OBJECTIVES: To evaluate Pakistani healthcare workers' knowledge, attitude and preventive practices related to COVID-19.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the healthcare workers (medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, hospital technicians and technologists) providing services at seven hospitals of Punjab province of Pakistan. A self-administered questionnaire was used to evaluate COVID-19 related knowledge, attitude and practices.

RESULTS: A total of 458 healthcare workers were approached and 429 were recruited (response rate = 93%). The mean age of the participants was 29.8 ± 5.7 years, with majority of medical doctors (42%) followed by nurses (38%) and pharmacists (14.9%). All of the participants reported that they were aware of COVID-19 outbreak and social media was the major source (65%) of this information. Mean knowledge score was 12 ± 2.1, with 75.5% of participants having satisfactory knowledge of COVID-19. Doctors were found have significantly better knowledge scores than other healthcare workers (p = 0.001). Mean attitude score was 8.0 ± 1.2, with a wide majority of healthcare workers (86.5%) having positive attitudes. Regarding COVID-19 related preventive practices, around 64% reported of always covering nose and mouth with a tissue during sneezing or coughing and nearly 65% disposed of the dirty tissue in trash bins. Only 40% of the participants reported that ‘if they do not have tissue, they cough or sneeze into upper sleeve’. Only 56% reported of always washing their hands, with soap and water, quickly after coughing or sneezing or touching contaminated objects like a tissue. Overall, mean practice score was 23.3 ± 3.6, with 73.4% of healthcare professionals having satisfactory preventive practices.

CONCLUSIONS: Although overall COVID-19 related knowledge, attitude and practices of Pakistani healthcare workers are satisfactory, there are some misconceptions and malpractices that must be addressed.