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. 2020 Jul-Sep;36(3):337-344.
doi: 10.4103/joacp.JOACP_326_20. Epub 2020 Jul 31.

Assessment of knowledge gaps and perceptions about COVID-19 among health care workers and general public-national cross-sectional study

Gunchan Paul  1 , Shruti Sharma  1 , Guneet Singh  2 , Gurparvesh Singh  3 , Sarit Sharma  4 , Birinder Singh Paul  5 , Parshotam Lal Gautam  1
Affiliations

Assessment of knowledge gaps and perceptions about COVID-19 among health care workers and general public-national cross-sectional study

Gunchan Paul et al. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2020 Jul-Sep.

Abstract

Background and aims: COVID-19 has impacted everyone's life and livelihood in one way or the other. Individual response to measures taken to control the rapid spread of this disease depend on their knowledge and perceptions. Hence, we proposed to evaluate responses about COVID-19 among the health care workers (HCWs) as well as general public participants (GPPs).

Material and methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational survey conducted during the peak of the pandemic. The 35-items questionnaire was prepared using Google forms and distributed through e-mails and social media.

Results: The 1,026 responses comprised of 558 HCWs (54.4%) and 468 GPPs (45.6%). The most reliable source of information was TV news for 43% GPPs, whereas it was HCWs/Local health authorities for 36.8% HCWs. HCWs had sufficient knowledge regarding COVID-19, while it was relatively low among GPPs (average correct response 65% and 53%, respectively). Intra-group analysis with respect to age, sex, qualification, and socioeconomic status showed that knowledge about mode of transmission by airborne aerosols was significantly low with respect to qualification among GPPs while younger age group (<40 years) HCWs had significantly more knowledge about mode of transmission and asymptomatic carriers. Paranoia of contracting the infection was significantly higher in GPPs with upper and middle socioeconomic status and younger HCWs.

Conclusion: HCWs had moderate level of knowledge, whereas GPPs had low to moderate knowledge, with large scope of improvement in both groups. Continued education, both at professional and community level will not only be helpful but also necessary to improve knowledge, avert negative attitudes and control the devastating pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; India; KAP; health care workers (HCWs); knowledge gaps; perceptions.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Geographical distribution of the survey response from all over India
Figure 2
Figure 2
Response rate in percentage with respect to (A) most reliable source of information of COVID-19 (B) Most probable source of COVID-19 among the (a) Health Care Workers (b) General Public Participants
Figure 3
Figure 3
Response with respect to (a) mode of transmission (b) perceptions about effective strategies for prevention of spread of COVID -19 infection
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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