Knowledge, Attitude, And Practice Toward Covid-19 Among Health-Care Professionals, Ancillary Support Staff, Family Members, And Patients In A Tertiary Care Covid-19 Hospital

Background: Corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a recently emerged and rapidly growing public health emergency. Adequate knowledge, positive attitude, and good practice among different sections of the society, including health-care workers, are quintessential in prevention and control of this deadly disease. Hence, the present study was undertaken with the objective of determining the knowledge, attitude, and practice among health-care workers (HCWs) including ancillary support staff, their family members, and patients toward COVID-19. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional 40-item survey was conducted among HCWs, family members, and patients in a dedicated tertiary care COVID-19 hospital during May 2020-June 2020.The responses were tabulated and regression analyses were performed to determine the significance of each parameter among different groups. Results: Of 596 participants, among health-care professionals, ancillary support staff, family members, and patients, most were graduates (72.9%, 74.6%, and 50.6%, respectively), while 50% of the patients were educated up to high school. Social media and Internet was the main source of information for health-care professionals, while it was news media for others. Younger age was significantly associated with knowledge and attitude among HCWs (P = 0.001, P= 0.006) and ancillary support staff (P = 0.01, P < 0.001), while younger age and education were positively associated with knowledge among family members (P = 0.007, P < 0.001). Among patients, only education related to better knowledge (P < 0.001) and younger age with better practice (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Overall, HCWs and ancillary support staff have better knowledge and attitude toward COVID-19. Education was associated with better practice among patients. Health education programs to improve the awareness and encourage appropriate practices toward this global hazard, especially among the general public, are required to conquer this virus and limit the spread of infection.