Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Jurnal Keperawatan Indonesia
Articles
VIEWS: 6
10.7454/jki.v27i3.1239
Submitted: 2023-10-01
Published: 2024-11-29

Assessing Knowledge and Preventive Practices Regarding Infectious Diseases Among Healthcare Workers in Hail City, Saudi Arabia

Medical-Surgical Nursing, University of Hail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Hail 55476
COVID-19 healthcare workers impact pandemic precautionary health behaviors

Abstract

Studies suggest that there may be gaps in knowledge and compliance with infection control measures among healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to determine the knowledge of, and preventive measures employed by the healthcare workers in Hail City, Saudi Arabia, regarding infectious diseases. A cross-sectional design was employed, and the study participants were 265 healthcare workers aged 18 or older who were currently employed at government hospitals, involved in patient care or essential healthcare services, and fluent in English. Healthcare workers on leave, with cognitive impairments, with language barriers, or who refused to participate in the study were excluded. Data collection took place between November and December 2022. Overall, there was a high percentage of correct responses During the surge of the highly infectious disease known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which reached pandemic levels, most of the participants wore gloves while at work and wore masks when leaving the house.. None of the participants went to crowded places (100%). Of note, the participants’ educational attainment (p < .000) and education on COVID-19 (p = .001) were found to have significant relationships with their knowledge. Accordingly, sex (p < .000), educational attainment (p < .000), occupation (p = .001), and education on COVID-19 (p < .000) were found to have significant relationships with employment of COVID-19 preventive measures. The healthcare workers in this study have a good understanding of COVID-19 and are taking appropriate preventive measures to protect themselves and others from it. However, ongoing education and training are crucial to ensure that all healthcare workers possess the necessary knowledge and skills to respond effectively to future health crises.

Keywords: COVID-19, healthcare workers, impact, pandemic, precautionary health behaviors

 

Abstrak

Menilai Pengetahuan dan Praktik Pencegahan Penyakit Menular pada Petugas Kesehatan di Kota Hail, Arab Saudi. Studi menunjukkan bahwa mungkin ada kesenjangan dalam pengetahuan dan kepatuhan terhadap langkah-langkah pengendalian infeksi pada petugas kesehatan di Arab Saudi. Studi ini bertujuan untuk menelaah pengetahuan dan langkah-langkah pencegahan penyakit menular yang dipraktikan oleh petugas kesehatan di Kota Hail, Arab Saudi. Desain studi menggunakan cross-sectional dengan peserta studi sebanyak 265 petugas kesehatan, berusia 18 tahun atau lebih yang saat ini bekerja di rumah sakit pemerintah, terlibat dalam perawatan pasien atau layanan kesehatan penting, dan fasih berbahasa Inggris. Petugas kesehatan yang sedang cuti, memiliki gangguan kognitif, memiliki kendala bahasa, atau menolak untuk berpartisipasi dalam penelitian ini dikecualikan. Pengumpulan data dilakukan antara November dan Desember 2022. Secara keseuruhan, ditemukan persentase tinggi pada rata-rata keseluruhan tanggapan yang benar. Selama pandemi COVID-19, sebagian besar peserta mengenakan sarung tangan saat bekerja dan semuanya mengenakan masker saat meninggalkan rumah. Tidak ada peserta yang pergi ke tempat ramai (100%). Sebagai catatan, pencapaian pendidikan peserta (p < .000) dan pendidikan tentang COVID-19 (p = .001) memiliki hubungan yang signifikan dengan pengetahuan mereka. Dengan demikian, jenis kelamin (p < .000), pencapaian pendidikan (p < .000), pekerjaan (p = .001), dan pendidikan tentang COVID-19 (p < .000) memiliki hubungan yang signifikan dengan penerapan tindakan pencegahan COVID-19. Para pekerja layanan kesehatan, dalam penelitian ini, memiliki pemahaman yang baik tentang COVID-19 dan mengambil tindakan pencegahan yang tepat untuk melindungi diri mereka sendiri dan orang lain disekitarnya. Namun, pendidikan dan pelatihan lebih lanjut sangatlah diperlukan untuk memastikan bahwa semua pekerja layanan kesehatan memiliki pengetahuan dan keterampilan yang dibutuhkan untuk menanggunlangi krisis kesehatan lainnya secara efektif di masa yang akan datang.

