Knowledge of COVID-19 and it’s Determinants among Healthcare Workers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Introduction: The level of knowledge about COVID-19 could indicate the Saudi health staff's ability to acquire and update new medical knowledge, which is a critical need in emergencies. This study aims to assess the level and determinants of knowledge about COVID-19 among healthcare workers in Primary Healthcare centers.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that included all healthcare workers who work in five primary healthcare centers located in Jeddah city. A validated version of the questionnaire, designed from the interim guidance and information for health workers. 12 questions to assess HCWs’ knowledge about COVID-19. A correct answer will be scored 1 point and a false/unknown answer will be scored 0 points. Due to the situation of health quarantine because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the questionnaires were distributed to mobile phones of HCWs through an online link.
Results: A total sample of 194 of health workers were included in this study, of them 57.2% were males and 83.9% were married. Regarding occupation, about 24% were medical doctors, either general practitioners or specialists, while 26.8% were nurses and 21.9% were pharmacists. The most common source of information was reported to be governmental publications. Regarding knowledge about COVID-19, the main score of knowledge was 10.2±1.3 and when we dichotomized the health workers based on the number of correct answers, the percentage of those who had inadequate level of knowledge was 64.4%. Age, occupation, source of information, number of co-workers, timing of work shifts, and being a frontline health worker were significant predictors of knowledge about COVID-19.
Conclusions: The majority of health workers in primary health centers had inadequate levels of basic knowledge about COVID-19. There is a need to plan and conduct interventions to improve knowledge about COVID-19, mainly targeting general practitioners.