Chawe Adon, Mfune Ruth L, Syapiila Paul M, Zimba Sharon D, Vlahakis Pipina A, Mwale Samson, Mwape Kapambwe, Chirambo-Kalolekesha Memory, Chileshe Misheck, Mutale Joseph, Mudenda Tobela, Manda Grace, Daka Victor
Laboratory Department, St. Francis Mission Hospital, Katete, Zambia.
Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Michael Chilufya School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola, Zambia.
Afr J Lab Med. 2021 Mar 4;10(1):1403. doi: 10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1403. eCollection 2021.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel disease that has spread to nearly every country worldwide. Medical laboratory professionals are key in the fight against COVID-19 as they provide confirmatory diagnosis for subsequent management and mitigation of the disease.
This study investigated the knowledge, attitude and practices of COVID-19 and their predictors among medical laboratory personnel in Zambia.
We conducted a cross-sectional study among medical laboratory professionals in Zambia from 10 to 29 June 2020. Data were collected using Google Forms and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23 for statistical analysis. Independent predictors of COVID-19 knowledge and practices were determined. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) are reported.
A total of 208 medical laboratory professionals, 58.2% male, participated in the study. The majority of respondents had good knowledge (84.1%) and practice (75.0%) regarding COVID-19. Predictors of good knowledge included having a bachelor's degree (AOR: 5.0, CI: 1.13-22.19) and having prior COVID-19 related training (AOR: 8.83, CI: 2.03-38.44). Predictors of good practice included having a master's or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) qualification (AOR: 5.23, CI: 1.15-23.87) and having prior COVID-19 related training (AOR: 14.01, CI: 6.47-30.36).
Our findings revealed that medical laboratory professionals in Zambia have good knowledge regarding COVID-19. There is need for continuous professional development to ensure that medical laboratory professionals are well informed and aware of best practices to aid in curbing the pandemic.
2019年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）是一种已传播至全球几乎每个国家的新型疾病。医学实验室专业人员在抗击COVID-19中至关重要，因为他们为该疾病的后续管理和缓解提供确诊诊断。
本研究调查了赞比亚医学实验室人员对COVID-19的知识、态度和实践及其预测因素。
2020年6月10日至29日，我们在赞比亚的医学实验室专业人员中进行了一项横断面研究。使用谷歌表单收集数据，并导出到社会科学统计软件包第23版进行统计分析。确定了COVID-19知识和实践的独立预测因素。报告了调整后的优势比（AOR）及其95%置信区间（CI）。
共有208名医学实验室专业人员参与了研究，其中58.2%为男性。大多数受访者对COVID-19有良好的知识（84.1%）和实践（75.0%）。良好知识的预测因素包括拥有学士学位（AOR：5.0，CI：1.13 - 22.19）和接受过先前与COVID-19相关的培训（AOR：8.83，CI：2.03 - 38.44）。良好实践的预测因素包括拥有硕士或博士学位（AOR：5.23，CI：1.15 - 23.87）和接受过先前与COVID-19相关的培训（AOR：14.01，CI：6.47 - 30.36）。
我们的研究结果显示，赞比亚的医学实验室专业人员对COVID-19有良好的知识。需要持续的专业发展，以确保医学实验室专业人员充分了解并知晓有助于遏制疫情的最佳实践。
