Effect of Covid-19 Educational Bag on Knowledge, Attitude and Precautionary Practices of Institutionalized Elderly Persons

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the worldwide population drastically. Elderly people face significant risks of having severe illness if they are diseased because of their physiological changes associated with aging and the possible outcome of underlying health statuses. Public awareness about dealing with highly infectious respiratory diseases is extremely important and plays an imperative role in limiting and preventing the widespread of infection, especially in countries with low and middle-income. Aim: Assess the effect of Covid_19 Educational Bag on Knowledge, Attitude and precautionary Practices of institutionalized Elderly persons . Methods: A quasi-experimental study design was used. This study was carried out at El Amal elderly home, affiliated to Mansoura City and Dar El-Walaa affiliated to Meet khamr city-Dakahlia governorate- Egypt. The study involved a convenience sample of 72 elderly persons who are residence at El Amal and El Walaa elderly homes. Data collected over a period of 6 months from first of April 2020 till the end of September 2020.Tools: Four tools were used for data collection; Demographic and Clinical Data structured Interview Sheet, and Elder's Covid-19 Knowledge Questionnaire, Elder’s Attitude towards Covid-19 Questionnaire, and Covid-19 Precautionary Practices Checklists .Results: Two thirds of the studied elders were selected from dar El Walaa, nearly one half of the subjects were middle old with a mean of 66.57±4.08 yrs. More than one half of the sample were females. A statistically significant improvement of COVID-19 knowledge, attitude, and precautionary practices of the studied elders immediately after implementation of COVID-19 educational bag than before it, and the improvement still apparent across all the studied sample regardless of their demographic characteristics and clinical data. The studied elders COVID-19 knowledge levels were positively associated with their attitude and precautionary practice. While no proven relation was found between studied elders COVID-19 attitude and precautionary practices Conclusion: A significant improvement of the studied elders means of score of COVID-19 levels of knowledge, attitudes and precautionary practices immediately, and two months after implementation of COVID-19 educational bag regardless of their demographic characteristics and clinical data. Recommendation: Development of an educational programs targeting vulnerable elderly population institutionalized in elderly homes in various Egypt governorates, designing a long-term plan by healthcare authorities to improve access to education and health services.