Abstract
Background: COVID-19 pandemic has been declared as a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization. Being highly contagious in nature, it has become a major concern for healthcare profession.Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study is to assess the medical students' awareness regarding risk perception, disease transmission, and prevention of COVID-19 and to study their source of information and activities affected by lockdown.Materials and Methods: We conducted an online, descriptive cross-sectional study in April–May 2020, using WhatsApp Messenger. Medical students of 1st-year and 3rd-year (posted in community medicine department) in Government Medical College, Haldwani, were approached through convenience sampling. Frequencies and proportions were computed for descriptive purposes. Chi-square test was utilized for statistical significance.Results: A total 244 1st-year and 3rd-year medical students, consisting of 106 (43.4%) males and 138 (56.6%) females, have participated in the study with a mean age of 20.8 (standard deviation 1.66) years. Overall, more students from either batch and gender found the disease very dangerous. TV was the most frequent source of information for their awareness. Almost similar frequency of students felt their social activities/visits affected during the lockdown period. Majority of students were aware about the important clinical features of COVID-19. Most of them agreed upon various modes of transmission severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The most frequently reported source of transmission was going to crowded spaces and exposure to coughing and sneezing. All students agreed for hand washing and avoiding contact with an infected person as the prevention method for COVID-19. Only about one-fourth of the students reported correct distance to be maintained between people.Conclusion: There is a need for regular educational interventions and training programs on infection control practices for COVID-19 to minimize the risk of transmission to healthcare students.
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