title: Are healthcare workers ready for Ebola? An assessment of their knowledge and attitude in a referral hospital in South India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic to be a public health emergency of international concern. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at the highest risk of infection, as they may come into contact with patients' blood or fluids. This study was conducted to assess knowledge and attitudes of HCWs towards EVD in India.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in a multispecialty public sector referral hospital of Telangana, India. Knowledge and attitude of HCWs were evaluated using a pre-validated questionnaire. A sample of 278 participants was selected to participate in this study. The Chi-squared test was used to assess the relationship between attitudes and demographic characteristics. Logistic regression was used examine the association between knowledge and study variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 257 participants who responded (92.4% response rate), 157 (61.1%) were females. The majority of the respondents were physicians (n = 117, 45.5%). Radio and television were the major sources of information about EVD reported by participants (89%). Overall knowledge of HCWs was poor (mean knowledge score: 6.57 ± 2.57). Knowledge of physicians and experienced workers (≥ 10 years) was significantly higher than their respective groups. The overall attitude of the participants was positive (mean attitude score: 1.62 ± 0.57). Significant positive correlations between knowledge and attitude were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate that participants lack basic understanding of EVD. We recommend future studies be conducted across India to identify and subsequently bridge the knowledge gaps among HCWs.
authors.affiliation: UCSI University, No. 1 Jalan Menara Gading, Taman Connaught, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. akrampharma67@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Akram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Muhammad Umair
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Shazia Qasim
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Jamshed
authors.forename: Bandari Deepak
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Gogikar Sudhir
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Puchchakayala Goverdhan
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Sudhakar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ajmera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011361:Professional Competence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult