RESUMO
Avian influenza has emerged as the primary public health concern of the 21st century. Although various strains of avian influenza have been recognized for decades; the scope, lethality and mutability of Asian H5N1 subtype make it a likely source of the next human influenza pandemic-an event that could kill millions. The aim of the study was to assess knowledge and risk perception toward avian influenza in human and the effect of educational intervention program [workshop] in improving health team's perception of the problem. The study was conducted among 53 health care workers in Saudi Arabia using a pretest/posttest to evaluate the effect of educational intervention program in improving health team knowledge, practice and risk perception regarding avian influenza and the potential influenza pandemic. The study reported that before intervention, Physicians had significant better knowledge [78.10%] regards optimal time to give oseltamivire for treatment after beginning of symptoms compared to paramedics [52.40%]. Most physicians practice hand wash after contact with poultry compared to 81% of paramedics. Most paramedics [90.40%] lack knowledge about treatment of the disease by oseltamivire than physicians [50%]. Higher percent of paramedics [57.10%] did not practice precautions while in bird market/shops than physicians [43.60%]. After intervention, A significant higher percent of physicians have good knowledge about mode of transmission than paramedics [46.90% and 19.10% respectively]. About two thirds of physicians [59.40%] had better knowledge regard incubation period of the disease compared to 33.30% for paramedics with the difference significant. Also physicians were more knowledgeable about disease manifestation and standard case definition than paramedics [42.90% and 3.10% respectively]. Among physicians, there was significant improvement in knowledge and practice after intervention. There was significant improvement in precautions while in poultry market, practice hand wash after poultry touch and keep disinfectant for use after poultry touch or polluted surfaces. Among paramedics, There was significant improvement in knowledge after intervention while, there was no significant improvement in items related to practice and risk perception. Before intervention, physicians had better knowledge than paramedics. While practice and risk perceptions were low for both. After intervention, there was significant improvement in knowledge items and to some extent in practice and risk perception for physicians compared to paramedics