Table 2.
Physicians’ responses to knowledge items (N = 380)
| Knowledge items | Physicians‘answers | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Correct | Wrong | Do not know | |
| Dimension 1: Nature of the disease (93.5%) | |||
| K1. The incubation period of Corona is 2–14 days (Yes) | 374 (98.4) | 4 (1.1) | 2 (0.5) |
| K2. Recommended diagnostic approach in human is sampling of upper and lower airways secretions and PCR (polymerase chain reaction) examination (Yes) | 374 (98.4) | 5 (1.3) | 1 (0.3) |
| K3. Covid-19 can be eliminated with at least 60% alcohol (Yes) | 326 (85.8) | 53 (13.9) | 1 (0.3) |
| K4. The coronavirus can survive for many hours or many days in the environment (Yes) | 348 (91.6) | 25 (6.6) | 7 (1.8) |
| Dimension 2 Transmission of Disease (68.5%) | |||
| k.5 Covid-19 is transmitted through direct contact with respiratory tract secretions (Yes) | 349 (91.8) | 30 (7.9) | 1 (0.3) |
| k.6 Covid-19 can be transmitted by transfusion of infectious blood and by needle stick injuries (No) | 266 (70.0) | 65 (17.1) | 49 (12.9) |
| K7. Covid-19 can be transmitted through eating undercooked meat/chicken (No) | 166 (43.7) | 179 (47.1) | 35 (9.2) |
| Dimension3 Actions in dealing with suspected, probable and confirmed cases (62.7%) | |||
| K8. The use of personal protective equipment is necessary during aerosol production procedures, such as suction sputum sampling and intubation (Yes) | 368 (96.8) | 10 (2.6) | 2 (0.5) |
| K9. Suspected cases of Covid-19 infection after triage should be taken into care in a negative pressure respiratory isolation room (No) | 60 (15.8) | 307 (80.8) | 13 (3.4) |
| K10. The use of N95 masks is necessary when sampling of induced sputum from patients suspected of Covid-19 infection (Yes) | 364 (95.8) | 10 (2.6) | 6 (1.6) |
| K11. Patients with Covid-19 infection admitted to an isolation room should use a surgical mask when moving and leaving the room for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (Yes) | 298 (78.4) | 71 (18.7) | 11 (2.9) |
| K12. All surfaces contaminated by the patients with Covid-19 infection should be cleaned with diluted (5%) bleaching solution (No) | 102 (26.8) | 195 (51.3) | 83 (21.8) |
| Dimension 4: Precautionary measures by health care Providers (57.8%) | |||
| K13. Droplet precautions should be followed by health care providers in dealing with suspected, probable and confirmed cases of Covid-19 infection (Yes) | 330 (86.8) | 16 (4.2) | 34 (8.9) |
| K14. Airborne precautions should be followed by health care providers in dealing with suspected, probable and confirmed cases of Covid-19 infection (No) | 110 (28.9) | 262 (68.9) | 8 (2.1) |
| Dimension 5: Treatment of the disease (75.6%) | |||
| K15. Oxygen therapy should be given to all cases of severe Covid-19 with acute respiratory infection (Yes) | 277 (72.9) | 84 (22.1) | 19 (5.0) |
| K16. Antibiotic therapy is required for the treatment of pneumonia until confirmation of suspected cases of Covid-19 infection (Yes) | 157 (41.3) | 191 (50.3) | 32 (8.4) |
| K17. Ventilation with an endotracheal tube must be carried out in patients with confirmed or suspected coronaviruses with clinical manifestations of acute respiratory distress syndrome (Yes) | 316 (83.2) | 43 (11.3) | 21 (5.5) |
| K18. High doses of systemic corticosteroids should be avoided in patients with confirmed or suspected Covid-19 infection and clinical manifestations of viral pneumonia (Yes) | 321 (84.5) | 27 (7.1) | 32 (8.4) |
| K19. There is no currently effective cure for Covid-19, but early symptomatic and supportive treatment can help most patients recover from the infection (Yes) | 366 (96.3) | 8 (2.1) | 6 (1.6) |
Yes /No in the parentheses denotes the intended (correct) answer