title: Evaluation of knowledge and behavior of workers in Prince Mohammed International Airport in Western Saudi Arabia regarding public health emergency measures applied during Hajj season 2014.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the knowledge and behavior of workers at a Saudi airport regarding public health emergency measures applied during Hajj season.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is a cross-sectional study conducted at the Prince Mohammed International Airport in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia between August and September 2014. Data were collected by semi-structured questionnaires during personal interviews. Non-random purposive sampling was conducted to target workers at higher risk of acquiring infection from travellers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and eighty-six participants were recruited of whom 92.5% were males. The study participants were workers in 8 different sectors. Twenty-six percent of the participants were health workers. Non-health workers were more likely to be concerned on acquiring infection while working at the airport compared with health workers (p=0.023). The most commonly feared disease was Ebola viral disease (EBV) among 30% of health workers, and 47% of non-health workers. Approximately 47% of non-health workers reported no knowledge of the procedures implemented during public health emergencies. The proportion of participants who received public health related training among non-health workers was significantly lower compared with health workers (p less than 0.00001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More emphasis should be given to educating airport workers on the potential health threats at the airport. Specific guidelines for public health emergencies at the airport should be established and communicated with airport sectors.
authors.affiliation: Prince Sattam Chair for Epidemiology and Public Health Research, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-mail. gossady@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ibrahim M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Gosadi
authors.forename: Ali M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Al-Hazmi
authors.forename: Amin A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Fadl
authors.forename: Khalid H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Alharbi
authors.forename: Mazin M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Swarelzahab
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059028:Airports; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014195:Travel
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