Knowledge and practice of physicians during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in Lebanon
Abstract Background As the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to evolve, physicians must be equipped with adequate knowledge, skills on the prevention measures, and confidence in diagnosing and treating COVID-19 patients. Therefore, it is of great interest to assess the knowledge...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-09-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-09585-6 |
| _version_ | 1818269418619142144 |
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| author | Linda Abou-Abbas Zeina Nasser Youssef Fares Mohammad Chahrour Rana El Haidari Rola Atoui |
| author_facet | Linda Abou-Abbas Zeina Nasser Youssef Fares Mohammad Chahrour Rana El Haidari Rola Atoui |
| author_sort | Linda Abou-Abbas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background As the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to evolve, physicians must be equipped with adequate knowledge, skills on the prevention measures, and confidence in diagnosing and treating COVID-19 patients. Therefore, it is of great interest to assess the knowledge and practices of Physicians to identify existing gaps and improve occupational safety and viral surveillance. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Lebanon between 28th March and 11th April 2020. Data was collected through an online survey that included information on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, practice, physicians fear towards COVID-19 as well as their perceptions regarding actions/policies implemented by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and their health care facilities. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify the factors associated with good knowledge of COVID-19 and good practice toward its prevention. Adjusted odds ratio and their 95% confidence intervals were reported. Results Our survey revealed that the majority of Lebanese physicians had good knowledge about the disease (89.5%) while approximately half of the respondents adopted good preventive practices (49.7%). The odds of having good knowledge was 2.16 times higher among physicians aged 40 and above (adjusted OR = 2.16 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.08 to 4.34) compared to their counterparts aged less than 40 years old. Our results also showed that the odds of good practice was 2 times higher among frontline compared to the second line workers (adjusted OR = 2.01 with 95% CI of 1.21 to 3.34). Physicians with an experience of 10 years and above were 3.35 times more likely to have good practice compared to their counterparts (adjusted OR = 3.35 with 95% CI of 1.60 to 7.02). Finally, participants with good knowledge of COVID-19 were 2.04 times more likely to have a good practice (OR = 2.04 with 95% CI of 1.01 to 4.12). Conclusion Lebanese physicians revealed a good level of knowledge; however, they had limited comprehension of the precautionary measures that protect them from this virus. Our findings have important implications for the development of strategies suitable for improving the level of practice among physicians and enhance prevention programs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T20:54:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3b9530579ba64a74b7c7638dc75757a4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T20:54:04Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-3b9530579ba64a74b7c7638dc75757a42022-12-22T00:12:20ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582020-09-012011910.1186/s12889-020-09585-6Knowledge and practice of physicians during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in LebanonLinda Abou-Abbas0Zeina Nasser1Youssef Fares2Mohammad Chahrour3Rana El Haidari4Rola Atoui5Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences Lebanese UniversityNeuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences Lebanese UniversityNeuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences Lebanese UniversityEndocrinologist, Al Zahraa Hospital University Medical CenterEnvironments and Health doctoral school, University of Bourgogne Franche-ComtéInfectious Disease Department, Lebanese University, Faculty of Medical SciencesAbstract Background As the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to evolve, physicians must be equipped with adequate knowledge, skills on the prevention measures, and confidence in diagnosing and treating COVID-19 patients. Therefore, it is of great interest to assess the knowledge and practices of Physicians to identify existing gaps and improve occupational safety and viral surveillance. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Lebanon between 28th March and 11th April 2020. Data was collected through an online survey that included information on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, practice, physicians fear towards COVID-19 as well as their perceptions regarding actions/policies implemented by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and their health care facilities. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify the factors associated with good knowledge of COVID-19 and good practice toward its prevention. Adjusted odds ratio and their 95% confidence intervals were reported. Results Our survey revealed that the majority of Lebanese physicians had good knowledge about the disease (89.5%) while approximately half of the respondents adopted good preventive practices (49.7%). The odds of having good knowledge was 2.16 times higher among physicians aged 40 and above (adjusted OR = 2.16 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.08 to 4.34) compared to their counterparts aged less than 40 years old. Our results also showed that the odds of good practice was 2 times higher among frontline compared to the second line workers (adjusted OR = 2.01 with 95% CI of 1.21 to 3.34). Physicians with an experience of 10 years and above were 3.35 times more likely to have good practice compared to their counterparts (adjusted OR = 3.35 with 95% CI of 1.60 to 7.02). Finally, participants with good knowledge of COVID-19 were 2.04 times more likely to have a good practice (OR = 2.04 with 95% CI of 1.01 to 4.12). Conclusion Lebanese physicians revealed a good level of knowledge; however, they had limited comprehension of the precautionary measures that protect them from this virus. Our findings have important implications for the development of strategies suitable for improving the level of practice among physicians and enhance prevention programs.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-09585-6COVID-19PhysiciansKnowledgePracticeLebanon |
| spellingShingle | Linda Abou-Abbas Zeina Nasser Youssef Fares Mohammad Chahrour Rana El Haidari Rola Atoui Knowledge and practice of physicians during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in Lebanon BMC Public Health COVID-19 Physicians Knowledge Practice Lebanon |
| title | Knowledge and practice of physicians during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in Lebanon |
| title_full | Knowledge and practice of physicians during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in Lebanon |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge and practice of physicians during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in Lebanon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge and practice of physicians during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in Lebanon |
| title_short | Knowledge and practice of physicians during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in Lebanon |
| title_sort | knowledge and practice of physicians during covid 19 pandemic a cross sectional study in lebanon |
| topic | COVID-19 Physicians Knowledge Practice Lebanon |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-09585-6 |
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