Knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding COVID-19 infection among chronic disease patients visiting tertiary hospitals of Nepal: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Aim: To access the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) towards COVID-19 disease among chronic diseases patients visiting tertiary hospitals of Kathmandu. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among chronic disease patients who visited Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Center, Kathmandu. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect patients’ socio-demographic data and perspectives on COVID-19. Results: Four hundred chronic disease patients participated in the study, with 53.2% female and 46.8% male, and 56.8% of age ≥50 years. Overall, 55.5% of the participants had good knowledge, 56.2% had good practice, and 30.7% had positive attitude towards COVID-19. Younger patients, 18-34 years, were found to have higher odds of having good knowledge compared to other age groups (aOR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.3-6.0). The patients with less than average family income and those unable to read and write had lower odds of having positive attitude towards COVID-19 (aOR: 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4-0.9 and aOR: 0.4; 95%CI: 0.2-0.9, respectively). A statistically significant correlation was found between the patients’ knowledge and practice, knowledge and attitude, and attitude and practice (p <0.001). Conclusion: Nearly half of the chronic disease patients in Nepal had poor knowledge and practice whereas more than two-third had negative attitude towards COVID-19 disease. Older age of the patient was significantly associated with poor knowledge and poor practice. These study findings could be helpful for the government and non-government stakeholders while planning COVID-19 awareness campaigns to the targeted patient groups.