Knowledge and Attitudes Among Hospital Pharmacists About COVID-19

Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and deaths related to the virus have been reported all over the world. Pharmacists play an important role in conveying accurate information about COVID-19 to the community. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes among hospital pharmacists about COVID-19.

A questionnaire was distributed to pharmacists participating in the 7th National Hospital and Institution Pharmacists Congress. The questions included in this questionnaire were created using the Turkish COVID-19 Scientific Committee guideline (COVID-19 Guideline).

Analysis of 237 questionnaires (72.6% completed by women) showed that the media (television, newspaper), internet (nonscientific resources), internet (scientific resources), and social media were the most popular sources of information (60.3%, 53.6%, 53.2%, and 41.4%, respectively). The participants' age and the source of information that they used had an important influence on their knowledge of and attitudes towards COVID-19 infection. The majority of the participants (72.6%) stated that they were not wearing any kind of mask. Transmission of the disease by airborne route was well known by the participants (91.1%), as well as the main symptoms such as fever (92.4%), cough (84.4%), and dyspnea (60.3%). The participants were aware of the risk groups for COVID-19 infection such as advanced age (84.8%) and having comorbidities (80.2%). Washing hands with soap (92.0%), using hand disinfectants (80.6%), and avoiding contact with sick people (81.9%) were popular answers for protection from the disease, but wearing an N95 mask was also mentioned by 59.1% of the participants. Prevention of the disease by rinsing the nose with saline solution was believed in by 43.9% of the participants.

Classical media and social media affect the attitudes of both the public and health professionals. Using media tools for accurate information is one of the basic conditions for preventing and controlling the spread of the disease.