Assessing healthcare workers’ knowledge, emotions and perceived institutional preparedness about COVID-19 pandemic at Saudi hospitals in the early phase of the pandemic

https://doi.org/10.4081/jphr.2020.1936

ABSTRACT

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic extended to reach most countries in the globe during few months. Preparedness of healthcare institutions and healthcare workers (HCWs) are crucial for applying effective prevention and control measures. This study aimed to assess HCWs knowledge, emotions and perception of preparedness of their institutions towards COVID-19 pandemic.

Design: A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted among hospital HCWs in Saudi Arabia during April 27, 2020 to May 03, 2020.

Results: Overall, 1004 completed responses were received. The majority were females (78.8), nurses (84.9%) at middle age 25-39 years (71.8%). Among participants, 95.5% reported receiving training on safely use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and 94.9% did fit the test for N95 respirator. The participants possessed a fair knowledge about COVID-19 disease with a mean knowledge score 6. 61±1.35 points on a scale of 10 points. Most participants (88.7%) were committed to continue work as a professional and ethical duty, however, 27.1% of them scored high on a negative emotional impact scale. Participants appreciated most aspects of institutional preparedness for COVID-19 pandemic; however, they were concerned with the continuous PPE supply. Factors that independently associated with good knowledge and negative emotional response were determined using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Conclusions: Findings revealed fair knowledge about COVID-19 pandemic among HCWs in Saudi hospitals. Concerns and worries were expressed regard working with the highly infectious COVID-19 patients. Participants, appreciated most aspects of institutional preparedness, however they were concerned about the continuous availability and supply of PPE.

REFERENCES

[1] World Health Organization. Naming the corona virus disease (COVID-19) and the virus that causes it. 2020. Available at: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance/naming-the-coronavirus-disease-(covid-2019)-and-the-virus-that-causes-it. (Accessed May 6, 2020)
[2] Zhong BL, Luo W, Li HM, et al. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards COVID-19 among Chinese residents during the rapid rise period of the COVID-19 outbreak: a quick online cross-sectional survey. Int J Biol Sci. 2020;16(10):1745-1752. Published 2020 Mar 15. doi:10.7150/ijbs.45221
[3] Saudi Gazette. Saudi Gazette report [Online] April 18, 2020 03:00H. Available at: https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/592035. (Accessed May 6, 2020).
[4] Albarrak AI, Mohammed R, Al Elayan A, et al. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS): Comparing the knowledge, attitude and practices of different health care workers [published online ahead of print, 2019 Aug 17]. J Infect Public Health. 2019;S1876-0341(19)30239-4. doi:10.1016/j.jiph.2019.06.029
[5] Zhang M, Zhou M, Tang F, et al. Knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding COVID-19 among healthcare workers in Henan, China. J Hosp Infect. 2020;105(2):183-187. doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2020.04.012.
[6] Huynh G, Nguyen TN, Tran VK, Vo KN, Vo VT, Pham LA. Knowledge and attitude toward COVID-19 among healthcare workers at District 2 Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City. Asian Pac J Trop Med 2020;13:260-5
[7] Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronavirus disease 2019. Comprehensive hospital preparedness checklist for coronavirus disease 2019. March 25, 2020. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/hcp-hospital-checklist.html. (Accessed May 19, 2020)
[8] American Society of Health System Pharmacist. ASHP COVID-19 Pandemic assessment tool for health system pharmacist. Available at: https://www.ashp.org/-/media/assets/pharmacy-practice/resource-centers/Coronavirus/docs/ASHP_COVID19_AssessmentTool.ashx?loc=ashphero3-covid19assessmenttool-03182020. (Accessed 24 March, 2020).
[9] Khalid I, Khalid TJ, Qabajah MR, Barnard AG, Qushmaq IA. Healthcare Workers Emotions, Perceived Stressors and Coping Strategies During a MERS-CoV Outbreak. Clin Med Res. 2016;14(1):7-14. doi:10.3121/cmr.2016.1303
[10] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hospital Experiences Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a National Pulse Survey March 23–27, 2020. Available at: (Accessed June 2, 2020)
[11] World Health Organization. Shortage of personal protective equipment endangering health workers worldwide. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/03-03-2020-shortage-of-personal-protective-equipment-endangering-health-workers-worldwide. (Accessed June 2, 2020)
[12] Olum R, Chekwech G, Wekha G, Nassozi DR, Bongomin F. Coronavirus Disease-2019: Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Health Care Workers at Makerere University Teaching Hospitals, Uganda. Front Public Health. 2020;8:181. Published 2020 Apr 30. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2020.00181
[13] Hassan Kasim Haridi, Abdulellah Al-Fatani, Ayman Esam Yamani. “Assessment of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak emergency response among Healthcare Providers (HCPs) in Mena Emergency Hospital during Hajj Season 1435”. The Scientific Bulletin, Om Al-Qura University Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Available at: . (Accessed May 22, 2020)
[14] Leung C. Risk factors for predicting mortality in elderly patients with COVID-19: A review of clinical data in China [published online ahead of print, 2020 Apr 27]. Mech Ageing Dev. 2020;188:111255. doi:10.1016/j.mad.2020.111255
[15] Kang L, Li Y, Hu S, et al. The mental health of medical workers in Wuhan, China dealing with the 2019 novel coronavirus. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7(3):e14. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30047-X
[16] Chong MY, Wang WC, Hsieh WC, et al. Psychological impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome on health workers in a tertiary hospital. Br J Psychiatry. 2004;185:127-133. doi:10.1192/bjp.185.2.127
[17] P. Wu, Y. Fang, Z. Guan, B. Fan, J. Kong, Z. Yao, et al.The psychological impact of the SARS epidemic on hospital employees in China: exposure, risk perception, and altruistic acceptance of risk
Can J Psychiatry, 54 (May (5)) (2009), pp. 302-311
[18] McAlonan GM, Lee AM, Cheung V, et al. Immediate and sustained psychological impact of an emerging infectious disease outbreak on health care workers. Can J Psychiatry. 2007;52(4):241-247. doi:10.1177/070674370705200406
[19] Amy C. Edmondson. What Hospitals Overwhelmed by Covid-19 Can Learn From Startups. Harvard Business Review. Available at: https://hbr.org/2020/05/what-hospitals-overwhelmed-by-covid-19-can-learn-from-startups. (Accessed June 13, 2020)
[20] Ward PR. Improving Access to, Use of, and Outcomes from Public Health Programs: The Importance of Building and Maintaining Trust with Patients/Clients. Front Public Health. 2017;5:22. Published 2017 Mar 8. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2017.00022