BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), is the defining global health crisis of this time. It is responsible for significant morbidity and has had severe socioeconomic consequences. This study aims to assess the knowledge, preparedness and attitudes of medical students, physicians and faculty members in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on COVID-19 and their perspective on the roles of educational and healthcare institution towards improving pandemic preparedness and enabling optimal care. METHODOLOGY An exploratory, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 444 participants, using a non-probability convenience sampling method. English-speaking participants from the medical field aged 18 and above were included in the study. The validated questionnaire was administered online and distributed across social media platforms from May-July 2020. T-test, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney-U test were used when appropriate. Responses were analysed and statistical tests applied using IBM SPSS, version 25. RESULTS The knowledge scores were calculated amongst different ages and professional status, and the mean was 59.08% (SD = 12.848%). Almost half of the participants obtained poor knowledge scores (less than 60%). Most of the participants followed the latest updates on COVID-19 (86.7%). The majority opted to obtain information from the national health authorities (63.4%). The mean preparedness score among the participants was 68.65% (SD = 17.456%). Being in contact with patients significantly increased the preparedness score (p < 0.001). Only 27.9% of the participants believed their college education provided adequate knowledge to deal with epidemics or pandemics. Several barriers affect willingness to work in a pandemic, with 80.6% of participants worried about posing a risk to family members. CONCLUSION This study highlights the importance of establishing tailored COVID-19 related education programs to improve knowledge levels, especially in medical students. Efforts are still needed to promote effective control measures and address the barriers affecting willingness to work in a pandemic.

中文翻译：

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医生和医学生准备应对阿联酋的COVID-19大流行。

背景技术由严重急性呼吸系统综合症冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV2）引起的冠状病毒疾病（COVID-19）是当前定义的全球健康危机。它是造成高发病率的原因，并带来了严重的社会经济后果。这项研究旨在评估阿拉伯联合酋长国（UAE）的医学生，医师和教职员工对COVID-19的知识，防范和态度，以及他们对教育和医疗机构在改善大流行防范和实现最佳护理方面的作用的看法。方法学采用非概率便利抽样方法，对444名参与者进行了探索性，描述性横断面研究。这项研究包括来自18岁及以上医学领域的讲英语的参与者。验证的问卷于2020年5月至7月在网上进行管理，并在各个社交媒体平台上分发。在适当的情况下，使用T检验，ANOVA，Kruskal-Wallis检验和Mann-Whitney-U检验。使用IBM SPSS 25版对答复进行了分析，并进行了统计检验。结果在不同年龄和职业状态下的知识得分均得到了计算，平均值为59.08％（SD = 12.848％）。几乎一半的参与者获得较差的知识分数（低于60％）。大多数参与者都关注COVID-19的最新更新（86.7％）。大多数选择从国家卫生当局获取信息（63.4％）。参与者的平均准备分数为68.65％（标准差= 17.456％）。与患者接触显着提高了备灾得分（p <0.001）。只有27岁。9％的参与者认为他们的大学教育提供了足够的知识来应对流行病或大流行病。多种障碍影响大流行的工作意愿，其中80.6％的参与者担心对家庭成员构成风险。结论本研究强调了建立量身定制的与COVID-19相关的教育计划以提高知识水平，特别是在医学生中的知识水平的重要性。仍然需要努力促进有效的控制措施，并消除影响大流行中工作意愿的障碍。结论本研究强调了建立量身定制的与COVID-19相关的教育计划以提高知识水平，特别是在医学生中的知识水平的重要性。仍然需要努力促进有效的控制措施，并消除影响大流行中工作意愿的障碍。结论本研究强调了建立量身定制的与COVID-19相关的教育计划以提高知识水平，特别是在医学生中的知识水平的重要性。仍然需要努力促进有效的控制措施，并消除影响大流行工作意愿的障碍。