فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of a disease can influence paramedic’s attitudes and practices, andincorrect attitudes and practices directly increase the risk of infection. Understanding paramedic’sknowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) and possible risk factors helps to predict the outcomesof planned behavior. To assess KAP regarding COVID‑19 through Google form among paramedicalstaff at tertiary care teaching institutes of central India.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross‑sectional, multicentric, questionnaire‑based study wasconducted from May 2020 to August 2020 among 230 paramedical staff from two tertiary careteaching institutes through Google form. Data were analyzed by Chi‑square test and parametric testusing GraphPad prism software version 5.0.RESULTS: All participants had knowledge about symptomatology of COVID‑19. However, significantlymore participants in nursing cadre know about definition of close contact. The mean knowledgescore was 4.84 ± 0.6. The mean score for attitude was 4.48 ± 0.83. Overall, 54.78% of paramedicalstaff follow correct prevention strategies. Of them, significantly more nursing staff correctly practiceinfection control measures upon arrival of COVID‑19 patients (P = 0.033). There was a significantdifference among both groups regarding wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment whiletransporting/accompanying patients who are confirmed with COVID 19 (P = 0.009). The overall scorefor practice is 3.97 ± 1.03. The practice score was significantly better in nursing cadre as comparedto nonnursing cadre (P = 0.038).CONCLUSION: Majority of the participants had good knowledge and positive attitude. Nursing cadrefollows better preventive practices as compared to nonnursing cadre while performing COVID‑relatedduties. Considering these facts, dodges responsible for poor practices should be identified andresolved so that India will be able to conquest the battle against the disease.