Assessment of Healthcare Workers' Levels of Preparedness and Awareness Regarding COVID-19 Infection in Low-Resource Settings.
| Title: | Assessment of Healthcare Workers' Levels of Preparedness and Awareness Regarding COVID-19 Infection in Low-Resource Settings. |
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| Authors: | Elhadi M; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Msherghi A; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Alkeelani M; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Zorgani A; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Zaid A; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Alsuyihili A; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Buzreg A; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Ahmed H; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Elhadi A; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Khaled A; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Boughididah T; 2Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya.; Khel S; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Abdelkabir M; 3Faculty of Medicine, Sebha University, Sebha, Libya.; Gaffaz R; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Bahroun S; 4Faculty of Medicine, University of Zawia, Az-Zawiyah, Libya.; Alhashimi A; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; 8Faculty of Medicine, Al-Jabal Al Gharbi University, Gherian, Libya.; Biala M; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Abulmida S; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Elharb A; 5Faculty of Medicine, University of AL-Mergib, Al Khums, Libya.; Abukhashem M; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Elgzairi M; 2Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya.; Alghanai E; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Khaled T; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Boushi E; 6Faculty of Medicine, Al-Zintan University, Az-Zintan, Libya.; Ben Saleim N; 5Faculty of Medicine, University of AL-Mergib, Al Khums, Libya.; Mughrabi H; 7Faculty of Medicine, Misurata University, Misurata, Libya.; Alnafati N; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Alwarfalli M; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Elmabrouk A; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Alhaddad S; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Madi F; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Madi M; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Elkhfeefi F; 2Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya.; Ismaeil M; 2Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya.; Faraag B; 2Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya.; Badi M; 2Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya.; Al-Agile A; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Eisay M; 5Faculty of Medicine, University of AL-Mergib, Al Khums, Libya.; Ahmid J; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Elmabrouk O; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Bin Alshiteewi F; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Alameen H; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Bikhayr H; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Aleiyan T; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Almiqlash B; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Subhi M; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Fadel M; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Yahya H; 5Faculty of Medicine, University of AL-Mergib, Al Khums, Libya.; Alkot S; 5Faculty of Medicine, University of AL-Mergib, Al Khums, Libya.; Alhadi A; 4Faculty of Medicine, University of Zawia, Az-Zawiyah, Libya.; Abdullah A; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Atewa A; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.; Amshai A; 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya. |
| Source: | The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene [Am J Trop Med Hyg] 2020 Aug; Vol. 103 (2), pp. 828-833. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Jun 18. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0370507 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1476-1645 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00029637 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Am J Trop Med Hyg Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: Northbrook, IL : American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene; Original Publication: Baltimore. |
| MeSH Terms: | Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice* ; Health Personnel*; Coronavirus Infections/*epidemiology ; Coronavirus Infections/*prevention & control ; Pandemics/*prevention & control ; Pneumonia, Viral/*epidemiology ; Pneumonia, Viral/*prevention & control; Adult ; Betacoronavirus ; COVID-19 ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Hand Hygiene ; Health Resources ; Humans ; Libya ; Male ; Personal Protective Equipment ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult |
| Abstract: | COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is spreading rapidly worldwide, with devastating consequences for patients, healthcare workers, health systems, and economies. As it reaches low- and middle-income countries, the pandemic puts healthcare workers at high risk and challenges the abilities of healthcare systems to respond to the crisis. This study measured levels of knowledge and preparedness regarding COVID-19 among physicians and nurses. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare workers in Libya between February 26 and March 10, 2020. We obtained 1,572 valid responses of a possible 2,000 (78.6%) participants from 21 hospitals, of which 65.1% were from physicians and 34.9% from nurses. The majority of participants (70%) used social media as a source of information. A total of 47.3% of doctors and 54.7% of nurses received adequate training on how to effectively use personal protective equipment. Low confidence in managing suspected COVID-19 patients was reported by 83.8% of participants. Furthermore, 43.2% of healthcare workers were aware of proper hand hygiene techniques. Less than 7% of participants received training on how to manage COVID-19 cases, whereas 20.6% of doctors and 26.3% of nurses felt that they were personally prepared for the outbreak. Awareness and preparedness for the pandemic were low among frontline workers during the study. Therefore, an effective educational training program should be implemented to ensure maintenance of appropriate practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
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| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20200622 Date Completed: 20200813 Latest Revision: 20220316 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC7410457 |
| DOI: | 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0330 |
| PMID: | 32563273 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article