Knowledge, attitude, and practice study of laboratory staff toward Middle East respiratory syndrome Coronavirus

• Main Authors: Nabeelah M Al-Motiri, Samina A Khan, Anas A Khan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2021-01-01
• Series: Journal of Nature and Science of Medicine
• Subjects: knowledge; attitudes; and practices; laboratory; middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus; riyadh
• Online Access: http://www.jnsmonline.org/article.asp?issn=2589-627X;year=2021;volume=4;issue=1;spage=25;epage=32;aulast=Al-Motiri
• ISSN: 2589-627X; 2589-6288

Background: The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is one of the most commonly prevalent and a highly pathogenic human coronavirus. The infection may lead to severe acute respiratory illness in a large proportion of affected individuals, with a high mortality rate. The processes and procedures involved in the management of patients could significantly improve the disease outcome. The purpose of the study was multifold: (1) to assess the actual knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward MERS-CoV infection and (2) to determine the factors affecting KAP among the medical laboratory staff in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Both the aims would collectively help in designing effective policies in our fight against the evolving coronavirus disease. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional anonymous survey was conducted among medical laboratory staff associated with tertiary health-care hospitals between October and December 2018. The participants were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire about MERS-CoV infection. The association between KAP score and potential dependent variables was computed using multivariable linear regression model. Results: A total of 180 participants (57.8%) completed the survey. Our univariate analysis demonstrated that experience and education of an individual played a significant role in determining knowledge and attitude scores, respectively. On the other hand, practice score of an individual was shaped by age, profession, and department. Finally, our multivariate analysis regression analysis showed that staff with a bachelor's degree and those with a minimum laboratory experience of 15–20 years scored significantly higher KAP scores with respect to other individuals (P = 0.019 and P = 0.026). Conclusion: Our study identified alarming gaps in KAP toward MERS-CoV among different individuals. Furthermore, data collected in the present study might help to define strategies required to establish professional education programs for training medical laboratory staff.