Knowledge, Perceptions, and Prevention Practices among Palestinian University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Questionnaire-Based Survey
The purpose of this study is to offer a timely understanding of university students’ knowledge, perception, and preventative practices related to COVID-19 in Palestine and to determine affecting factors (gender, region, and type of locality). A cross-sectional design was used and data was collected...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/0046958021993944 |
| _version_ | 1819315808117981184 |
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| author | Basma Salameh PhD, RN Sami Basha PhD Walid Basha PhD Jihad Abdallah PhD |
| author_facet | Basma Salameh PhD, RN Sami Basha PhD Walid Basha PhD Jihad Abdallah PhD |
| author_sort | Basma Salameh PhD, RN |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The purpose of this study is to offer a timely understanding of university students’ knowledge, perception, and preventative practices related to COVID-19 in Palestine and to determine affecting factors (gender, region, and type of locality). A cross-sectional design was used and data was collected over 2 weeks in April 2020 through an online survey. A total of 484 surveys were collected from students from different Palestinian universities. Participants showed high levels of knowledge across multiple topics (symptoms and characteristics of COVID-19, prevention practices, and at-risk groups), although respondents were less likely to indicate mask wearing as an effective prevention practice compared to other practices, and almost one-third reported incorrectly that taking antibiotics is effective in preventing COVID-19 infection. Respondents reported the most trust in the Ministry of Health as a source of information, and the least trust in social media. A generally high level of acceptance of government regulations related to the COVID-19 pandemic was found. Given the current global situation and the second wave of infections in Palestine, plans should be in place to disseminate correct information and combat newly-emerging rumors and misinformation through channels that are trusted by the university student population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T10:05:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ce416960d2e847caa328274faa8f1d3d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0046-9580 1945-7243 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T10:05:59Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing |
| spelling | doaj.art-ce416960d2e847caa328274faa8f1d3d2022-12-21T17:00:47ZengSAGE PublishingInquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing0046-95801945-72432021-02-015810.1177/0046958021993944Knowledge, Perceptions, and Prevention Practices among Palestinian University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Questionnaire-Based SurveyBasma Salameh PhD, RN0Sami Basha PhD1Walid Basha PhD2Jihad Abdallah PhD3Department of Nursing, Arab American University, Jenin, PalestineAmerican University of Sicily, Siracusa, ItalyAn-Najah National University, Nablus, PalestineAn-Najah National University, Nablus, PalestineThe purpose of this study is to offer a timely understanding of university students’ knowledge, perception, and preventative practices related to COVID-19 in Palestine and to determine affecting factors (gender, region, and type of locality). A cross-sectional design was used and data was collected over 2 weeks in April 2020 through an online survey. A total of 484 surveys were collected from students from different Palestinian universities. Participants showed high levels of knowledge across multiple topics (symptoms and characteristics of COVID-19, prevention practices, and at-risk groups), although respondents were less likely to indicate mask wearing as an effective prevention practice compared to other practices, and almost one-third reported incorrectly that taking antibiotics is effective in preventing COVID-19 infection. Respondents reported the most trust in the Ministry of Health as a source of information, and the least trust in social media. A generally high level of acceptance of government regulations related to the COVID-19 pandemic was found. Given the current global situation and the second wave of infections in Palestine, plans should be in place to disseminate correct information and combat newly-emerging rumors and misinformation through channels that are trusted by the university student population.https://doi.org/10.1177/0046958021993944 |
| spellingShingle | Basma Salameh PhD, RN Sami Basha PhD Walid Basha PhD Jihad Abdallah PhD Knowledge, Perceptions, and Prevention Practices among Palestinian University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Questionnaire-Based Survey Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing |
| title | Knowledge, Perceptions, and Prevention Practices among Palestinian University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Questionnaire-Based Survey |
| title_full | Knowledge, Perceptions, and Prevention Practices among Palestinian University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Questionnaire-Based Survey |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge, Perceptions, and Prevention Practices among Palestinian University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Questionnaire-Based Survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge, Perceptions, and Prevention Practices among Palestinian University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Questionnaire-Based Survey |
| title_short | Knowledge, Perceptions, and Prevention Practices among Palestinian University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Questionnaire-Based Survey |
| title_sort | knowledge perceptions and prevention practices among palestinian university students during the covid 19 pandemic a questionnaire based survey |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/0046958021993944 |
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