Preparing for the COVID-19 Pandemic Response in a Country Emerging From an Ebola Epidemic: Assessment of Health Workers' Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Guinea

Suspected Case ◽

Attitudes And Practices ◽

Knowledge And Attitude ◽

And Control ◽

Knowledge Attitudes And Practices

Abstract Background: On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization designated the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Scope (USPPI). Underdeveloped countries, such as the Republic of Guinea, where the health system has been severely impacted by the Ebola virus epidemic between 2013 and 2014, will therefore find it difficult to respond effectively to the predicted epidemic. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of medical personnel on the prevention of Covid-2019.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study with an analytical aim carried out from 1st to 29th February 2020 among front-line health workers in the health structures of the city of Conakry. Data were collected using the Kobocollect application by administration of a standardized questionnaire. The knowledge and attitude score was categorized in 2: Good if ≥ at the average score and bad if < 50%. Logistic regression models were conducted to identify factors associated with knowledge and attitude. Odds ratios (OR) with their confidence intervals were calculated.Results :548 health workers surveyed, the mean score for knowledge on the prevention of Covid-19 was 54.81 SD = 9.71, [95% CI: [ 53.9-55.6]. 70.6% had a good knowledge of Covid-19. However, 99.6% of the staff did not know the emergency number in case of a suspected case and about 50% did not know the incubation period of Covid-19.Among the health personnel interviewed, 57.7% had a good attitude towards a suspected case of Covid-19.Although the majority (57.5%) of the health workers had received training in infection prevention and control, infection prevention and control (IPC) practices were not routinely implemented, as the implementation rate was not even 80% for every action.Variables associated with poor knowledge of Covid-19 prevention were sex, health facility, and staff grade. As for poor attitude, the associated variables were knowledge of Ebola cases reported in the facility and the rank of the health staff.Conclusion:This study underlines the difficulties of the appropriation of prevention and protection measures against Covid-19 by health personnel for whom the risk appears remote and limited to a transnational or foreign elite.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards viral haemorrhagic fevers amongst healthcare workers in urban and rural public healthcare facilities in the N’zérékoré Prefecture, Guinea: a cross-sectional study

10.21203/rs.2.17924/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Manuel Raab ◽

Lisa M. Pfadenhauer ◽

Tamba Jacques Millimouno ◽

Michael Hoelscher ◽

Guenter Froeschl

Keyword(s):

Prevention And Control ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Public Healthcare ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Attitudes And Practices ◽

Preventive Practices ◽

And Control ◽

Knowledge Attitudes And Practices

Abstract Introduction: The 2013-2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa began in Guinea’s Forest region, a region now considered to be at high risk for future epidemics of viral haemorrhagic fevers. Good knowledge, attitudes and practices towards viral haemorrhagic fevers amongst healthcare workers in such regions are a central pillar of infection prevention and control. To inform future training in infection prevention and control, this study assesses the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards viral haemorrhagic fevers amongst healthcare workers in public healthcare facilities in the most populated prefecture in Forest Guinea, and compares results from urban and rural areas. Methods: In June and July 2019, we interviewed 102 healthcare workers in the main urban and rural public healthcare facilities in the N’zérékoré prefecture in Forest Guinea. We used an interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted from validated KAP surveys. Results: The great majority of respondents demonstrated good knowledge and favourable attitudes towards viral haemorrhagic fevers. However, respondents reported considerable gaps in preventive practices, a shortage of protective medical equipment used in everyday clinical work in both urban and rural healthcare facilities and a lack of training in infection control and prevention, especially in rural healthcare facilities. Conclusions: Three years after the end of the Ebola epidemic, our findings suggest that public healthcare facilities in the N’zérékoré prefecture in Forest Guinea still lack essential protective equipment and adequate training in viral haemorrhagic fever infection prevention and control. Especially rural areas seem to be affected of this lack. To minimize the risk of future viral haemorrhagic fever epidemics and other outbreaks of infectious diseases in the region, current efforts to strengthen the public healthcare system in Guinea should supply enough protective medical equipment and ensure that regular IPC trainings have a positive impact and that preventive practices are followed in everyday clinical work.

