Knowledge,attitude and practise toward COVID-19 among patients presenting to five tertiary eye care hospitals in South India - A multicentre questionnaire-based survey |
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Authors: | Josephine S Christy Kirandeep Kaur Bharat Gurnani Olivia M Hess Kalpana Narendran Anitha Venugopal J Anuja Divya Manohar Ramalakshmi Raman Rengaraj Venkatesh |
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Affiliation: | Department of Cornea and Refractive Services, Aravind Eye Hospital (AEH), Pondicherry, India;1.Department of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus AEH Pondicherry, Pondicherry, India;2.Stanford University School of Medicine, California, USA;3.AEH Coimbatore, India;4.AEH Tirunelveli, India;5.AEH Salem, India;6.AEH Chennai, India;7.Department of Biostatistics AEH Madurai, India;8.Department of Glaucoma, Aravind Eye Hospital, Pondicherry, India |
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Abstract: | Purpose:The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) pattern towards COVID-19, among patients presenting to eye care hospitals during the last phase of lockdown period.Methods:A multicenter cross-sectional survey was conducted from May 15 to June 15, 2020 in five tertiary eye care hospitals in South India to assess the KAP towards COVID-19. Each of the hospitals belonged to one of the three different zones assigned in India based on number of infections. Red zones represent hotspots and orange/green zones represent regions with medium and lower caseloads, respectively. A validated questionnaire was administered through telephone and responses were recorded on a Google form.Results:Out of the total (n = 6119) participants, 3081 were from hospitals in green zone, 2110 from the orange zone, and 928 from red zone. Majority of participants were above 50 years of age (42%) and 15.54% were illiterate. The mean (percentage) scores of knowledge, attitude, and practice were 21.26 (82%), 9.37 (92%), and 10.32 (86%), respectively. KAP among patients more than 50 years of age and in illiterate individuals was significantly less (P < 0.01) when compared with all other groups. Participants from red zone had a significantly better attitude (P < 0.01) compared to other centers.Conclusion:Although the overall KAP regarding COVID-19 disease was robust (above 80% in all categories) in our participants, the high risk elderly population (>50 years) and illiterate individuals had a significantly lower KAP. These are populations in which education should be emphasized and appropriately delivered as a way to reduce COVID-19 risk. |
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Keywords: | Attitude COVID-19 India KAP knowledge multicenter trial practice |
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