Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Routine medical checkup is seen as effective in preventing illness and promoting health as well as reducing morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of routine health check-up among health care workers (Doctors, Nurses, Radiographers, Lab scientists, Pharmacists, Medical record officers and Health assistants) in a tertiary health facility in Calabar, Nigeria.

METHODS: A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select sample size of 318. Data was collected through a structured interviewer questionnaire with the reliability coefficient of 0.83. Data generated were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS v.20). The significance of the hypothesis was tested using Chi – Square statistics at <0.05 level of significance.

RESULT: From the findings, majority of the respondents, 295 (92.8%) had good knowledge of routine health checkup. Most respondents, 205 (64.5%) had positive attitude towards routine health checkup. And a few respondents, 147 (46%) practiced routine health checkup. Hypothesis revealed that the calculated X² value (5.92^a) was greater than the critical X² value of 3.84 at <0.05 level of significance showing that there was a significant relationship between Doctors and Nurses knowledge and practice of routine health checkup.

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, health workers had good knowledge and positive attitude towards routine health checkup. Poor practice of routine medical checkup was also observed. Hence, the researchers recommended that regular seminars and mandatory annual medical examinations should be organized for health workers in all the departments in the hospital to improve their knowledge and practice of routine health check-up. There is need to study the factors associated with practice of medical checkup among Doctors and Nurses in the study area.

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