الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 120 |  |  |
| | | from | 120 | | |
Abstract
Deadly epidemics continue to claim human lives from time to time, and the latest of these epidemics, which stopped the world for a while and the course of life has been changed much, is the new Corona virus (COVID-19), which appeared in Wuhan China in late 2019 and spread to the rest of the world, causing millions of patients. It is now at a less severe level than before, however the disease is still a mystery, not all of its details have been revealed yet.
The use of masks, frequent handwashing, proper sanitization, social physical distancing, avoiding crowds and a healthy lifestyle should be the new normal lifestyle.
The new COVID-19 has taught the world awareness, solidarity and concern for others so that all humanity does not perish.
The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, the level of awareness, attitude and practice modifications among health-care workers working in a governmental teaching hospital in Egypt regarding COVID-19 pandemic.
This study was divided into 2 parts first part was a questionnaire survey and second part was an observational study to assess adherence of HCWs to infection control guidelines for COVID-19.
I-Regarding questionnaire there were 5 parts:
A- The first part includes the general Information of the recruited participants, healthcare workers (No=706) the results were as follows
Their mean age 37.9 ± 9.9 years, 444 (62.9%) were females and others were males. Majority 658 (93.2%) were residents in Menoufia governorate. 405 (57.4%) received a training course on COVID-19 and 404 (57.2%) were treating COVID-19 patients.
Summary, c onclusions and Recommendations
70
Also, 174 (24.6%) participants have infection control qualification (including infection control diploma or infection control courses), 176 (24.9 %) of participants have post graduate studies (master and/or MD).
And (according to Working status of the recruited participants) are 273 (38.7 %) of participants were physicians and 253 (35.9 %) were assistant nurses and registered nurses. The rest ranged from dentist to pharmacist and lab or radiology technicians and administrative staff.
Majority of participants666 (94.3%) changed their jobs during the pandemic (worked at other specialties which were COVID–19 related jobs to help through the pandemic).
According to medical status of the recruited participants 416 (58.9%) of participants were medically free and others had pre-existing medical conditions like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, asthma, liver diseases and pregnancy.
B- The second part was data on becoming infected with COVID-19, receiving a confirmed diagnosis, and if needed hospital admission or not and the result were as follows:
Out of participants, 287 (40.7%) acquired COVID-19 with only 56 (7.9%) of them required hospital admission and 44 (78.6%) of total COVID–19 participants need oxygen in hospital, 4 (7.1%) of them had admitted in hospital but didn’t need oxygen and 8 (14.3%) of them had admitted in ICU.
Among the 287 participants who got infected with COVID-19; 247 (86.1%) did confirmatory tests; PCR in 185 (74.9%) and 62(25.1%) CT chest which showed ground glass opacity in the lung and the rest 40(13.9%) were diagnosed by symptoms only (these symptoms were mild and the main symptoms were loss of smell and taste and general sickness.
C- The knowledge about the clinical picture , mode of transmission and prevention of COVID-19 was the third part and the results are as follows :
Out of participants, 486 (68,8%) said that the incubation period of COVID–19 range from 1 -21 days.
Summary, c onclusions and Recommendations
71
Almost all of participants had known that fever (692 , 98%) and cough (686 , 97.2 %)8 are the COVID-19 symptoms around one third of participants had known that runny nose, red eyes and skin rash are COVID-19 symptoms 265 (37.5),215 (30,5),215 (30,5) respectively and 599 (84.8 %) thought that shortness of breath are one of COVID-19 symptoms. About two thirds of participants had known that sore throat and Joint/ muscle pain are COVID-19 symptoms (438(62), 493(69.8) respectively). There were 533(75.5) of participants that knew that diarrhea is one of COVID-19 symptoms and 348(49.3) of participants had known that vomiting is a COVID-19 symptom.
While 468 (66,3) of participants thought that COVID-19 can be asymptomatic.
