Evaluation of knowledge, attitude, and practices toward the outbreak pandemic (COVID-19) Virus Disease among ophthalmologists: A cross-sectional study

PURPOSE: The objective was to evaluate ophthalmologists' KAP toward the outbreak of the pandemic COVID-19 disease. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted during the period of the global outbreak of COVID-19, between April 8 and April 18, 2020. A sample of 120 ophthalmologists was chosen by a stratified method. The online survey was used to obtain information about respondents' KAP toward COVID-19. RESULTS: The study participants included 120 ophthalmologists and ophthalmologists under training out of the targeted 163 ophthalmologists who were invited to participate, giving a response rate of 73.6%. Ophthalmology residents represent 40.8%, whereas consultants represent 32.5% of them. Nearly 40.8% of the participants were aged between 31 and 40 years. Overall, the percentage of COVID-19 knowledge score ranged between 56% and 100% with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) of 80% (76%-88%). Overall, the percentage score of attitude toward COVID-19 ranged between 13.3% and 100% with a median (IQR) of 73.3% (46.7%-88.0%). Although the safety precaution attitude toward COVID-19 was highest among ophthalmologists aged over 50 years, the difference did not reach a statistical significance. Other studied factors were not significantly associated with the score of percentage of attitude toward COVID-19. CONCLUSION: KAP among ophthalmologists in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia toward COVID-19 are optimal. However, health education campaigns are needed to reinforce the current KAP and improve the level of understanding of the risks and prevention measures that, in turn, improve the confidence of ophthalmologists to provide the right care to their patients and protect themselves as well.