title: Ebola outbreak preparedness and preventive measures among healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As medical professionals on the front lines in the outbreaks of infectious disease like Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), healthcare providers must have sufficient knowledge, skills, and best practices to protect themselves and the public from the disease. The purpose of this study is to identify the level of awareness, attitudes and practices among healthcare workers in relation to precautionary measures to EVD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 177 physicians and 545 nurses participated in a descriptive cross-sectional study from a tertiary government hospital in Saudi Arabia. All subjects answered a self-administered questionnaire focusing on their level of awareness, concerns, and clinical practice related to EVD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Majority of the participants were knowledgeable about the etiology, mode of transmission, signs and symptoms, and treatment of EVD. All of the participants had high levels of concern about EVD (p=0.001) and about the implementation of strict standard infection control precautionary measures. The study found that greater infection control measures were taken by the participants including frequent hand washing, use of personal protective equipment, and avoiding normal activities such as going to work, school, travel, etc. if fever symptoms appear.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A combination of evidence based knowledge about EVD and high levels of concern of healthcare providers in relation to precautionary measures to EVD are the main factors leading to strict compliance with the infection control measures recommended in this study. Additionally, healthcare providers must be trained in infection control and adhere to the universal infection control standard guidelines to facilitate prevention and precaution.
authors: College of Applied Medical Science, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. jvinluan.c@ksu.edu.sa.
authors: Khalid M
authors: KM
authors: Almutairi
authors: Abdulaziz Alhomaidi
authors: AA
authors: Alodhayani
authors: Mahaman
authors: M
authors: Moussa
authors: Ahmad E
authors: AE
authors: Aboshaiqah
authors: Regie B
authors: RB
authors: Tumala
authors: Jason M
authors: JM
authors: Vinluan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002959:Civil Defense / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011361:Professional Competence; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055815:Young Adult