A health worker knowledge, attitudes and practices survey of SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention and control in South Africa

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-021-05812-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Saiendhra Vasudevan Moodley ◽

Muzimkhulu Zungu ◽

Molebogeng Malotle ◽

Kuku Voyi ◽

Nico Claassen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Health Worker ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Health Workers ◽

Health Facilities ◽

World Health ◽

Successful Implementation ◽

Abstract Background Health workers are crucial to the successful implementation of infection prevention and control strategies to limit the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at healthcare facilities. The aim of our study was to determine SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention and control knowledge and attitudes of frontline health workers in four provinces of South Africa as well as explore some elements of health worker and health facility infection prevention and control practices. Methods A cross-sectional study design was utilised. The study population comprised both clinical and non-clinical staff working in casualty departments, outpatient departments, and entrance points of health facilities. A structured self-administered questionnaire was developed using the World Health Organization guidance as the basis for the knowledge questions. COVID-19 protocols were observed during data collection. Results A total of 286 health workers from 47 health facilities at different levels of care participated in the survey. The mean score on the 10 knowledge items was 6.3 (SD = 1.6). Approximately two-thirds of participants (67.4%) answered six or more questions correctly while less than a quarter of all participants (24.1%) managed to score eight or more. A knowledge score of 8 or more was significantly associated with occupational category (being either a medical doctor or nurse), age (< 40 years) and level of hospital (tertiary level). Only half of participants (50.7%) felt adequately prepared to deal with patients with COVD-19 at the time of the survey. The health workers displaying attitudes that would put themselves or others at risk were in the minority. Only 55.6% of participants had received infection prevention and control training. Some participants indicated they did not have access to medical masks (11.8%) and gloves (9.9%) in their departments. Conclusions The attitudes of participants reflected a willingness to engage in appropriate SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention and control practices as well as a commitment to be involved in COVID-19 patient care. Ensuring adequate infection prevention and control training for all staff and universal access to appropriate PPE were identified as key areas that needed to be addressed. Interim and final reports which identified key shortcomings that needed to be addressed were provided to the relevant provincial departments of health.

Evaluation of Infection, Prevention and Control Program in Goromonzi District, Zimbabwe, 2018: A process outcome evaluation

10.21203/rs.2.18251/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Govha Emmanuel ◽

Zizhou Simukai Tirivanhu ◽

Shambira Gerald ◽

Gombe Tafara Notion ◽

Tsitsi Juru ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Facility ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Health Workers ◽

Outcome Evaluation ◽

Hazard Identification ◽

Health Facilities ◽

Hiv Test ◽

Abstract Background A healthcare-associated infection (HAI) is defined as an infection originating in the environment of a health facility that was not present or incubating at the time of patient admission. HAIs can be prevented through infection, prevention and control (IPC) measures. No hazard identification and risk assessment IPC rounds and monthly meetings were conducted in Goromonzi district since 1st of January to 30th of June 2018. No trainings nor orientation for the new employees was conducted. We therefore evaluated Goromonzi District IPC program. Methods A process-outcome evaluation using the logic model was conducted in Goromonzi district’s 15 health facilities. Checklists, interviewer administered questionnaires and key informant guides were used to collect data on availability of inputs, knowledge of health workers, processes performed, outputs and outcomes achieved. Data were entered into Epi Info 7TM, which was used to generate frequencies and proportions. Qualitative data from checklists and key informants interviews was sorted manually into themes and analysed. Results All 15 health facilities had adequate stocks of HIV test kits and PEP kits. Adequate bins and detergents were found in only 3/15 (20%) of health facilities. All facilities failed to hold a single IPC meeting and none had specific budget for IPC in 2018. No IPC mentorship activities were carried out in the district. Only 7/13 (54%) health workers who had needle pricks received PEP with 2/7 (29%) of them finishing the course. No health facility had a functional HAI surveillance system. The overall knowledge rating was fair. Conclusion The IPC program inputs in Goromonzi district were inadequate hence its failure to achieve the intended outputs and outcomes. Inadequate knowledge, unavailability of health worker training plans, specific budgets and absence of IPC committees reflected non prioritisation of the program.

