Ghana Needs a Comprehensive Blueprint for Pandemic Management
Abstract:
This major study aimed to
determine Ghanaian physicians, pharmacists, and nurses' knowledge, perception,
and preparedness for a pandemic or another wave of COVID-19. The
cross-sectional study, comprising 55 questions about COVID-19 knowledge, 29
about perception, and 21 about preparedness, was conducted between May and July
2023. The questionnaire was distributed through various social media platforms,
ensuring a national reach. Participation from all 16 regions of Ghana was
recorded for all three professionals. The inclusion criteria, a key aspect, are
based on the healthcare professionals directly linked with hospitals and
facilities who had direct contact with patients. Three thousand three hundred
and twenty-three healthcare professionals responded to the survey, giving a 97%
response rate. Seven hundred seventy-seven physicians, 1199 pharmacists, and
1347 nurses responded to the study, showcasing the extensive expertise of
Ghanaian healthcare professionals. The findings reveal that Ghanaian physicians
ranked high regarding their knowledge of COVID-19. Our study further shows that
98% of the pharmacist participants provided positive feedback about
knowledge-related questions and an adequate understanding of attitudes toward
coronavirus symptoms, transmission, disease severity, and preventive measures. The
study also reveals that Ghanaian nurses were knowledgeable, had a good
perception, and were prepared for a pandemic or another wave of COVID-19. However,
the study also highlights a concerning trend where the level of preparedness
for a pandemic or another wave of COVID-19 was low in all instances. In
conclusion, this study underscores the critical role of knowledge in shaping
the actions of Ghanaian healthcare professionals in response to the COVID-19
pandemic threats. It also emphasizes the urgent need for a comprehensive
blueprint for pandemic management in Ghana to address this gap.
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