Objective: This study assesses the attitudes (willingness) and preparedness of non-frontline physicians across different specialties in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) toward the management of hospitalized coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted between April 15, 2020, and May 5, 2020, included 6209 physicians working in KSA. An electronic questionnaire was designed and validated for the assessment of 3 categorical outcome variables, namely, attitudes, confidence, and knowledge levels. Pearson’s chi-square test was used for comparing the distribution of the proportions of these 3 categorical variables. Results: Most participants (63.2%) were willing and prepared to treat COVID-19 patients. A significantly large proportion of participants specializing in anesthesiology (78.2%) had higher knowledge levels, followed by those from plastic surgery (71.1%), pediatrics (69.7%), and obstetrics and gynecology (69.1%) ( P < 0.0001). Lower confidence levels were found for airway management skills (38.1%), particularly among dermatologists and radiologists. Conclusion: Higher knowledge levels about personal protective equipment (PPE) use and confidence in airway management skills were proportionally related to the level of willingness to participate in COVID-19 patient management. There is an urgent need to train doctors from certain specialties on PPE use and airway management to enable their frontline support of severely ill COVID-19 patients.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Personal protective equipment, airway management, Hospital preparedness, disaster management, 【초록키워드】 coronavirus disease, Hospitalized, knowledge, cross-sectional, outcome, Saudi Arabia, obstetrics, management, PPE, distribution, questionnaire, patients, COVID-19 patients, COVID-19 patient, Support, Radiologists, Kingdom, participant, treat, physician, Lower, confidence level, MOST, was used, significantly, proportion, conducted, Pearson’s chi-square test, variables, 【제목키워드】 Saudi Arabia, Attitude, physician,