Health Worker Compliance with Infection Prevention and Control Policy in Ghana: A Case Study of La General Hospital

TEXILA INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH ◽

10.21522/tijph.2013.09.02.art014 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 150-161

Author(s):

Vincentia D. Kondor

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

General Hospital ◽

Health Worker ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Health Workers ◽

Control Policy ◽

Time Constraints ◽

Infection Prevention And Control Is An Important Topic In The Delivery Of Quality Health Care Because It Aims At Protecting The Patient, The Health Worker, And The General Public. The Main Objective Of The Study Was To Determine Health Workers’ Compliance With Infection Prevention And Control Policy Guidelines During Health Care Delivery. A Cross-Sectional Design Using A Quantitative Method Was Used To Carry Out This Study In Which 143 Health Workers At The La General Hospital Were Selected Using A Stratified Sampling Method. The Data Collected Using A Structured Questionnaire Was Statistically Analyzed Using Chi-Square Test And Logistic Regression To Establish An Association Between The Dependent And Independent Variables Using A Significance Level Of P<0.05 At 95% Confidence Interval. The Results Indicated That Knowledge Of Infection Prevention And Control Among Health Workers Was High As 97% Had Adequate Knowledge, With 64% Of This Proportion Having Excellent Knowledge. Additionally, The Availability Of Infection Prevention Resources To Health Workers Always Was 31.4%; Non-Compliance Due To Time Constraints At Work Was 66.4%, And Compliance With Infection Prevention And Control Guidelines Was 30.7%. Time Constraint At Work Was Significantly Associated With Health Workers’ Compliance With Infection Prevention And Control (P = 0.001). The Paper Suggests That Regular In-Service Training On Infection Prevention And Control Must Be Continued To Improve The Standards Of Health Delivery Practice. Management Is Encouraged To Improve The Availability Of Infection Prevention Resources To Health Workers And To Duly Regulate Staff Workload In Order To Reduce Time Constraints And Prevent Burnout.

Pengembangan Program Pencegahan dan Pengendalian Infeksi COVID-19 dalam Mempertahankan Status Kesehatan pada Tenaga Kesehatan di Rumah Sakit Kota Medan

Jurnal Riset Hesti Medan Akper Kesdam I/BB Medan ◽

10.34008/jurhesti.v6i2.239 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 99

Author(s):

Muhammad Taufik Daniel Hasibuan ◽

Harsudianto Silaen

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Focus Group ◽

Data Collection ◽

Vital Sign ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Health Workers ◽

Control Program ◽

The COVID-19 infection prevention and control program in hospitals is an effort to provide guidance for health workers to stay healthy, safe, productive, and the community gets services that meet standards. Health workers who work in hospitals are very vulnerable to being exposed to COVID -19, so it is very important that health workers and policy makers understand the basic concepts of infectious diseases. The purpose of this study was to develop a program to prevent and control covid-19 infection in maintaining the health status of health workers at the Medan City Hospital. The type of research used is action research. The participants in this study were 14 people consisting of 2 parts, namely 1) Participants for qualitative data were taken from managerial such as medical services, nursing, medical records, infection prevention and control units, and the head of the room. 2) Participants for quantitative data are taken from health workers, namely nurses. Data collection in this study used various methods, namely individual interviews, observation, self-report, focus group discussions and several data collection tools, namely interview guides, focus group discussion guides, questionnaires, observation sheets, and supporting tools, namely voice recorders. The results of this study obtained outputs, namely standard operating procedures for the prevention and control of covid-19 infection, and from the results of health status checks on health workers from before and after the implementation of the COVID -19 infection prevention and control program, the results were before (PCR/Antigen: Negative). 71.43%, Positive: 28.57%; Vital sign normal: 85.71%, Abnormal 14.29%), and after (PCR/Antigen: Negative 85.71%, Positive: 14.29%; Vital sign normal: 100%). This proves that there is an influence of the Covid-19 infection prevention and control program in maintaining the health status of health workers in hospitals. Suggestions to hospital leaders to continue to evaluate prevention and control programs for COVID-19 infection in accordance with developments and the situation at hand.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of healthcare workers Towards Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

Journal of Nepal Health Research Council ◽

10.33314/jnhrc.v18i2.2658 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 293-300 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Prabina Ghimire ◽

Samriddh Dhungel ◽

Anil Pokhrel

Keyword(s):

Prevention And Control ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Online Survey ◽