Out of participants 576 (81,6 %) thought that corona virus infect children,
Knowledge about the mode of transmission of infection; 666 (94,3 %) thought that COVID–19 is transmitted through direct contact with respiratory tract secretion, COVID-19 can persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days (479/67,8%), COVID-19 can’t be transmitted through eating undercooked meat/chicken (484/68,5%), and the disease can be transmitted from asymptomatic patients (361 /51,1%)
The majority 680 (96.4%) of participants knew that coughing and sneezing are the most common ways of transmission followed by touching surfaces then hand shaking.
Knowledge about the measures to control and protect from infection; the use of PPE is recommended to protect skin and mucosa from infected blood or secretions(665 / 92,8%), hand hygiene has considered the most critical measure for reducing the risk of transmitting of Coronavirus to patients (654 /92,6%), all surfaces contaminated by the patients with COVID-19 infection should be cleaned with diluted (5%) bleaching solution (551/78%), and HCWs should take strict personal protection measures and avoid or minimize operations that can produce droplets or aerosols (662/93,8 %),
Summary, c onclusions and Recommendations
72
Also the knowledge about the PPE donning sequence (gown then mask then gloves) was (515 (72,9%) and PPE removal sequence (gloves then gown then mask ) was (398 ,56,4%)
671(95 %) of participants knew that all HCWs must wear PPEs and frequently do hand hygiene to protect themselves against COVID-19, 648 (91.8%) knew the importance of putting facemasks on known or suspected patients.
Out of participants, 593 (84 %) knew that moving and transporting patients out of their area should be avoided unless necessary and 600 (85%) of participants thought that any suspected or confirmed persons should be isolated in a proper place.
285 (40,4 %) don’t know if COVID–19 can be prevented by administration of a vaccine or not,
As a whole 491 (69.5%) had good knowledge about COVID-19 and 215(30.5%) had poor knowledge about COVID-19.
D- The fourth part was source of receiving information about COVID-19 and the results are as follows:
Getting the knowledge from social media was found in 454 (64.3 %) of participants, from center for disease control and prevention in 416 (58.9 %), from TV in 394 (55,8%), from Ministry of Health in 364(51.6%), from WHO in 282(39.9%) and 17 (2.4%) get knowledge from other sources like (personal experience, newspapers).
E- The Fifth part was assessment of the fear among HCWs regarding COVID-19 and the results are as follows :
Afraid to treat suspect or confirmed patient with COVID-19 was observed among 439 (62.2%), afraid to be infected from colleague among 410 (58.1%).
405 (57.4%) participants said that their assistant want to stop work due to fear of infection (some of them said that their assistants already stopped work), 676 (95.8 %) of the participants thought that they are at risk at work including administrators.
Only 169 (23.9%) participants thought that they have enough knowledge about COVID-19and only 251 (35.6%) participants attended events such as conferences.
II- Regarding to observational part:
Summary, c onclusions and Recommendations
73
In this part the compliance of the participants to the standard precautions was observed to assess adherence of HCWs to infection control guidelines for COVID-19. The results were as follows:
Out of participants, 379 (93.3%) were obedient to instructions related to hand hygiene but only 198 (48.8%) of them do it immediately after removing gloves.
Out of participants, 346 (85.2%) wash their hands before and after patient treatment.
Only 224 (55.25%) perform cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces.
Only 89 (21.9%) avoid busy clinics and giving separate appointments.
Regarding the use of PPE ; almost all 380 (93.6 %) of participants were wearing face mask, 235 (57.9%) of them wore N95 and 145 (35.7%) wore surgical masks and 34 (8.4%) of them wore respirators . only 75 (18.5%) of them wore overhead, 257 (63.3%) do not wear scrubs and 316 (77.8%) do not wear overalls, 271 (91.4%) do not wear boots during work performance and 355 (87.5%) had good practice toward COVID-19 (the use of masks and gloves only)