Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Towards Prevention of Covid-19 Among Undergraduate Medical College Students

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 pandemic is a public health burden and threat all around the world. Good Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards prevention can break the chain of transmis­sion. The study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice towards prevention of COVID-19. Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted during 5th to 28th of October 2020 among undergraduate Medical College students. An online questionnaire was developed using Google Forms. The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice of the participants were assessed, and the scores were calculated. T-test and ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. Results: Out of the total participants (n=274), 48.16 % were male and 51.5% were female. The mean age of the participants was 20.92±1.62 years. Among the total 69.3% had good knowledge, 67.5% had positive attitude and 73.4% had good practice towards prevention of COVID-19. In ad­dition, demographic variable sex had a significant impact on practice scores. Male participants had higher practice scores. (P<0.05). Conclusions: Undergraduate medical college students had good knowledge, positive attitude and good practices. Males and females had significantly different practices.

Effect of a health education program about COVID-19 on the knowledge, attitude, and practices of paramedical students in Egypt: an interventional study

“…This is in line with a study conducted in Saudi Arabia, 22 which clarified that the study participants reported a balance between inactive and proactive practices about COVID-19 (44.6% vs 55.4% respectively). Conversely, the percentage is slightly different from other studies, 26 , 27 that revealed that around two-thirds of the study population (73.4%, and 74.8% respectively) had a high and moderate practice score level. On the other side, a minority of students showed a good or satisfactory practice level in different studies in Egypt (7.0%), 20 Saudi Arabia (5.6%), 21 and Bangladesh (39.5%).…”

“…The study revealed that older students significantly had higher KAP scores in comparison with younger ones with a similar result in a cross-sectional study conducted in Bangladesh. 28 But this disagrees with other studies in Nepa, 26 and India, 29 which clarified that there was no statistically significant difference in knowledge score regarding the age of participants. This can be explained by the fact that older students had work experience and consequently better knowledge about the disease.…”

“…Positive attitude was achieved by 42.3%, 21 47.5%, 22 67.5%, 26 of the studied group respectively. On the contrary, a study conducted in Bangladesh revealed that only 16.81% had a high attitude level, followed by 51.05% with a moderate attitude level.…”

“…Many studies indicate that participants were divided approximately in half between positive attitudes and negative attitudes. 21 , 22 , 26 …”

“… 22 , 23 While another study found no significant correlation between attitude and practice scores. 26 This might be because knowledge is the main modifier of positive attitudes toward COVID-19: preventive practices, and these activities are practiced after having awareness and knowledge of the activities to be performed. Knowledge of COVID-19 decreases the risk of infection by improving patient practices.…”