COVID-19 RELATED KNOWLEDGE SHARING PRACTICE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS WORKED IN COVID-19 TREATMENT CENTERS AT SPECIALISED AND TEACHING HOSPITALS IN AMHARA REGION, NORTH WEST ETHIOPIA, 2021.

Abstract

Abstract Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a pandemic that causes significant deaths, threatens the lives and health of the world population. Healthcare providers are on the frontline in the struggle against the COVID-19 outbreak. COVID-19 related knowledge sharing practice is the key component of knowledge management for performance improvement on prevention and control of the disease. Accurate and timely COVID-19 related knowledge helps to create high-quality services and evidence-based decisions for COVID-19 patients. Objectives: the study aimed to assess COVID-19 related knowledge sharing practices and associated factors among health care providers who worked in COVID-19 treatment centers. Method: - Institutional-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from April 04 to May 28, 2021. The study included 454 health care providers who worked in COVID-19 treatment centers at specialized teaching hospitals in the Amhara region. It measured by 12 items Likert scale questions. A pretested, structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Epi data version 3.1 and SPSS version 23 were used for data entry and analysis respectively. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the factors associated with the dependent variable. Result: - From a total of 476, respondents, 454 respondents were participated in the study with 95.4% response rate. 74% of respondents were male, 50% of respondents were categorized under 21_30 years, and 77.3% of respondents were BSc degree holders. COVID19

related knowledge sharing practice found to be 55.3% [95% CI (51_60)]. Phone type [AOR=4.05, 95% CI (1.99_8.25)], computer access[AOR=2.09, 95% CI (1.12_3.92)], awareness[AOR=2.01, 95% CI(1.20_3.39)], job satisfaction[AOR=1.62, 95% CI(1.02_2.56)], willingness[AOR=1.77, 95% CI(1.05_2.97)] and educational status [AOR=2.94, 95% CI(1.92_5.71)] were significantly associated with the dependent variable. Conclusion: - COVID-19 related knowledge sharing practice of this study was higher as compared with most studies in Ethiopia. Improve computer access, awareness, job satisfaction, willingness, smartphone, and educational status could be share credible information to healthcare providers worked in COVID-19 treatment centers. Keywords: COVID-19, knowledge sharing practice, healthcare providers, Ethiopia.