COVID-19 related knowledge sharing practice and associated factors among healthcare providers worked in COVID-19 treatment centers at teaching hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is a pandemic that causes many deaths and disrupts the lives of the world population on an unprecedented scale. Healthcare providers are on the frontline in the struggle against this pandemic. In this regard, knowledge sharing is very crucial for healthcare professionals to provide safe, effective, and quality patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Accurate and timely COVID-19 related knowledge helps for making evidence-based decisions, during the management of the pandemic. Therefore, this study aimed to assess COVID-19 related knowledge sharing practices and associated factors among healthcare providers who worked in COVID-19 treatment centers at specialized teaching hospitals in the Amhara Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia. METHOD: An institutional-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from April 1 to May 30, 2021. The study included 476 healthcare providers who worked in COVID-19 treatment centers at specialized teaching hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia. A pretested and structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. EpiData 4.6 and SPSS version 23 were used for data entry and analysis respectively. Bi-variable and Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with the dependent variable. A P-value of less than 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. RESULT: A total of 454 respondents, with a response rate of 95.4%, were participated in the study. About, 55.3% (95% CI: 51–60.2) of healthcare providers had a good level of COVID-19 knowledge-sharing practice. Phone type [AOR = 4.05, 95% CI (1.99–8.25)], computer access [AOR = 2.09, 95% CI (1.12–3.92)], awareness [AOR = 2.01, 95% CI (1.20–3.39)], willingness [AOR = 1.77, 95% CI (1.05–2.97)] and educational status [AOR = 2.94, 95% CI (1.92–5.71)] were significantly associated with the COVID-19 knowledge sharing practices in the multivariable logistic regression model. CONCLUSION: The finding implied that above half of the healthcare providers in this study setting were good at sharing their COVID-19 related knowledge. Policymakers, government, and other concerned bodies should stress to improve computer access, awareness creation, enhancing healthcare providers' willingness to share their COVID-19 related knowledge, introducing smartphone technology, and rising healthcare providers’ educational status are necessary measures to improve COVID-19 related knowledge sharing practice in this study setting.