Knowledge, attitude, practices towards covid-19 profile of patients attending outpatient department of ophthalmology in a tertiary care hospital in south Bihar - a cross – sectional survey

Abstract

Introduction: Ophthalmology as a speciality is at an increased risk as most of the procedures bring ophthalmologists in close contact with the patient’s eyes and face. Various parts of the patient’s face touch the ophthalmic equipment, thus increasing the risk of spread of infection through aerosolized particles from respiratory droplet and contact. There are also reports of SARS- CoV-2 identified in tears and conjunctival swabs, thus putting ophthalmologists at the risk. Aim and Objectives: To know the KAP (Knowledge, Attitude and Practices) towards COVID-19 and profile of patients and the various reasons for the lack of its knowledge in patients coming to Ophthalmology Out Patient Department in Tertiary Care Centre in South Bihar. Methodology : This is Cross- Sectional Study conducted  from May 2020 to Sept 2020, After getting approval by Institutional Ethics Committee, data on demographics and awareness of COVID-19 were collected through face to face interview using pretested semi- structured questionnaire in the vernacular language, which is Hindi. Result : Very few respondent was aware about eye involvement in COVID 19 infection.78% respondent don’t know about eye involvement in COVID-19 cases, 12 % say discharge is the most common symptoms of eye involvement in COVID cases. 7% say pain is the main symptoms, 3% say that redness in eye is important feature of COVID-19 infection.59% of the respondent believes that hand should be washed before touching face, otherwise infection can spread. Majority of study subjects (63%) believes that COVID-19 infection occurs mostly in old people, 23% say children is affected more, 11% don’t know exactly whereas only 3% believes that COVID-19 infection occurs most commonly in adults

Conclusion: The findings suggest that study subjects who participated in this study have satisfactory level of knowledge on COVID-19, but compliance with the necessary guideline by the government, which are necessary for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 is not good. Internet and media play an important role in acquiring needed knowledge.