Table 2 COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) of United Arab Emirates Heath providers at the start of the pandemic 2020

Mood of transmission

Respiratory droplets

257, 54.2%

808, 55.1%

64, 49.6%

186, 56.4%

1315, 55.5%

Direct contact with contaminated surfaces

235, 49%

759, 51.7%

61, 47.3%

173, 52.4%

1228, 51.8%

Oral route

147, 31.4%

449, 30.6%

43, 33.3%

128, 38.8%

767, 32.3%

Social distance

1 m (3 feet) or more

28, 6.4%

192, 13.1%

12, 9.3%

37, 11.2%

269, 11.3%

2 m (6 feet) or more

232, 48.4%

630, 42.9%

54, 41.9%

157, 47.6%

1073, 45.3%

High-risk group

Age > 60

257, 54.4%

809, 55.1%

65, 50.4%

186, 56.4%

1317, 55.5%

Smoker

227, 47.8%

727, 49.6%

59, 45.7%

171, 51.8%

1184, 49.9%

Diabetic patient

253, 53.4%

775, 52.8%

64, 49.6%

178, 53.9%

1270, 53.6%

Hypertensive patient

235, 50%

723, 49.3%

59, 45.7%

175, 53%

1192, 50.3%

Patient receiving chemotherapy

260, 54.8%

804, 54.8%

63, 48.8%

180, 54.5%

1307, 55.1%

Patient having Asthma or COPD

253, 53%

804, 54.8%

63, 48.8%

187, 57.7%

1307, 55.1%

Pregnant female

219, 46.5%

712, 48.5%

54, 41.9%

157, 47.6%

1142, 48.2%

Patient with GERD or peptic ulcer disease

51, 9.8%

323, 22%

20, 15.5%

80, 24.2%

474, 20%

Thalassemia carrier

70, 14.3%

481, 32.8%

36, 27.9%

99, 30%

686, 28.9%

Sensitivity and specificity of COVID-19 testing in detecting the virus

The nasopharyngeal swab is recommended over the oropharyngeal swab

203, 42.8%

559, 38.1%

45, 34.9%

134, 40.6%

941, 39.7%

The sensitivity of the NP swab is 70%

124, 27%

134, 9.1%

19, 14.7%

44, 13.3%

321, 13.5%

The sensitivity of NP swab is 90%

72, 14,4%

263, 17.9%

20, 15.5%

67, 20.3%

422, 17.8%

Specificity of NP swab is 70%

63, 13%

89, 6.1%

14, 10.9%

31, 9.4%

197, 8.3%

Wearing a surgical mask is an indication

Suspected COVID-19 infection patient

142, 29.7%

478, 32.6%

32, 24.8%

112, 33.9%

764, 32.2%

Only patients with respiratory symptoms like cough or fever

77, 17%

315, 21.5%

22, 17.1%

84, 25.5%

498, 21%

All community

189, 40.1%

640, 43.6%

48, 37.2%

152, 46.1%

1029, 43.4%

Only medical staff and caregivers in close contact with patients

84, 18.6%

302, 20.6%

25, 19.4%

83, 25.2%

494, 20.8%%

Attitude

The attitude of HCP if symptomatic without a history of contact with COVID-19 case or history of travel

55 11.5%

171 11.7%

19 15.5%

31 9.7%

276 11.7%

When practicing in a primary healthcare center

All employees are advised to check for any signs of illness and notify their supervisor if they become ill

242, 50.1%

753, 51.3%

56, 43.3%

171, 51.8%

1222, 51.5%

Minimize interaction and interview time with patients

205, 43.3%

526, 35.9%

43, 33.3%

143, 43.3%

917, 38.7%

Ensure to wear the face mask while in the clinic

245, 51.5%

784, 53.4%

65, 50.4%

188, 57%

1282, 54.1%

Avoid being in an area like coffee room, or staff changing room

183, 37.7%

357, 24.3%

44, 34.1%

123, 37.3%

707, 29.8%

Don't bring unnecessary stuff to the clinic like your personal lab top, notes, or textbooks

231, 48.3%

670, 45.7%

55, 42.6%

160, 48.5%

1116, 47.1%

Keep your tools like a stethoscope in the clinic, and use disinfectant wipes to clean them frequently

233, 49%

744, 50.7%

56 43.4%

179 54.2%

1212, 51.1%

Practice

The practice of HCP regarding action after having a negative swab in a symptomatic patient

318 65.5%

847 57.7%

55 64.3%

184 55.8%

1404 59.2%

The action of HCP after medium-risk exposure

147, 33.1%

556 37.9%

45 34.9%

123 37.3%

871, 36.7%

The action of HCP after brief low-risk exposure

170, 35.1%

513, 35%

36, 30.2%

114, 34.5%

833, 35.1%

The action of HCP after low-risk exposure while wearing full PEE

252, 53.7%

756, 51.7%

57, 44.2%

164, 49.7%

1229, 51.8%

The practice of HCP with contact of contact case

Wearing PEE

233, 49.8%

728, 49.6%

59, 45.7%

175, 53%

1195 50.4%

Send the patient to the isolation room before assessment

183, 39.1%

483, 32.9%

39, 30.2%

106, 32.1%

811, 34.2%

Reassure family and send home for self-monitoring and home quarantine

153, 31%

701, 47.8%

49, 38%

157, 47.6%

1060, 44.7%