Knowledge, attitude, and practices of nurses during the late stage of COVID-19 in Turkey: cross-sectional study

Objective: To investigate nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding COVID-19 during its late phase. Method: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted on 354 nurses. The Demographic Information Form and the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Scale for COVID-19 (KAP COVID-19) were used to collect data. Data were evaluated using percentages, averages, one-way ANOVA, T-tests, Pearson correlation tests and regression analysis, with significance p < 0.05. Results: The mean COVID-19 knowledge score of the participants was 7.64 +/- 1.54. Nurses had a moderate level of knowledge, a positive attitude towards controlling the pandemic, and a positive attitude towards Turkey's ability to win the battle against this virus. A discernable relaxation was observed in their COVID-19-related practices, such as wearing masks and avoiding crowded places. It was found that female gender and higher education level were influential in increasing COVID-19 knowledge scores (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Identifying factors influencing healthcare providers' attitudes and behaviors towards the virus can guide the development of targeted training programs and policies during the pandemic.