ABSTRACT
Background: The Middle East respiratory syndrome [MERS] is a virus-like respiratory disease generated by a coronavirus [Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, or MERS-CoV]. Coronaviruses are capable of causing severe transmittable infection to humans, and was primarily found in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. Consequently, similar cases showed up in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, other Middle Eastern countries, Europe, and the United States. Nevertheless, Saudi Arabia remains the epicenter of this dangerous respiratory infection which is also associated with high mortality rate. Research and investigation regarding this unusual coronavirus started as more death related cases were reported
Objective: The goal of this research was to understand the knowledge and attitude of people of Saudi Arabia belonging to various age groups regarding Middle East respiratory disorder and MERS-CoV
Participants and methods: A structured close-ended set of questions about MERS-CoV was distributed manually and electronically to the visitors of King Abdulaziz University Outpatient Clinic which included men and women of different ages. The questionnaire comprised items concerning methods of the transmission of MERS-CoV infection, medical components, outcome of infection, techniques of protection and prevention, and the accessibility of information
Results: Out of 1000 distributed questionnaires, 876 completed ones were received and were analyzed. The majority of respondents were of 45-65-year age group [36%]. With regards to knowledge of coronavirus and disease caused by it, the majority of respondents had sufficient knowledge about the disease [52%] and the majority of respondents were also aware of the mode of its transmission [72%]. However, most of them [58%] were not aware that this disease is transmitted by camel and that this infection can be treated by supportive treatment approach alone [55%]. However, a large number of respondents had less knowledge with respect to common time of disease transmission [45%], the incubation period [41%], and indication of Corona virus antibodies as medical finding [32%]. Between the two genders, the males were more informed than females. Additionally the married and the youth had much more information about the infection as compared to the singles and older adults. The difference of knowledge was statistically significant [p<0.05]. The major sources of information among majority of respondents were social media [58%]
Conclusion: At the end of this study, it was found that the amount of knowledge about MERS-Corona Virus amongst the Saudi population was relatively low and needs to improvement. Different kinds of awareness seminars and consulting camps should be conducted at local level. Also, direct communication with the physicians and doctors should be made more accessible and easy in order to increase authentic knowledge between general populations