Kata Kunci: COVID-19, dampak, pandemi, perilaku pencegahan, petugas kesehatan

References

  1. Al-Dossary, R., Alamri, M., Albaqawi, H., Al Hosis, K., Aljeldah, M., Aljohan, M., Aljohani, K., Almadani, N., Alrasheadi, B., Falatah, R., & Almazan, J. (2020). Awareness, attitudes, prevention, and perceptions of COVID-19 outbreak among nurses in Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (21), 8269. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17218269.
  2. Albaqawi, H.M., Pasay-An, E., Mostoles, R.Jr., & Villareal, S. (2021). Risk assessment and management among frontline nurses in the context of the COVID-19 virus in the northern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Applied Nursing Research, 58, 151410. doi: 10.1016/j.apnr.2021.151410.
  3. Alreshidi, N.M., Haridi, H.K., Alaseeri, R., Garcia, M., Gaspar, F., & Alrashidi, L. (2020). Assessing healthcare workers' knowledge, emotions, and perceived institutional preparedness about COVID-19 pandemic at Saudi hospitals in the early phase of the pandemic. Journal of Public Health Research, 9 (4), 1936. doi: 10.4081/jphr.2020.1936.
  4. Alshammari, F., Alhagbani, T., Alafnan, A., Almansour, K., & Khan, K. (2020). Knowledge, attitude, and practices towards COVID-19 among residents in Hail City, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research, 13 (9), 147–152, doi: 10.22159/ajpcr.2020.v13i9.38630.
  5. Alshammari, F., Rondilla, E., Asharari, A., & Alshammari, F. (2021). Perceived preparedness of healthcare workers to cope with COVID-19 pandemic in Hail Region Hospitals, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study. Makara Journal of Health Research, 25 (3), 153–158. doi: 10.7454/msk.v25i3.1266.
  6. Aluneizi, A.F., & Alosaimi, D.N. (2022). Assessment of awareness and preparedness about COVID-19 for oncology nurses in Saudi Arabia. Cureus, 14 (8), e28461. doi: 10.7759/cureus.28461.
  7. Aoyagi, Y., Beck, C.R., Dingwall, R., & Nguyen-Van-Tam, J.S. (2015). Healthcare workers' willingness to work during an influenza pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, 9 (3), 120–130. doi: 10.1111/irv.12310.
  8. Arslanca, T., Fidan, C., Daggez, M., & Dursun, P. (2021). Knowledge, preventive behaviors and risk perception of the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in Turkish health care workers. PLoS One, 16 (4), e0250017. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250017.
  9. Ashinyo, M.E., Dubik, S.D., Duti, V., Amegah, K.E., Ashinyo, A., Asare, B.A., Ackon, A.A., Akoriyea, S. K., & Kuma-Aboagye, P. (2021). Infection prevention and control compliance among exposed healthcare workers in COVID-19 treatment centers in Ghana: A descriptive cross-sectional study. PLoS One, 16 (3), e0248282. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248282.
  10. Brug, J., Aro, A.R., Oenema, A., de Zwart, O., Richardus, J.H., & Bishop, G.D. (2004). SARS risk perception, knowledge, precautions, and information sources, the Netherlands. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 10 (8), 1486–1489. doi: 10.3201/eid1008.040283.
  11. Bruin, Y.B.de, Lequarre, A.S., McCourt, J., Clevestig, P., Pigazzani, F., Jeddi, M.Z., Colosio, C., & Goulart, M. (2020). Initial impacts of global risk mitigation measures taken during the combatting of the COVID-19 pandemic. Safety Science, 128, 104773. doi: 10.1016/j.ssci.2020.104773.
  12. Dionne G.D., Desjardins, D., Lebeau, M., Messier, S., & Dascal, A. (2018). Health care workers' risk perceptions and willingness to report for work during an influenza pandemic. Risks, 6 (1), 8. doi: 10.3390/risks6010008.
  13. Elhadi, M., Msherghi, A., Alkeelani, M., Zorgani, A., Zaid, A., Alsuyihili, A., Buzreg, A., Ahmed, H., Elhadi, A., Khaled, A., Boughididah, T., Khel, S., Abdelkabir, M., Gaffaz, R., Bahroun, S., Alhashimi, A., Biala, M., Abulmida, S., Elharb, A., … & Amshai, A. (2020). Assessment of healthcare workers’ levels of preparedness and awareness regarding COVID-19 infection in low-resource settings. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 103 (2), 828–833. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0330.
  14. Girma, S., Agenagnew, L., Beressa, G., Tesfaye, Y., & Alenko, A. (2020). Risk perception and precautionary health behavior toward COVID-19 among health professionals working in selected public university hospitals in Ethiopia. PLoS One, 15 (10), e0241101. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241101.
  15. Horgan, S., Chen, S., Tuininga, T., & Stuart, H. (2019). Taking a closer look at gender-transformative health promotion programming as a vehicle for addressing gender-based inequities in health and care. Global Health Promotion, 27 (3), 92–102. doi: 10.1177/1757975919864109.
  16. Hussain, I., Majeed, A., Imran, I., Ullah, M., Hashmi, F.K., Saeed, H., Chaudhry, M.O., & Rasool, M.F. (2021). Knowledge, attitude, and practices toward COVID-19 in primary healthcare providers: A cross-sectional study from three tertiary care hospitals of Peshawar, Pakistan. Journal of Community Health, 46 (3), 441–449. doi: 10.1007/s10900-020-00879-9.
  17. Keyworth, C., Epton, T., Goldthorpe, J., Calam, R., & Armitage, C.J. (2018). Are healthcare professionals delivering opportunistic behaviour change interventions? A multi-professional survey of engagement with public health policy. Implementation Science, 13 (1), 122. doi: 10.1186/s13012-018-0814-x.
