• Sandip Bhandari, Medha Sharma, and Gentle Sundar Shrestha.
• Department of Anaesthesiology, Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal.
• JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc. 2020 Nov 22; 58 (231): 905910905-910.

IntroductionHealth care workers are at higher risk of infection with the coronavirus disease as they are directly involved in the treatment of infected patients and perform aerosol-generating procedures. Proper knowledge of this disease can influence the positive attitude, good practices and enhance their safety. We aim to study the knowledge of COVID-19 among health care workers of the tertiary care hospital of Nepal.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among health care workers of Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre from May 20 to June 19, 2020. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Board (IRB No: 4-2020). Written informed consent was taken from all respondents. Correct answers were summated to reflect the mean knowledge, expressed as a percentage. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21.ResultsThe mean general knowledge score was 95.7%. The mean medical knowledge score was 70.5%. Only 42 (56.8%) of physicians and 103 (53.6%) of nurses had a higher level of medical knowledge regarding COVID-19. Likewise, very few lab technicians 7 (21.9%) and none of the pharmacists had a higher level of medical knowledge.ConclusionsThe healthcare workers of this centre have adequate knowledge regarding COVID-19. However, periodic training for all workers, especially the nurses and allied workers, may help to update the knowledge and hence enhance their safety and that of their patients.

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