الفهرس 
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Abstract
Summary
The world is facing an unprecedented challenge in the devastating COVID-19 (coronavirus disease19) outbreak, which, as yet, cannot be controlled. The disease, a viral pneumonia, was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan city, the capital of the Hubei Province in China, and was linked to a seafood market where live animals are traded. Deep sequencing analysis of samples from affected patients identified the causative agent as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Huang et al., 2020). The disease quickly spread to other locations in China and then crossed the borders to infect millions of people in many countries around the globe (Li et al., 2020).
The HCWs are at the frontline of COVID-19 pandemic defense and are exposed not only to infection with COVID-19 due to their frequent exposure to infected individuals, but they also suffer psychological distress, long working hours, fatigue, occupational stigma, and many times may encounter physical violence (Gan et al., 2021).
Knowledge of any infectious agent, its mode and route of transmission plays crucial role in planning and executing infection control. The inadequate knowledge and incorrect attitudes among HCWs can directly influence their practices and lead to delayed diagnosis, poor infection control practices, and spread of the disease (Abd El-Nassir, 2021).
Aim of the study:
The study aims to assess knowledge, practices, and attitude of health care workers toward Covid 19 during the current outbreak in Egypt.
Assessing the knowledge of health care workers toward Covid 19 during the current outbreak in Egypt.
Assessing the practices of health care workers toward Covid 19 during the current outbreak in Egypt.
Assessing the attitude of health care workers toward Covid 19 during the current outbreak in Egypt.
Research questions:
The current study was formulated to answer the following questions:
What are the knowledge, practice, and attitude of health care workers toward Covid 19 during the current outbreak in Egypt?
Research Design:
A descriptive exploratory design was utilized to conduct the study.
Setting:
The study conducted in Fever Itya Elbaroud Hospital affiliated to ElBehaira -Governorate -Egypt.
Subjects:
A convenience sample of health care workers (150) – divided into (17) Physicians, (125) Nurses, & (8) Technicians working in - Fever Itya ElBaroud Hospital affiliated to ELBehaira governorate- Egypt.
Tools for data collection: -
Three tools were used to collect data of the current study as following:
Tool I- Health care worker’s self- administered questionnaire for Covid-19: It was written in simple Arabic language and divided into three parts: -
The questionnaire consisted of three parts:
1 The first part: it was concerned with the demographic characteristics of health care workers under study.
2 The second part: it covered the medical history and clinical date of the studied health care workers.
3 The third part: it was used to assess the health care workers’ knowledge regarding COVID-19.
Tool II- Observational check list about health care worker’s practices caring for patients with COVID-19: It was written into English language It was used to observe the actual health care worker’s practice in caring for patients with COVID-19. through seven dimensions (Hand washing with soap and water check list, Masking donning and doffing, N95 Respirator donning and doffing, Goggles or Face shield donning and doffing, Gloving Disposable latex gloves donning and doffing, Gowning donning and doffing and Disposal of Medical waste check list).
Tool III- Self- administered questionnaire for attitudes of health care workers towards COVID-19: It was used to assess the studied health care workers’attitudes towards COVID-19 it is consisted of (20 statement).
The results of the study showed that:
• Regarding demographic characteristics, 64.7% of the studied health care workers, were females and 37.3% of them were aged from 30 < 40 years and 69.4% of them were married.
• In relation to the educational level 37.3% of the studied health care workers had technical institute graduates’ education and 34.0% of them had school diploma.
• In relation to profession 83.3% of the studied health care workers were nurses and 11.3% were physicians and lab & radioloyg technicians.
• In relation to medical and clinical data 61.3% of them hadn’t attend training courses related to COVID-19 and 63.3% of them had participated in training courses about infection control.
• In relation to source of information about COVID-19 31.3% of the studied health care workers their source of information was official sources, Egyptian Ministry of health and World Health Oraganization and 22.7%, 19.3 % of them their source of information were Newspapers, Television programs , radio , Posts and videos on social media (face book & what’s up) respectively.
• Related to health care workers’ knowledge regarding COVID-19, 55.3 % of the studied health care workers had unsatisfactory level of knowledge regarding COVID-19, but 88.2% of physicians more knowledgeable than nurses and technicians.
• Regarding to health care workers’ practices about COVID-19, 83.3 % of the studied health care workers had competent level of practices regarding COVID-19, but 88.2% of nurses had competent level of practices more than physicians and technicians.
• Regarding to health care workers’ total attitude about COVID-19, 52.7 % of the studied healthcare workers had negative attitude regarding COVID-19.
• The present study revealed that, there were highly statistically significant relation between total knowledge of health care workers’ about COVID-19 and their age, education level and participation in courses or lectures about COVID-19. While there was statistically significant relation between total knowledge and both of their experience years and participation in training courses about infection control.
• Also, the present study revealed that, there were highly statistically significant relation between total practices of health care workers’ about COVID-19 and their age, gender, and experience years. While there was statistically significant relation between total practices and both of their educational level, participation in courses or lectures about COVID-19 and participation in training courses about infection control.
• The present study revealed that, there were highly statistically significant relation between total attitude of health care workers’ about COVID-19 and their educational level and experience years. While there was statistically significant relation between total attitude and both of their age, gender and participation in courses, lectures about COVID-19.
• Finally, there was highly significant positive correlation between total knowledge about COVID-19 of the studied HCWS and both total practice and total attitude. Also, there was highly significant positive correlation between total practice and total attitude when p-value was >001**.
Conclusion
Based on findings of the current study, it can be concluded that:
More than half of the studied health care workers had unsatisfactory level of knowledge regarding COVID-19. Majority of the studied health care workers had competent level of practices regarding COVID-19, Finally more than half of the studied health care workers had negative attitude regarding COVID-19.
Also, the study conclueded those physicians more knowledgeable than nurses and technicians regarding COVID, but nurses had more competent level of practices regarding preventive measures than physicians and technicians, finally physicians had more positive attitude toward COVID than other health personnel.
Recommendations
Based on the results of the present study, the following recommendations are suggested:
For Health care workers:
Health education program about COVID-19 is beneficial and essential to overcome the disease. Go on of skilled education is needed among HCWs to elevate the level of knowledge of HCWs also, avoiding negative attitudes and encouraging positive preventive and healthy practices. Follow-up research including hospitals all over the country.
Health authorities should support COVID-19 awareness-raising campaign for medical staff and conduct training programs to address any gap between knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding COVID-19 preventive measures.
Educational media including booklet, handouts, videos, posters, and CDs should be always available for all studied health care workers.
Continuous professional development programs for all HCWs in hospitals targeting heightened awareness, knowledge and supporting programs to maintain the emotional well-being for HCWs with the continuation of the pandemic.
Implement strategies that enhance the positive attitudes and safe practices of the HCWs for better containment of the pandemic and supporting of essential health care services.
For Research:
Further studies are needed after implementation of this program to determine its effect in the study population.
Replication of the study on a larger probability sample selected from different geographical areas in Egypt is recommended to obtain more generalizable data.