Healthcare workers awareness and perception to COVID-19 measures and their attitude toward the vaccine rollout: A Saudi Arabian experience

ABSTRACT

Background: COVID-19 still poses a threat to healthcare workers (HCW). Aim: Study knowledge and attitude of the HCWs of King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital (KASH), Taif, Saudi Arabia, about COVID-19 and the vaccine rollout. Methods: A questionnaire was self-administered to achieve study aim. Results: The participants aged 39.3 +/- 3.9;41.5% were physicians, 58.5% non-physicians. A questionnaire's mean overall score [93.5 (62.3%)]<cutoff [105 (70.0%);p<0.001] was recorded;"physician" was predictor for score variability (p<0.001). A mean "COVID-19 epidemiological/clinical knowledge" score [22.2/32 (69.4%)] comparable to the cutoff [22.4/32 (70%), p=0.64];and that [21.7/38 (57.1%)] for "COVID-19 infection prevention/ control (IPC) guidelines" <cutoff [26.6/38 (70%), p<0.001] were recorded. Perception [21.3/28 (76.0%)] of the latter exceeded the cutoff [19.5/28 (70%), p<0.001]. Despite a modest vaccine response, 86.5% HCWs were vaccinated candidates. Being a physician, male, had COVID-19 infection were vaccination predictors. Conclusion: A satisfactory COVID-19 knowledge and a favorable IPC attitude;with a modest vaccine response yet a notable vaccination acceptance were reported. Supplementing our HCWs' adequate COVID-19 control practice, e.g., through holistic COVID-19 training until enough evidence for vaccine safety has been established is warranted.