Abstract :
Background: The (n-COVID -19) novel coronavirus 2019 has been recognized as a highly pathogenic virus that infects the human respiratory tract and has high morbidity and mortality. The n-COVID -19 is an enormous burden on health-care facilities, causing approximately 2.1% mortality so far. Countries globally are at risk of developing pneumonia due to this novel Corona Virus. The surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases reached over 100 countries with more than 100,000 cases. The disease is fast spread among human, due to the assessment of transmission methods still not clear. Infection prevention control
measures are essential in medical institutes. A poor understanding of the disease among academic and nonacademic employees may result in delayed treatment and the rapid spread of infection. This study aimed to investigate and assess the level of preparedness, knowledge, and perceptions of the medical institute employees about COVID-19.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, web-based study was conducted among academic and nonacademic employees about COVID19 during the period from July to August 2020. The actual preparedness level of medical institutes can be determined by examining academic and non-academic employees’ perceptions. A 33-item questioner survey instrument was developed and distributed using employees’ email; it required 5 minutes to complete. A questionnaire survey concerning the perceptions of risks and countermeasures and knowledge about novel coronavirus 2019 was distributed at different Medical
institutes. A chi-square test was used to investigate the level of association among variables at the significance level of p
Results: All participants completed the survey. Seventy-five valid questionnaire responses were received and analyzed. After adjusting for sex, specialty, Qualification, and years of experience, knowledge of preventive measures (K-scores) in the medical institute, institutional measures (I-scores) were found to be more indicative of the level of preparedness across the institution.
Conclusion: As the global danger of COVID-19 continues to emerge, it is critical to improving the knowledge and perceptions of academic and non-academic employees. Educational interventions are urgently needed to reach academic and non-academic employees beyond borders. Substantial differences in emergency infection prevention and control measures, as perceived by academic and non-academic employees exist in a medical institute. Furthermore, to achieve a higher level of preparedness for prevention and mitigation for infectious diseases, Medical institutions should designate and implement effective mitigation guidelines of COVID -19 at Academic Medical institute.
Keyword :
Coronavirus, COVID19, Knowledge, Perceptions, Questionnaire, Infection control, Occupational health.