Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Monkeypox Virus among Physicians in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Najim Z. Alshahrani,
Mohammed R. Algethami,
Abdullah M. Alarifi,
Faris Alzahrani,
Eman A. Alshehri,
Aishah M. Alshehri,
Haytham Abdulwhab Sheerah,
Abdelaziz Abdelaal,
Ranjit Sah,
Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales
Affiliations
Najim Z. Alshahrani
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed R. Algethami
Ministry of Health, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah M. Alarifi
Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Riyadh 13323, Saudi Arabia
Faris Alzahrani
Department of Public Health, General Directorate of Health Affairs in Aseer Region, Ministry of Health, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia
Eman A. Alshehri
General Directorate of Health Affairs in Aseer Region, Ministry of Health, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia
Aishah M. Alshehri
General Directorate of Health Affairs in Aseer Region, Ministry of Health, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia
Haytham Abdulwhab Sheerah
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Abdelaziz Abdelaal
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Ranjit Sah
Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales
Grupo de Investigación Biomedicina, Faculty of Medicine, Fundación Universitaria Autónoma de Las Américas—Institución Universitaria Vision de Las Americas, Pereira 660003, Risaralda, Colombia
The growing incidence of human monkeypox cases emphasizes the significance of prevention, early detection, and prompt responses for healthcare providers. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes toward monkeypox infection among physicians, a frontline healthcare worker group, in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional survey assessing knowledge and attitudes towards monkeypox infection on multiple-item scales was sent to physicians in Saudi Arabia. The associations between independent factors and either knowledge or attitude were assessed. The final analysis included 398 participants. Approximately 55% of the surveyed participants had a “good knowledge” score about human monkeypox. The adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that being a female physician, working in the private sector, and having information on human monkeypox during medical school or residency years were the only factors associated with a good level of knowledge about human monkeypox. However, physicians’ knowledge and attitudes regarding monkeypox infection are inadequate and influenced by various factors. There is a significant knowledge gap between the therapeutic management of monkeypox and its vaccination. Training and knowledge assessments are important, especially when studies show significant improvement in related and specific knowledge.
