Identification of the awareness level by the public of Arab countries toward COVID-19: cross-sectional study following an outbreak
Background The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a global challenge. Improving public awareness about preventive measures and disseminating appropriate information about COVID-19 has a critical role in containing the disease. Aim To evaluate and determine the factors that may aff...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2020-12-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40545-020-00247-x |
| _version_ | 1797401280074743808 |
|---|---|
| author | Ruwidah Bonyan Aseel Fuad Al-Karasneh Faris El-Dahiyat Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun |
| author_facet | Ruwidah Bonyan Aseel Fuad Al-Karasneh Faris El-Dahiyat Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun |
| author_sort | Ruwidah Bonyan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a global challenge. Improving public awareness about preventive measures and disseminating appropriate information about COVID-19 has a critical role in containing the disease. Aim To evaluate and determine the factors that may affect the level of awareness and responses toward COVID-19 in Arab countries. The study could be helpful in identifying where more public education about COVID-19 is needed. Method This cross-sectional, online descriptive questionnaire-based study was conducted in February and March 2020. A total of 485 participants from Arabic-speaking countries (Jordan, United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Palestine, and Egypt) were asked to complete this Arabic-translated survey using social media platforms (Facebook and WhatsApp). Result In general, there was a good level of awareness of the participants regarding COVID-19. Higher awareness scores were significantly correlated with older participants [odds ratio (OR) 1.019; 95% CI 1.012–1.026], those who attended awareness campaigns [OR 1.212; 95% CI 1.081–1.358], secondary school education holders [OR 1.740; 95% CI 1.096–2.763], higher education diploma holders [OR 2.090; 95% CI 1.297–3.368], university degree holders [OR 1.969; 95% CI 1.265–3.066], those who have post-graduate education [OR 2.206; 95% CI 1.393–3.493], and healthcare employees [OR 1.259; 95% CI 1.025–1.547]. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic is causing global panic; thus, awareness and practices of preventive measures of COVID-19 should be increased through public educational campaigns, which should be planned in accordance with communities’ and countries’ attitudes toward COVID-19. Collaborative efforts between ministries of heath and residents of every country should be implemented. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:07:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-774ec03374bd4923be9fefa73a7b8532 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2052-3211 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:07:40Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-774ec03374bd4923be9fefa73a7b85322023-12-07T15:28:02ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice2052-32112020-12-0113110.1186/s40545-020-00247-x12315167Identification of the awareness level by the public of Arab countries toward COVID-19: cross-sectional study following an outbreakRuwidah Bonyan0Aseel Fuad Al-Karasneh1Faris El-Dahiyat2Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy,Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Clinical Pharmacy,College of Pharmacy,Health and Safety Department,Background The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a global challenge. Improving public awareness about preventive measures and disseminating appropriate information about COVID-19 has a critical role in containing the disease. Aim To evaluate and determine the factors that may affect the level of awareness and responses toward COVID-19 in Arab countries. The study could be helpful in identifying where more public education about COVID-19 is needed. Method This cross-sectional, online descriptive questionnaire-based study was conducted in February and March 2020. A total of 485 participants from Arabic-speaking countries (Jordan, United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Palestine, and Egypt) were asked to complete this Arabic-translated survey using social media platforms (Facebook and WhatsApp). Result In general, there was a good level of awareness of the participants regarding COVID-19. Higher awareness scores were significantly correlated with older participants [odds ratio (OR) 1.019; 95% CI 1.012–1.026], those who attended awareness campaigns [OR 1.212; 95% CI 1.081–1.358], secondary school education holders [OR 1.740; 95% CI 1.096–2.763], higher education diploma holders [OR 2.090; 95% CI 1.297–3.368], university degree holders [OR 1.969; 95% CI 1.265–3.066], those who have post-graduate education [OR 2.206; 95% CI 1.393–3.493], and healthcare employees [OR 1.259; 95% CI 1.025–1.547]. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic is causing global panic; thus, awareness and practices of preventive measures of COVID-19 should be increased through public educational campaigns, which should be planned in accordance with communities’ and countries’ attitudes toward COVID-19. Collaborative efforts between ministries of heath and residents of every country should be implemented.http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40545-020-00247-xawarenesscovid-19preventionfactorsarab countrieskingdom of saudi arabiajordanpalestineqatarunited arab emiratesegypt |
| spellingShingle | Ruwidah Bonyan Aseel Fuad Al-Karasneh Faris El-Dahiyat Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun Identification of the awareness level by the public of Arab countries toward COVID-19: cross-sectional study following an outbreak Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice awareness covid-19 prevention factors arab countries kingdom of saudi arabia jordan palestine qatar united arab emirates egypt |
| title | Identification of the awareness level by the public of Arab countries toward COVID-19: cross-sectional study following an outbreak |
| title_full | Identification of the awareness level by the public of Arab countries toward COVID-19: cross-sectional study following an outbreak |
| title_fullStr | Identification of the awareness level by the public of Arab countries toward COVID-19: cross-sectional study following an outbreak |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identification of the awareness level by the public of Arab countries toward COVID-19: cross-sectional study following an outbreak |
| title_short | Identification of the awareness level by the public of Arab countries toward COVID-19: cross-sectional study following an outbreak |
| title_sort | identification of the awareness level by the public of arab countries toward covid 19 cross sectional study following an outbreak |
| topic | awareness covid-19 prevention factors arab countries kingdom of saudi arabia jordan palestine qatar united arab emirates egypt |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40545-020-00247-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ruwidahbonyan identificationoftheawarenesslevelbythepublicofarabcountriestowardcovid19crosssectionalstudyfollowinganoutbreak AT aseelfuadalkarasneh identificationoftheawarenesslevelbythepublicofarabcountriestowardcovid19crosssectionalstudyfollowinganoutbreak AT fariseldahiyat identificationoftheawarenesslevelbythepublicofarabcountriestowardcovid19crosssectionalstudyfollowinganoutbreak AT ammarabdulrahmanjairoun identificationoftheawarenesslevelbythepublicofarabcountriestowardcovid19crosssectionalstudyfollowinganoutbreak |