Health Concern ◽

Attitudes And Practices ◽

Attitude And Practice ◽

And Control ◽

Knowledge Attitude And Practice

Background: The emergence of SARS-CoV 2 pandemic is the greatest public health concern of the century. Healthcare workers are the front liners of pandemic management. Their knowledge, attitudes and practices can influence the outcome of pandemic. The study aims to determine the knowledge, attitude and practices among healthcare workers.Methods: Knowledge, attitude and practice related questionnaire based online survey through Google forms was conducted from Healthcare workers, following ethical approval from NHRC (ERB protocol registration number: 297/2020 P). Online forms were disseminated via Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, Viber and personal messaging. Responses containing anonymized data was collected analyzed in using SPSS-version 26, (Year: 2019). The results were interpreted in terms of percentage response, knowledge score, and practice and discussed on the possible solutions in improving the infection prevention and control practice.Results: 473 HCWs responded to the questionnaire, out of which 426 responses met inclusion criteria which is 90% of the total responses. The mean score for knowledge was 3.20 + 1.15 out of maximum seven; with 45.7% correct answers. 70.4 % (300) participants felt that Nepal will be unable to contain the pandemic, 64 % of the total employed participants felt that there was inadequate institutional preparedness to protect HCWs from exposure. 91% participants reported practicing hand hygiene after every patient encounter; whereas 31.7% (77) and 22.1% (59) participants did not know how to check sealing of the N95 masks and use personal protective equipment’s respectively.Conclusions: The survey findings showed deficiencies in knowledge and appropriate practice among the HCWs, in prevention of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Attitudes towards COVID19 were a mix of both positive and negative viewpoints. Even in health care workers with access to internet, there is significant gap in universal infection prevention and control practices required for self-protection and limiting untoward transmission. Keywords: Attitude and practice; COVID-19; healthcare workers; infection prevention and control; knowledge, Nepal; SARS CoV 2

Health Workers Compliance Towards Infection Prevention and Control in Indonesia

International Journal of Nursing Education ◽

10.37506/ijone.v14i1.17756 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Keyword(s):

Prevention And Control ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Health Workers ◽

Attitudes, knowledge and practices of healthcare workers regarding occupational exposure of pulmonary tuberculosis

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine ◽

10.4102/phcfm.v6i1.597 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Lesley T. Bhebhe ◽

Cornel Van Rooyen ◽

Wilhelm J. Steinberg

Keyword(s):

Infection Control ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

Control Measures ◽

Attitudes And Practices ◽

Healthcare Associated ◽

Background: Healthcare-associated tuberculosis (TB) has become a major occupational hazard for healthcare workers (HCWs). HCWs are inevitably exposed to TB, due to frequent interaction with patients with undiagnosed and potentially contagious TB. Whenever there is a possibility of exposure, implementation of infection prevention and control (IPC) practices is critical.Objective: Following a high incidence of TB among HCWs at Maluti Adventist Hospital in Lesotho, a study was carried out to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of HCWs regarding healthcare-associated TB infection and infection controls.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study performed in June 2011; it involved HCWs at Maluti Adventist Hospital who were involved with patients and/or sputum. Stratified sampling of 140 HCWs was performed, of whom, 129 (92.0%) took part. A self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire was used.Results: Most respondents (89.2%) had appropriate knowledge of transmission, diagnosis and prevention of TB; however, only 22.0% of the respondents knew the appropriate method of sputum collection. All of the respondents (100.0%) were motivated and willing to implement IPC measures. A significant proportion of participants (36.4%) reported poor infection control practices, with the majority of inappropriate practices being the administrative infection controls (> 80.0%). Only 38.8% of the participants reported to be using the appropriate N-95 respirator.Conclusion: Poor infection control practices regarding occupational TB exposure were demonstrated, the worst being the first-line administrative infection controls. Critical knowledge gaps were identified; however, there was encouraging willingness by HCWs to adapt to recommended infection control measures. Healthcare workers are inevitably exposed to TB, due to frequent interaction with patients with undiagnosed and potentially contagious TB. Implementation of infection prevention and control practices is critical whenever there is a possibility of exposure.

