Public Sector Resident Doctors’ Knowledge and Practices Amidst COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Abstract

Background and Purpose: COVID-19 was declared as a pandemic on March 11, 2020 by World Health Organization. Resident doctors, including interns, are the frontline of health care workers, have always been at risk of infectious diseases, and the spread of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 virus. The purpose of this survey was to gather opinions about personal safety, general knowledge, preventive behaviors, attitude, risk perception on COVID-19, and institutional approach toward this pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional, online survey-based study was conducted from April 18, 2020 to April 21, 2020 in India. Data was collected from health care professionals, mainly frontline doctors, that is, residents and interns. Questionnaire consisted of 41 questions, statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 26 (IBM Corp). Chi-square test was used to investigate the level of association among variables at the significance level of P < 0.05. Results: About 332 doctors completed the survey. Most of the junior resident (academic), from category A, B, and C received training for donning and doffing, and we found they were aware of donning and doffing (P-value < 0.05). It was also found that N95 was the most common personal protective equipment (PPE) stock missing in the institution. Survey also revealed that most of the surgeons had stopped planned surgery (P-value < 0.05) and also there was a significant decrease in emergency surgery and consultations (P-value < 0.05). Conclusion: We have restricted access to essential PPE. Protecting health care workers had been a governmental health priority. Institutions and government should urgently implement policies to support health care workers in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.