthcare workers, especially those who are in contact with or provide care to patients with COVID-19, are at greater risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 than the general population (Word Health Organization, 2020 ). Knowledge can influence healthcare professionals through adoption of the correct attitudes and practices (Arrais et al, 2022 ).…”

“…But there are studies conducted in sub-Saharan African countries using quantitative approaches that have assessed the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of health care workers regarding COVID-19 (Abu et al, 2021 ; Assefa et al, 2021 ; Ekpenyong et al, 2021 ; Feldman et al, 2021 ; Abduljaleel et al, 2022 ; Arrais et al, 2022 ; Benjamin et al, 2022 ; Olateju et al, 2022 ). Arrais et al ( 2022 ) showed that the main concerns of physicians were training opportunities and limited access to personal protective equipment.…”