Graduate School, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China.
Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
J Gen Intern Med. 2023 Oct;38(13):2914-2920. doi: 10.1007/s11606-023-08159-7. Epub 2023 Jul 24.
The outbreak of monkeypox in several nonendemic countries has been reported since May 2022. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to examine how healthcare workers (HCWs) respond to the monkeypox epidemic. Having been involved in the fight against COVID-19 resurgence for nearly 3 years, how HCWs in China respond to the oversea monkeypox outbreak remains unclear.
To investigate the awareness, perceived risk, attitude and knowledge about monkeypox among HCWs in China.
A cross-sectional survey.
Physicians and nurses from 13 hospitals in Suizhou, China, were contacted through membership of the Physicians' and Nurses' Association.
Responses regarding their awareness, risk perception, attitude, behavior, and knowledge about the outbreak of monkeypox were collected anonymously during the second month of the outbreak between 15 and 21 June 2022.
Of the 395 physician and 1793 nurse respondents, most had heard of the oversea monkeypox outbreak (physicians 93%, nurses 88%). More than 30% thought there existed an infection risk for themselves or family members (physicians 42%, nurses 32%). Most agreed that HCWs should pay attention to the outbreak (physicians 98%, nurses 98%). More than half had actively sought expertise (physicians 62%, nurses 52%). Approximately half believed that monkeypox may be transmitted through sexual activity or respiratory droplets, or from mother to fetus in utero (physicians 50%, 62%, 55%; nurses 40%, 60%, and 48%, respectively). Some believed that mask-wearing, hand-washing, and glove-wearing can prevent monkeypox transmission (physicians 78%, 89%, 83%; nurses 77%, 86%, 76%, respectively).
This study identified high awareness, high perceived risk, and pro-prevention attitudes among HCWs in China at the onset of the oversea multi-country monkeypox outbreak, but low levels of monkeypox-related knowledge. Immediate efforts are needed to fill in their knowledge gap, particularly regarding the transmission routes and prevention measures.
自 2022 年 5 月以来，几个非流行国家报告了猴痘疫情。在 COVID-19 大流行的背景下，重要的是要研究医护人员（HCWs）如何应对猴痘疫情。中国的 HCWs 在参与抗击 COVID-19 疫情近 3 年后，如何应对海外猴痘疫情尚不清楚。
调查中国 HCWs 对猴痘的认识、感知风险、态度和知识。
横断面调查。
通过随州医师协会和护士协会的成员联系了来自中国随州 13 家医院的医生和护士。
在 2022 年 6 月 15 日至 21 日疫情爆发的第二个月，匿名收集了他们对猴痘爆发的认识、风险感知、态度、行为和知识的反应。
在 395 名医生和 1793 名护士的应答者中，大多数人听说过海外猴痘爆发（医生 93%，护士 88%）。超过 30%的人认为自己或家人存在感染风险（医生 42%，护士 32%）。大多数人认为 HCWs 应该关注疫情（医生 98%，护士 98%）。超过一半的人积极寻求专业知识（医生 62%，护士 52%）。大约一半的人认为猴痘可能通过性活动或呼吸道飞沫传播，或从母亲传染给宫内胎儿（医生 50%、62%、55%；护士 40%、60%和 48%）。一些人认为戴口罩、洗手和戴手套可以预防猴痘传播（医生 78%、89%、83%；护士 77%、86%、76%）。
本研究在海外多国猴痘疫情爆发初期发现中国 HCWs 意识高、感知风险高、预防态度积极，但猴痘相关知识水平较低。需要立即努力填补他们的知识空白，特别是关于传播途径和预防措施。
