Knowledge and experience of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in Tema, Ghana

Authors

  • Mercy N. A. Opare-Addo Department of Pharmacy Practice, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
  • Josephine Mensah Department of Pharmacy, University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon, Accra http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3618-4860
  • Janice Osei Donkor Department of Pharmacy, Tema General Hospital, Tema, Ghana
  • Amos Amoako-Adusei Department of Quality Assurance, Sanbao, Pharmaceutical Limited, Tema, Ghana
  • Angela Opoku-Bona Department of Pharmacy, University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon, Accra

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20210506

Keywords:

Knowledge, Experiences, Coronavirus disease 2019, Pandemic, Healthcare workers

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 is a pandemic caused by a novel human coronavirus previously known as 2019-nCov. Healthcare workers are essential in the response to and management of such infectious diseases.  

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Tema General Hospital, Ghana. Data was collected from healthcare workers using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was done for all socio-demographic characteristics of respondents. Level of knowledge about coronavirus disease and factors influencing participants’ willingness to work were summarized as frequencies, percentages and charts. Chi-square test was used to test for association between level of knowledge and all independent variables.  

Results: A total of 157 healthcare workers participated in this study. The news media (135, 85.99%) was the commonest source of information for participants. Almost half of participants (47.8%) had been tested for coronavirus disease, and 91.08% had sufficient knowledge about the disease. Occupation (p=0.047) was significantly associated with participants’ level of knowledge. A total of 46.49% disagreed with adequacy of personal protective equipment provided, with 70.06% admitting they have had to use their own personal protective equipment at work. A sense of duty (20, 31.8%) and motivation (14, 22.2%) positively influenced participants’ ability to work while challenges faced included fear of contracting and transmitting the virus (98.7%) and stigmatization (70.7%).  

Conclusions: The healthcare workers had sufficient knowledge about coronavirus disease. Insufficient personal protective equipment was evident during the pandemic. Measures must be established to ensure that barriers to work are eliminated while factors that enhance work output are encouraged.

Author Biographies

Mercy N. A. Opare-Addo, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Department of Pharmacy Practice

Josephine Mensah, Department of Pharmacy, University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon, Accra

University Of Ghana Medical Centre

Department of Pharmacy

Head, Clinical/Inpatient Pharmacy⁰

Janice Osei Donkor, Department of Pharmacy, Tema General Hospital, Tema, Ghana

Tema General Hospital

Department of Pharmacy

Amos Amoako-Adusei, Department of Quality Assurance, Sanbao, Pharmaceutical Limited, Tema, Ghana

Sanbao (GH) Pharmaceutical Limited

Department of Quality Assurance

Angela Opoku-Bona, Department of Pharmacy, University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon, Accra

University of Ghana Medical Centre

Department of Pharmacy

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Published

2021-02-24

How to Cite

Opare-Addo, M. N. A., Mensah, J., Donkor, J. O., Amoako-Adusei, A., & Opoku-Bona, A. (2021). Knowledge and experience of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in Tema, Ghana. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 8(3), 1022–1036. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20210506

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Original Research Articles