Table 1.
Responses of physicians who participated in the study to the knowledge questions about the monkeypox disease (n = 283).
| Statement | Response | Total N (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Monkeypox is a new infection that appeared this year 2022 * | Correct | 36 (12.7) |
| Do not know | 41 (14.5) | |
| Incorrect | 206 (72.8) | |
| 2. Monkeypox is a sexually transmitted disease * | Correct | 89 (31.4) |
| Do not know | 45 (15.9) | |
| Incorrect | 149 (52.7) | |
| 3. Monkeypox is transmitted to humans through the bites and scratches from infected animals. | Correct | 119 (42) |
| Do not know | 83 (29.3) | |
| Incorrect | 81 (28.6) | |
| 4. Monkeypox is easily transmitted from one person to another * | Correct | 132 (46.6) |
| Do not know | 47 (16.6) | |
| Incorrect | 104 (36.7) | |
| 5. Monkeypox is spread by droplets (coughing and sneezing) | Correct | 134 (47.3) |
| Do not know | 49 (17.3) | |
| Incorrect | 100 (35.3) | |
| 6. Monkeypox only affects males * | Correct | 1 (0.4) |
| Do not know | 12 (4.2) | |
| Incorrect | 270 (95.4) | |
| 7. Hand sanitizers and face masks are important in preventing monkeypox | Correct | 196 (69.3) |
| Do not know | 54 (19.1) | |
| Incorrect | 33 (11.7) | |
| 8. Monkeypox is prevalent in the Middle Eastern countries * | Correct | 41 (14.5) |
| Do not know | 98 (34.6) | |
| Incorrect | 144 (50.9) | |
| 9. Monkeypox is a bacterial disease infection * | Correct | 1 (0.4) |
| Do not know | 9 (3.2) | |
| Incorrect | 273 (96.5) | |
| 10. Monkeypox and smallpox have similar signs and symptoms | Correct | 212 (74.9) |
| Do not know | 54 (19.1) | |
| Incorrect | 17 (6.0) | |
| 11. Monkeypox and chickenpox have similar signs and symptoms | Correct | 160 (56.5) |
| Do not know | 67 (23.7) | |
| Incorrect | 56 (19.8) | |
| 12. Papules and vesicles on the skin are one of the signs or symptoms of human monkeypox | Correct | 246 (86.9) |
| Do not know | 30 (10.6) | |
| Incorrect | 7 (2.5) | |
| 13. Lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes) is one clinical sign or symptom that could be used to differentiate monkeypox and smallpox cases | Correct | 116 (41) |
| Do not know | 135 (47.7) | |
| Incorrect | 32 (11.3) | |
| 14. There is a specific vaccine for monkeypox * | Correct | 33 (11.7) |
| Do not know | 85 (30.0) | |
| Incorrect | 165 (58.3) | |
| 15. Monkeypox virus causes milder disease in children (<14 years) than adults * | Correct | 72 (25.4) |
| Do not know | 163 (57.6) | |
| Incorrect | 48 (17.0) | |
| 16. What is the monkeypox virus case fatality rate in the general population? | 0–11% | 145 (51.2) |
| 12–20% | 130 (45.9) | |
| 21–30% | 5 (1.8) | |
| 31–40% | 2 (0.7) | |
| Do not know | 1 (0.4) | |
| 17. There is a specific treatment for monkeypox * | Correct | 12 (4.2) |
| Do not know | 99 (35.0) | |
| Incorrect | 172 (60.8) | |
| 18. The chickenpox vaccine I got in childhood protects me from monkeypox * | Correct | 46 (16.3) |
| Do not know | 79 (27.9) | |
| Incorrect | 158 (55.8) | |
| 19. There is a smallpox vaccine that can be used for monkeypox | Correct | 112 (39.6) |
| Do not know | 118 (41.7) | |
| Incorrect | 53 (18.7) | |
| 20. People can be vaccinated after exposure to monkeypox virus to help prevent monkeypox disease | Correct | 58 (20.5) |
| Do not know | 142 (50.2) | |
| Incorrect | 83 (29.3) |
* Human monkeypox knowledge items that are marked with an asterisk represent incorrect statements.