Affiliations 

  • 1 Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
  • 2 Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
  • 3 Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
  • 4 Department of Clinical Psychology, James Cook University, Singapore, Singapore
  • 5 Department of Medicine, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
  • 6 Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
  • 7 Department of Otorhinolarygology, Head and Neck Surgery, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 8 Department of Anaesthesiology, Columbia Asia Hospital, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
  • 9 Cambridge Paediatrics, Shatin, Hong Kong
  • 10 Department of Gastroenterology, Sheikh Russel National Gastroliver Institute and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • 11 Department of Gastroenterology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute Medical Science, Lucknow, India
  • 12 Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
  • 13 Department of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
  • 14 Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
  • 15 Departments of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
  • 16 Department of Gastroenterology, Wuhan Union Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
  • 17 Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
  • 18 Department of Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi Hospital and University School of Medicine, Hualien, Taiwan
  • 19 St George & Sutherland Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  • 20 The Medical City, Metro Manila, Philippines
  • 21 Wonkwang Digestive Disease Research Institute, Gut and Food Healthcare, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, South Korea
  • 22 Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan
PLoS One, 2021;16(6):e0252835.
PMID: 34097719 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252835

Abstract

IMPORTANCE: Knowledge and attitude influence compliance and individuals' practices. The risk and protective factors associated with high compliance to these preventive measures are critical to enhancing pandemic preparedness.

OBJECTIVE: This survey aims to assess differences in mental health, knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of preventive measures for COVID-19 amongst healthcare professionals (HCP) and non-healthcare professionals.

DESIGN: Multi-national cross-sectional study was carried out using electronic surveys between May-June 2020.

SETTING: Multi-national survey was distributed across 36 countries through social media, word-of-mouth, and electronic mail.

PARTICIPANTS: Participants ≥21 years working in healthcare and non-healthcare related professions.

MAIN OUTCOME: Risk factors determining the difference in KAP towards personal hygiene and social distancing measures during COVID-19 amongst HCP and non-HCP.

RESULTS: HCP were significantly more knowledgeable on personal hygiene (AdjOR 1.45, 95% CI -1.14 to 1.83) and social distancing (AdjOR 1.31, 95% CI -1.06 to 1.61) compared to non-HCP. They were more likely to have a positive attitude towards personal hygiene and 1.5 times more willing to participate in the contact tracing app. There was high compliance towards personal hygiene and social distancing measures amongst HCP. HCP with high compliance were 1.8 times more likely to flourish and more likely to have a high sense of emotional (AdjOR 1.94, 95% CI (1.44 to 2.61), social (AdjOR 2.07, 95% CI -1.55 to 2.78), and psychological (AdjOR 2.13, 95% CI (1.59-2.85) well-being.

CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: While healthcare professionals were more knowledgeable, had more positive attitudes, their higher sense of total well-being was seen to be more critical to enhance compliance. Therefore, focusing on the well-being of the general population would help to enhance their compliance towards the preventive measures for COVID-19.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.