  18. Kwon, S., Joshi, A.D., Lo, C.H., Drew, D.A., Nguyen, L.H., Guo, C.G., Ma, W., Mehta, R.S., Shebl, F.M., Warner, E.T., Astley, C.M., Merino, J., Murray, B., Wolf, J., Ourselin, S., Steves, C.J., Spector, T.D., Hart, J.E., Song, M., … & Chan, A.T. (2021). Association of social distancing and face mask use with risk of COVID-19. Nature Communications, 12 (1), 3737. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-24115-7.
  19. Lam, S.C., Arora, T., Gray I., Suen L.K.P., Huang, E.Y., Li, D., & Lam, K.B.H. (2020). Perceived risk and protection from infection and depressive symptoms among healthcare workers in Mainland China and Hong Kong during COVID-19. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 686. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00686.
  20. Malik, S., Ullah, I., Irfan, M., Ahorsu, D.K., Lin, C.Y., Pakpour, A.H., Griffiths, M.D., Rehman, I.U., & Minhas, R. (2021). Fear of COVID-19 and workplace phobia among Pakistani doctors: A survey study. BMC Public Health, 21 (1), 833. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-10873-y.
  21. Meyer, D., Kirk Sell, T., Schoch-Spana, M., Shearer, M.P., Chandler, H., Thomas, E., Rose, D.A., Carbone, E.G., Toner, E. (2018). Lessons from the domestic Ebola response: Improving health care system resilience to high consequence infectious diseases. American Journal of Infection Control, 46 (5), 533–537. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2017.11.001.
  22. Muchtar, M., & Basrowi, R.W. (2021). Optimizing the resilience of healthcare workers against the COVID-19 pandemic. The Indonesian Journal of Community and Occupational Medicine, 1 (2), 120-124. doi: 10.53773/ijcom.v1i2.23.120-4.
  23. Pasay-An, E. (2020). Exploring the vulnerability of frontline nurses to COVID-19 and its impact on perceived stress. Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences, 15 (5), 404–409. doi: 10.1016/j.jtumed.2020.07.003.
  24. Paul, E., Asiri, I.A.A., Al-Hakami, A., Chandramoorthy, H.C., Alshehri, S., Beynon, C.M., Alkahtani. A.M., & Asiri, A.H. (2020). Healthcare workers’ perspectives on healthcare-associated infections and infection control practices: A video-reflexive ethnography study in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia. Antimicrobial Resist Infect Control, 9 (1), 110. doi: 10.1186/s13756-020-00756-z.
  25. Sanghera, J., Pattani, N., Hashmi, Y., Varley, K.F., Cheruvu, M.S., Bradley, A., & Burke, J.R. (2020). The impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the mental health of healthcare workers in a hospital setting: A Systematic Review. Journal of Occupational Health, 62 (1), e12175. doi: 10.1002/1348-9585.12175.
  26. Sulistyono, R.E., Wahyuningsih, S., Hayati, N., Abdillah, A., & Kurnianto, S. (2021). The effects of ecsotic program (education information technology-based online system) in increasing the knowledge, attitude, and practices of community in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat (Indonesian Journal of Community Engagement), 7 (3), 175. doi: 10.22146/jpkm.62090.
  27. Tran, P., Tran, L., & Tran, L. (2021). Impact of excluding nursing home COVID-19 cases when assessing the relationship between county-level social distancing behavior and COVID-19 cases across the us during the early phase of the pandemic, February 2020-May 2020. PLoS One, 16 (11), e0260151. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260151.
  28. Wahed, W.Y.A., Hefzy, E.M., Ahmed, M.I., & Hamed, N.S. (2020). Assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and perception of health care workers regarding COVID-19, A cross-sectional study from Egypt. Journal of Community Health, 45 (6), 1242–1251. doi: 10.1007/s10900-020-00882-0.
  29. World Health Organization (WHO). (2020). Rolling updates on coronavirus disease (COVID 19) pandemic. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
  30. Wu, Y.C., Chen, C.S., & Chan, Y.J. (2020) The outbreak of COVID-19: An overview. Journal of the Chinese Medical Association (JCMA), 83 (3), 217–220. doi: 10.1097/JCMA.0000000000000270.
  31. Xiang, Y.T., Jin, Y., & Cheung, T. (2020). Joint international collaboration to combat mental health challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. JAMA Psychiatry, 77 (10), 989–990. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.1057.
  32. Zhou, J., Chen, H.-J, Lu, T.-J, Chen, P., Zhuang, Y., & Li, J.-L. (2023). Impact of COVID-19 prevention and control on tuberculosis and scarlet fever in China’s Guizhou. Scientific Reports, 13, 9540. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-36263-5.
  33. Zinonos, S., Zachariadou, T., Zannetos, S., Panayiotou, A.G., & Georgiou, A. (2016). Smoking prevalence and associated risk factors among healthcare professionals in Nicosia general hospital, Cyprus: A cross-sectional study. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 14 (1). doi: 10.1186/s12971-016-0079-6.

How to Cite

Villareal, S. C. (2024). Assessing Knowledge and Preventive Practices Regarding Infectious Diseases Among Healthcare Workers in Hail City, Saudi Arabia. Jurnal Keperawatan Indonesia, 27(3), 146–157. https://doi.org/10.7454/jki.v27i3.1239