Determinants of Confidence in Overall Knowledge About COVID-19 Among Healthcare Workers in South Africa: Results From an Online Survey

Abstract

Background: Adequate information and knowledge about COVID-19 has been shown to induce the confidence and positive performance among healthcare workers (HCWs). Therefore, assessing the relationship between confidence in knowledge and associated factors among HCWs is vital in the fight against COVID-19. This paper investigates factors associated with HCWs' confidence in their overall knowledge about COVID-19 in South Africa in the early stages of the epidemic.Methods: Data utilized in this paper were from an online survey conducted among HCWs using a structured questionnaire on a data free online platform. The study population were all the medical fraternity in South Africa including medical and nurse practitioners as well as other healthcare professionals. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were performed to examine the factors associated with confidence in HCWs' overall knowledge about COVID-19.Results: Overall, just below half (47.4%) of respondents indicated that they had confidence in their overall knowledge about COVID-19. Increased odds of having confidence in the knowledge about COVID-19 were significantly associated with being male [aOR = 1.31 95% CI (1.03–1.65), p < 0.05], having a doctorate degree [aOR = 2.01 (1.23–3.28), p < 0.05], being satisfied with the information about COVID-19 guidelines [aOR = 6.01 (4.89–7.39), p < 0.001], having received training in 6–8 areas [aOR = 2.54 (1.89–3.43), p < 0.001] and having received training in 9–11 areas [aOR = 5.33 (3.81–7.47), p < 0.001], and having already treated COVID-19 patients [aOR = 1.43 (1.08–1.90), p < 0.001]. Those who were highly concerned with the levels of training of HCWs [aOR = 0.47 (0.24–0.92), p < 0.05] had decreased odds of having confidence in their overall knowledge about COVID-19.Conclusion: This study sheds light on the importance of capacitating HCWs with knowledge and adequate relevant training as part of infection prevention control measures during pandemics. Future training and information sharing should be sensitive to knowledge gaps by age, gender, qualifications, professional categories, and experience.

The impact of information sources on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance in sub-Saharan Africa

“…Studies among Africans have shown that HCWs themselves are resistant to the vaccine with their information being obtained from unreliable sources such as social media, friends and family [63,64]. Safety concerns, insufficient or inaccurate information, lack of trust in the government's capacity to manage, and personal beliefs are factors that have been reported to influence the acceptance or resistance of HCWs to the vaccine [65][66][67]. The likelihood of such health workers passing on information to the populace with content that may be tainted with their own beliefs and inaccuracies can contribute to making those who interact with them resistant to the vaccine.…”

Psychological Distress in South African Healthcare Workers Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of Associations and Mitigating Factors

“…Subsequent to the COVID-19 pandemic spread, studies on HCWs’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices about COVID-19 have reported that HCWs were generally knowledgeable and had good practices in infection prevention [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ] and indicate that levels of COVID-19 knowledge influenced HCWs’ attitudes or practices concerning COVID-19 [ 18 , 21 , 22 ]. Some factors identified as affecting HCWs’ knowledge of COVID-19 include training in infection prevention and access to infection prevention guidelines [ 18 , 23 ]. Factors such as training, lack of protective equipment (PPE) [ 18 ], and limited infection prevention and control (IPC) material [ 21 ] might also influence the prevention practices of COVID-19.…”

Psychological Distress in South African Healthcare Workers early in the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of Associations and Mitigating Factors

“…Subsequent to the COVID-19 pandemic spread, studies on HCWs' knowledge, attitude, and practices about COVID-19 have reported that HCWs were generally knowledgeable and had good practices in infection prevention [17][18][19][20][21][22]; and indicate that levels of COVID-19 knowledge influenced HCWs' attitudes or practices concerning COVID-19 [18,21,22]. Some factors identified as affecting HCWs' knowledge about COVID-19 include training in infection prevention and access to infection prevention guidelines [18,23]. Factors such as training, lack of protective equipment (PPE) [18], and limited infection prevention and control (IPC) material [21] might also influence the prevention practices of COVID-19.…”