Awareness towards COVID-19 among Medical Students: A Cross-sectional Questionnaire Based Study
Introduction: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has surfaced as a public health emergency and the world has witnessed the evolution of unprecedented measures for slowing down the disease progression and reducing the morbidity/mortality associated with the disease. In such scenario heal...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/14140/45160_CE[Ra1]_F(KM)_PF1(AKA_KM)_PN(SL).pdf |
| Summary: | Introduction: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic
has surfaced as a public health emergency and the world has
witnessed the evolution of unprecedented measures for slowing
down the disease progression and reducing the morbidity/mortality
associated with the disease. In such scenario healthcare workers
assume the most vital and the most vulnerable responsibilities.
Aim: To investigate the awareness of undergraduate students
of pre-final and final year, interns and postgraduate students
in Shyam Shah Medical College, Rewa, MP towards COVID-19
and the sources on which the respondents depend for acquiring
information through a web based questionnaire.
Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study,
conducted from 25th April to 1st May 2020 based on a close-ended,
time bound, online questionnaire containing 16 questions based
on aetiology, mode of transmission, risk factors, signs, symptoms,
treatment and prevention of COVID-19. It was administered to a
total of 320 students of which final respondents were 183 (112
undergraduate students and 71 post graduate students and
interns) as a Google form through a cross platform messaging
application namely WhatsApp. Data about the information
sources and the perceived reliability of the respondents on them
was also obtained. The filled information was evaluated and the
collected data was presented as frequencies and percentages.
Awareness was graded as good when the respondents were
able to answer more than 75% (>12) questions correctly, average
when they answered >50% and ≤75% (9-12) answers correctly
and poor when they could answer ≤50% (≤8) questions correctly.
Continuous variables were presented as mean±SD. Student’s
Independent t-test was performed to compare the mean
awareness level of both groups. A p-value of less than 0.05 was
considered statistically significant.
Results: Out of a total of 320 students to whom the questionnaire
was sent, 183 participated in the survey (response rate=57.1%).
The study revealed a good awareness level of the respondents
towards COVID-19 (mean score >12) in both the groups
(undergraduate/postgraduate). The percentage of correct
answers for entire study population for awareness related
questions was 82.24%. The difference in awareness level
between undergraduate students in comparison to interns and
postgraduate students was found to be statistically significant
(p<0.001). The respondents obtained maximum information from
the official government websites (mean=3.6) and had maximum
confidence on the same for the credibility of data (mean=3.9).
Conclusion: The awareness level of the students was found to
be good. To cope up with this new emerging infectious disease,
the health care workers must remain updated with all recent
developments. Comprehensive educational programs focused
on field epidemiology, infection control practice and public health
are the need of the hour. |
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| ISSN: | 2249-782X 0973-709X |