Awareness, Practices, and Attitudes Toward the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak Among Northern Cyprus Residents: A Descriptive Research Study Using an Online Survey

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a global health issue that was declared as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The Eastern Mediterranean region, which includes the island of Cyprus, is one of the affected regions. This study aimed to analyse the awaren...

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Main Authors: Nazife SULTANOĞLU, Tamer ŞANLIDAĞ
Format: Article
Language:Turkish
Published: Galenos Yayinevi 2021-12-01
Series:Mediterranean Journal of Infection, Microbes and Antimicrobials
Subjects:
Online Access:http://mjima.org/abstract.php?id=228
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author Nazife SULTANOĞLU
Tamer ŞANLIDAĞ
author_facet Nazife SULTANOĞLU
Tamer ŞANLIDAĞ
author_sort Nazife SULTANOĞLU
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a global health issue that was declared as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The Eastern Mediterranean region, which includes the island of Cyprus, is one of the affected regions. This study aimed to analyse the awareness, practices, and attitudes towards the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak among Northern Cyprus residents during the period of a partial lockdown from April 7 to 17, 2020 through the online platform. Materials and Methods: A descriptive research study using the online survey method was completed by Northern Cyprus residents anonymously. An online questionnaire was designed consisting of 21 questions focused on demographics (five questions), awareness (seven questions), practices (six questions), and attitudes toward the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak (three questions) and was completed by 738 Northern Cyprus residents. Statistical Package for Social Sciences Statistics, Version 24.0 was used in the statistical analysis. Results: Facebook was the most often used platform for following news and information with regard to the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Additionally, most of the participants had good attitudes toward the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, believing that Northern Cyprus would win the battle against the virus. Conclusion: Once again, it was proven that online platforms, specifically Facebook, were the most used sources for following the news related to SARS-CoV-2. This strongly suggests that, in order to prevent dissemination of incorrect information, reliable authorities, such as the Ministry of Health, should publish information on online platforms to reach more people with correct information.
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spelling doaj.art-85a79f3531874306a435111786b1be3d2023-02-15T16:14:19ZturGalenos YayineviMediterranean Journal of Infection, Microbes and Antimicrobials2147-673X2021-12-0110110.4274/mjima.galenos.2021.2020.11Awareness, Practices, and Attitudes Toward the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak Among Northern Cyprus Residents: A Descriptive Research Study Using an Online SurveyNazife SULTANOĞLU0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5140-6938Tamer ŞANLIDAĞ1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6015-8032Near East University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Nicosia, CyprusNear East University, DESAM Research Institute, Nicosia, CyprusIntroduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a global health issue that was declared as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The Eastern Mediterranean region, which includes the island of Cyprus, is one of the affected regions. This study aimed to analyse the awareness, practices, and attitudes towards the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak among Northern Cyprus residents during the period of a partial lockdown from April 7 to 17, 2020 through the online platform. Materials and Methods: A descriptive research study using the online survey method was completed by Northern Cyprus residents anonymously. An online questionnaire was designed consisting of 21 questions focused on demographics (five questions), awareness (seven questions), practices (six questions), and attitudes toward the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak (three questions) and was completed by 738 Northern Cyprus residents. Statistical Package for Social Sciences Statistics, Version 24.0 was used in the statistical analysis. Results: Facebook was the most often used platform for following news and information with regard to the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Additionally, most of the participants had good attitudes toward the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, believing that Northern Cyprus would win the battle against the virus. Conclusion: Once again, it was proven that online platforms, specifically Facebook, were the most used sources for following the news related to SARS-CoV-2. This strongly suggests that, in order to prevent dissemination of incorrect information, reliable authorities, such as the Ministry of Health, should publish information on online platforms to reach more people with correct information.http://mjima.org/abstract.php?id=228sars-cov-2 outbreaknorthern cyprusonline platformawarenesspractices
spellingShingle Nazife SULTANOĞLU
Tamer ŞANLIDAĞ
Awareness, Practices, and Attitudes Toward the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak Among Northern Cyprus Residents: A Descriptive Research Study Using an Online Survey
Mediterranean Journal of Infection, Microbes and Antimicrobials
sars-cov-2 outbreak
northern cyprus
online platform
awareness
practices
title Awareness, Practices, and Attitudes Toward the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak Among Northern Cyprus Residents: A Descriptive Research Study Using an Online Survey
title_full Awareness, Practices, and Attitudes Toward the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak Among Northern Cyprus Residents: A Descriptive Research Study Using an Online Survey
title_fullStr Awareness, Practices, and Attitudes Toward the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak Among Northern Cyprus Residents: A Descriptive Research Study Using an Online Survey
title_full_unstemmed Awareness, Practices, and Attitudes Toward the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak Among Northern Cyprus Residents: A Descriptive Research Study Using an Online Survey
title_short Awareness, Practices, and Attitudes Toward the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak Among Northern Cyprus Residents: A Descriptive Research Study Using an Online Survey
title_sort awareness practices and attitudes toward the sars cov 2 outbreak among northern cyprus residents a descriptive research study using an online survey
topic sars-cov-2 outbreak
northern cyprus
online platform
awareness
practices
url http://mjima.org/abstract.php?id=228
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