Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice toward the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak: A Population-Based Survey in Iran

Background: Knowledge and awareness of disease transmission modes and basic hygiene principles during a public health crisis are crucial for developing effective control measures. The researchers aimed to evaluate Iranians’ knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) throughout the coronavirus disease 2...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Amirhossein Erfani, Reza Shahriarirad, Keivan Ranjbar, Alireza Mirahmadizadeh, Mohsen Moghadami
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 2023-07-01
Series:Journal of Health Sciences and Surveillance System
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jhsss.sums.ac.ir/article_49437_b92bfda1c81eea94fa69a4958bc5d67d.pdf
_version_ 1797687621651005440
author Amirhossein Erfani
Reza Shahriarirad
Keivan Ranjbar
Alireza Mirahmadizadeh
Mohsen Moghadami
author_facet Amirhossein Erfani
Reza Shahriarirad
Keivan Ranjbar
Alireza Mirahmadizadeh
Mohsen Moghadami
author_sort Amirhossein Erfani
collection DOAJ
description Background: Knowledge and awareness of disease transmission modes and basic hygiene principles during a public health crisis are crucial for developing effective control measures. The researchers aimed to evaluate Iranians’ knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to detect related sociodemographic variables.Methods: This cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted from the 2nd - 8th March 2020 among the general population of Iran above 15 years of age. A 76-item self-designed questionnaire regarding KAP towards COVID-19 was used, and the participants’ demographic characteristics and sources of information were collected. The Snowball sampling method was applied for data collection, and responses were scored based on the Likert scale. Simple and multiple linear regression was performed using SPSS version 26. The statistical significance level was P<0.05.Results: Among 8591 participants, the overall achieved knowledge, attitude, and practice score regarding COVID- 19 characteristics were 90%, 90%, and 89%. Also, an overall score of 85% was achieved regarding the knowledge of the transmission mode and high-risk groups for COVID-19. There was a significant association between female gender, higher age, and higher education with knowledge, attitude, and practice. Male gender, being single, and lower education levels were associated with lower scores in knowledge and practice (P<0.001) and poorer attitudes towards COVID-19 (P<0.001, 0.002, and <0.001, respectively).Conclusion: During its outbreak, the Iranian population demonstrated decent knowledge, appropriate practice, and a positive attitude towards COVID-19. Furthermore, health education programs, mainly targeting lower-knowledge individuals regarding COVID-19, are essential for encouraging a positive attitude and maintaining safe practices. Hopefully, by increasing knowledge via public health policymakers and the cooperation of the Iranian authorities and the general population, optimistic control and elimination of the disease can be anticipated.
first_indexed 2024-03-12T01:20:24Z
format Article
id doaj.art-58212dd294fd41bc94c9c0b737a97fb8
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2345-2218
2345-3893
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-12T01:20:24Z
publishDate 2023-07-01
publisher Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
record_format Article
series Journal of Health Sciences and Surveillance System
spelling doaj.art-58212dd294fd41bc94c9c0b737a97fb82023-09-13T05:45:01ZengShiraz University of Medical SciencesJournal of Health Sciences and Surveillance System2345-22182345-38932023-07-01113 (Supplement)57859110.30476/jhsss.2022.94639.155049437Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice toward the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak: A Population-Based Survey in IranAmirhossein Erfani0Reza Shahriarirad1Keivan Ranjbar2Alireza Mirahmadizadeh3Mohsen Moghadami4Thoracic and Vascular Surgery Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranThoracic and Vascular Surgery Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranThoracic and Vascular Surgery Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranNon-communicable Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranClinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranBackground: Knowledge and awareness of disease transmission modes and basic hygiene principles during a public health crisis are crucial for developing effective control measures. The researchers aimed to evaluate Iranians’ knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to detect related sociodemographic variables.Methods: This cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted from the 2nd - 8th March 2020 among the general population of Iran above 15 years of age. A 76-item self-designed questionnaire regarding KAP towards COVID-19 was used, and the participants’ demographic characteristics and sources of information were collected. The Snowball sampling method was applied for data collection, and responses were scored based on the Likert scale. Simple and multiple linear regression was performed using SPSS version 26. The statistical significance level was P<0.05.Results: Among 8591 participants, the overall achieved knowledge, attitude, and practice score regarding COVID- 19 characteristics were 90%, 90%, and 89%. Also, an overall score of 85% was achieved regarding the knowledge of the transmission mode and high-risk groups for COVID-19. There was a significant association between female gender, higher age, and higher education with knowledge, attitude, and practice. Male gender, being single, and lower education levels were associated with lower scores in knowledge and practice (P<0.001) and poorer attitudes towards COVID-19 (P<0.001, 0.002, and <0.001, respectively).Conclusion: During its outbreak, the Iranian population demonstrated decent knowledge, appropriate practice, and a positive attitude towards COVID-19. Furthermore, health education programs, mainly targeting lower-knowledge individuals regarding COVID-19, are essential for encouraging a positive attitude and maintaining safe practices. Hopefully, by increasing knowledge via public health policymakers and the cooperation of the Iranian authorities and the general population, optimistic control and elimination of the disease can be anticipated.https://jhsss.sums.ac.ir/article_49437_b92bfda1c81eea94fa69a4958bc5d67d.pdfattitudecovid-19iranknowledgepractice
spellingShingle Amirhossein Erfani
Reza Shahriarirad
Keivan Ranjbar
Alireza Mirahmadizadeh
Mohsen Moghadami
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice toward the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak: A Population-Based Survey in Iran
Journal of Health Sciences and Surveillance System
attitude
covid-19
iran
knowledge
practice
title Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice toward the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak: A Population-Based Survey in Iran
title_full Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice toward the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak: A Population-Based Survey in Iran
title_fullStr Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice toward the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak: A Population-Based Survey in Iran
title_full_unstemmed Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice toward the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak: A Population-Based Survey in Iran
title_short Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice toward the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak: A Population-Based Survey in Iran
title_sort knowledge attitude and practice toward the novel coronavirus covid 19 outbreak a population based survey in iran
topic attitude
covid-19
iran
knowledge
practice
url https://jhsss.sums.ac.ir/article_49437_b92bfda1c81eea94fa69a4958bc5d67d.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT amirhosseinerfani knowledgeattitudeandpracticetowardthenovelcoronaviruscovid19outbreakapopulationbasedsurveyiniran
AT rezashahriarirad knowledgeattitudeandpracticetowardthenovelcoronaviruscovid19outbreakapopulationbasedsurveyiniran
AT keivanranjbar knowledgeattitudeandpracticetowardthenovelcoronaviruscovid19outbreakapopulationbasedsurveyiniran
AT alirezamirahmadizadeh knowledgeattitudeandpracticetowardthenovelcoronaviruscovid19outbreakapopulationbasedsurveyiniran
AT mohsenmoghadami knowledgeattitudeandpracticetowardthenovelcoronaviruscovid19outbreakapopulationbasedsurveyiniran