Surgical Healthcare Workers Knowledge and Attitude on Infection Prevention and Control: A Case of Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ghana

Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology ◽

10.1155/2021/6619768 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Abdul Rauf Alhassan ◽

E. D. Kuugbee ◽

E. M. Der

Keyword(s):

Teaching Hospital ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Surgical Department ◽

Knowledge And Attitude ◽

Chi Square Analysis ◽

And Control ◽

Tamale Teaching Hospital

Background. Most morbidities and mortalities related to clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures are related to infection and the solution to this is good infection prevention and control (IPC) compliance which is influenced by the right knowledge and positive attitude. Aim. This study aimed to assess infection prevention and control (IPC) knowledge and attitude among healthcare workers at the surgical department of Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH). Methods. This study was conducted using a descriptive cross-sectional survey. Data entry and analysis were done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and Graph Pad Prism version 6.05. Tables, frequencies, and percentages were used for descriptive analysis and chi-square analysis for the associations. Results. Of the 156 participants who responded, 22 (14.1%) were doctors, with 107 (68.6%) nurses, 12 (7.7%) certified registered anesthetics (CRA), and 15 (9.6%) orderlies. Approximately, 50.6% of the respondents were knowledgeable with regard to IPC and 55.1% of the respondents had a good attitude towards IPC. Factors associated with knowledge level were educational level p ≤ 0.001 , occupation p ≤ 0.001 , marital status p = 0.030 , and age p = 0.030 . The occupation was the only factor associated with the attitude level p = 0.048 . Conclusion. More than half of the healthcare providers reported good knowledge and attitude towards IPC. Proportionally, more nurses had good IPC knowledge and attitude as compared to other professional groups. Firming up and assimilating universal precaution with routine services by providing training, protocol, rules, and regulation are recommended.

What is Needed to Sustain Improvements in Hospital Practices Post-COVID-19? A Qualitative Study of Interprofessional Dissonance in Hospital Infection Prevention and Control

10.21203/rs.3.rs-754116/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Gwendolyn L Gilbert ◽

Ian Kerridge

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Hospital Infection ◽

Ethical Framework ◽

Routine Practice ◽

Attitudes And Practices ◽

And Control ◽

Doctors And Nurses

Abstract BackgroundHospital infection prevention and control (IPC) depends on consistent practice to achieve its purpose. Standard precautions are embedded in modern healthcare policies, but not uniformly observed by all clinicians. Well-documented differences in attitudes to IPC, between doctors and nurses, contribute to suboptimal IPC practices and persistence of preventable healthcare-associated infections. The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously affected healthcare professionals’ work-practices, lives and health and increased awareness and observance of IPC. Successful transition of health services to a ‘post-COVID-19’ future, will depend on sustainable integration of lessons learnt into routine practice. MethodsThe aim of this pre-COVID-19 qualitative study was to investigate factors influencing doctors’ IPC attitudes and practices, whether they differ from those of nurses and, if so, how this affects interprofessional relationships. We hypothesised that better understanding would guide new strategies to achieve more effective IPC. We interviewed 26 senior clinicians (16 doctors and 10 nurses) from a range of specialties, at a large Australian tertiary hospital. Interview transcripts were reviewed iteratively, and themes identified inductively, using reflexive thematic analysis. ResultsParticipants from both professions painted clichéd portraits of ‘typical’ doctors and nurses and recounted unflattering anecdotes of their IPC behaviours. Doctors were described as self-directed and often unaware or disdainful of IPC rules; while nurses were portrayed as slavishly following rules, ostensibly to protect patients, irrespective of risk or evidence. Many participants believed that doctors object to being reminded of IPC requirements by nurses, despite many senior doctors having limited knowledge of correct IPC practice. Overall, participants’ comments suggested that the ‘doctor-nurse game’ - described in the 1960s, to exemplify the complex power disparity between professions - is still in play, despite changes in both professions, in the interim.Conclusions The results suggest that interprofessional differences and inconsistencies constrain IPC practice improvement. IPC inconsistencies and failures can be catastrophic, but the common threat of COVID-19 has promoted focus and unity. Appropriate implementation of IPC policies should be context-specific and respect the needs and expertise of all stakeholders. We propose an ethical framework to guide interprofessional collaboration in establishing a path towards sustained improvements in IPC and bio-preparedness.