Effectiveness of Targeted Health Education with Focus on Knowledge and Practice among Hospital Sanitation Workersdesignated in Isolation Wards as Part of the Pandemic Preparedness for COVID-19

Abstract

Context: Hospital sanitation workers are at the frontlines of the global crisis caused by COVID-19 and facethe challenge of lack of awareness about the disease and methods of protecting themselves and others fromgetting infected. A targeted health education intervention was conducted among them on knowledge andpractice regarding basic epidemiology, clinical features and prevention of COVID-19.Aim: To evaluate effectiveness of targeted health education intervention with focus on knowledge andpractice regarding COVID-19 pandemic among hospital sanitation workersSettings and Design: Quasi-experimental one group pre test, post test designMethods and Material: Study was done among 46 hospital sanitation workers using structured questionnairecovering demographic variables, knowledge on the basic epidemiological characteristics, clinical featuresand practice on the prevention of COVID-19. After obtaining informed consent, pre-test was conducted anda targeted health education was given. On the 3rd day, post-test was conducted using same questionnaire. Themean pre and post test scores were calculated and difference between the scores was analyzed.Statistical analysis used: Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25. Demographic information wastabulated using descriptive statistics. The difference between the mean pre test and post test scores wasanalyzed using paired t test.Results: The mean pre test score was 9.39±1.5, with 35(76%) having good and 11(24%) poor pre testscores. Those in the age group 36-45 years had significantly higher pre test scores compared to other agegroups (p=0.03). The mean post test score was 10.6±1.13. There was a statistically significant improvementin the post test scores of the study subjects (p=0.001). Hence, the targeted health education interventionwas effective in improving the knowledge and practice of hospital sanitation workers regarding basicepidemiology, clinical features and prevention of COVID-19.Conclusions: Given the heightened vulnerability of hospital sanitation workers to nosocomial infections, allhealth care institutions should integrate targeted health education intervention into their epidemic responseplan