Assessment of Radiographers' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Adherence to Standard COVID-19 Precautions: Implications for Policy: A Cross-Sectional Study
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Keywords
Coronavirus, personal protective equipment, radiographer, standard precautions
Abstract
This study examines radiographers' knowledge of COVID-19 pathogenesis and prevention, their attitudes, and adherence to safe clinical practices during the pandemic. The research aims to provide insights for informed policy recommendations.
Materials and Methods: Conducted as a national cross-sectional survey, this study utilized an online questionnaire to collect data on respondents' demographics, COVID-19 knowledge, attitudes, practices, and adherence to standard precautions. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and one-way ANOVA tests.
Results: Out of 255 respondents, 17.3% were actively involved in managing COVID-19 cases. Participants demonstrated high knowledge scores in COVID-19 pathology (82.46 ± 8.67%) and prevention (93.43 ± 7.11%), along with positive attitudes (74.11 ± 11.61%). However, adherence to safety precautions was low (56.08 ± 18.56%). Significant differences were observed in knowledge about COVID-19 prevention strategies across educational qualifications (F[3, 251] = 4.62, p = .004). Compliance with safety precautions also varied based on educational qualification (F[3, 251] = 4.53, p = .004) and years-in-practice (F[4, 250] = 4.17, p = .003).
Conclusion: The study highlights low adherence to standard COVID-19 precautions among radiographers. Professional qualification significantly influenced knowledge and safe practices during the pandemic. Recommendations include enhancing aseptic techniques, upgrading practice amenities, and expanding infectious diseases modules in education programs to improve radiographers' response to COVID-19 and future pandemics.
Key Messages: Radiographers with qualifications below a bachelor's degree showed lower knowledge of COVID-19 prevention. While radiographers generally held positive attitudes towards safe practices, inadequate education and resources impacted adherence levels. Challenges like insufficient personal protective equipment, poor infrastructure, and inadequate hygiene facilities hindered adherence to COVID-19 precautions in low-resource settings.
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