Awareness and Possible Treatment Options Toward COVID-19 among Selected Healthcare Professionals in National Capital Region

Abstract

Background: Since December 2019, SARS-CoV-2, otherwise known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has caused worldwide panic and is now a serious problem. As the situation worsens, the need for an official cure becomes more crucial and different methods are being considered for treating infected COVID-19 patients.

Objectives: This study aimed to emphasize and further elaborate on the existing and possible treatment methods against COVID-19 and assess the awareness of healthcare professionals (doctors, medical technologists, and nurses) on the treatments for COVID-19.

Methodology: The study utilized an exploratory sequential mixed methods design following the treatment and misinformation theories models. The respondents were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and recruited through the snowball sampling technique. The study used an adapted survey questionnaire on the pathophysiology of COVID-19 and possible treatment options. Descriptive statistical analysis for quantitative data and open thematic coding is used in an online qualitative deductive data analysis.

Results: Based on the data, webinars, lectures, and discussions were the primary source of information among healthcare professionals. Most of the respondents showed proficiency with remdesivir among investigational selective medicines. Chloroquine was the top choice among selected repurposed drugs. They were aware of the convalescent plasma therapy that uses antibodies from the blood plasma of recovered COVID-19 patients. They were not aware of the different herbal treatments used to treat COVID-19.

Conclusion: Hence, chloroquine (repurposed drug), remdesivir (investigational drug), and convalescent plasma (adjunctive therapy) are the most well-known treatments for COVID-19. Most of the respondents were aware of the action and side effects of chloroquine, remdesevir, and convalescent plasma therapy.