Attitudes towards the COVID-19 pandemic and the level of knowledge about the pandemic among the patients in the opinion of medical personnel – an international study

Abstract

Aim: To assess knowledge of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and attitudes toward the pandemic among patients in seven European countries in the opinion of medical personnel. Material and methods: The research was conducted across seven European countries. The questionnaire included questions relating to the Covid-19 pan¬demic regarding medical personnel’s opinions on the level of patient education, the sharing of incorrect information by patients, the following of quarantine procedures by patients, and the necessity of introducing tighter sanitary restrictions. Results: The research indicated significant differences between countries in the answers provided by medical personnel. Medical personnel encountered the sharing of incorrect information by patients most often in Poland, and most seldom in Norway. Staff in the United Kingdom and Poland had the lowest as¬sessment of patients following quarantine procedures, while personnel in Norway had the most positive assessment in this area. Education of the patients on the SARS-CoV-2 virus was most positively assessed by personnel in Finland, and the most poorly by staff from Poland. The necessity to impose tighter sanitary restrictions was indicated by the greatest number of personnel in Poland and the United Kingdom, and by the lowest number in Spain. Conclusions: The research indicated significant differences between countries in the provided answers. The study also demonstrated that as a rule the sanitary restrictions were supported.