Awareness, Attitude, and Knowledge Among the Healthcare Workers in China at the Onset of the Oversea Monkeypox Outbreak.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: 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. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the awareness, perceived risk, attitude and knowledge about monkeypox among HCWs in China. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS: Physicians and nurses from 13 hospitals in Suizhou, China, were contacted through membership of the Physicians' and Nurses' Association. MAIN MEASURES: 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. KEY RESULTS: 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). CONCLUSIONS: 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.