Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs of Pediatric Health Care Workers: Understanding the Response to COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: This research aims to assess knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of PHCW regarding COVID-19.

Method: Data collected using an electronic survey sent to pediatric health care workers.

Results: Age was not likely to influence willingness to care for patients with COVID-19. Males were more likely to be willing to care for patients than female. Nurse practitioners were more likely to be willing to care for patients with COVID-19 than physicians. Availability of proper personal protective equipment, COVID-19 knowledge, and training did not influence willingness to care for COVID-19 patients. Healthcare workers with a higher risk of COVID-19-related sickness, and who received most of their COVID-19 information from social media, were less likely to be willing to care for COVID positive patients. As perception of hospital preparedness increased, reluctance to care for COVID-19 positive patients decreased.

Discussion: Hospital preparedness and social media exposure play a significant role in willingness to care for patients with COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; community health; infectious disease; pediatric health care workers.