Orthopedic surgeons' knowledge, attitude, and practice in view of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the levels of knowledge, attitude, and practice among orthopedic surgeons toward COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This was an observational analytical, online-based survey. Data were collected in April 2020 using a structured validated self-administered questionnaire, which was composed of four sections: Sociodemographic, knowledge, attitude, and practice sections. It was distributed using the WhatsApp application. Results: The respondents to the questionnaire were 84 orthopedic surgeons, with a response rate of 64%, as 130 surgeons have been contacted, 4 participants were excluded as they were not fit to our inclusion criteria. The majority of the respondents (73; 91.3%), were male and 58 (72.5%) were from Riyadh. Regarding their level of expertise, nearly half of them (42.5%) were junior residents. The majority showed good knowledge about the symptoms and high-risk patients for COVID-19, 73 (91.2%) and 78 (97.5%), respectively. Regarding their attitudes, 40 (50%) declared that COVID-19 widespread has negatively affected their mental and emotional well-being. Moreover, 68 (85%) of them were feeling anxious about going home and infecting their family members after being in contact with patients and colleagues. Conclusion: Most of the participants showed good knowledge, attitude, and practice toward COVID-19. There is a relaxed attitude with some surgeons regarding wearing personal protective gear, despite the knowledge, awareness, and resources. More educational programs for orthopedic surgeons should be implemented to flatten the curve and take control of the outbreak.