Abstract
Background: Since the implementation of social distancing practices during the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic there have been a myriad of definitions for ‘social distancing.’ The objective of this study was to determine students’ awareness of the various definitions of social distancing, how strictly they adhered to social distancing guidelines, and how they perceived the importance of various social distancing practices. 
 Methods: This cross-sectional survey was distributed via email to students at Emory-affiliated graduate schools, including the Medical, Nursing, and Public Health Schools.
 Results: Of the 2,453 recipients of the survey, 415 students responded (16.9% response rate). The majority of respondents were medical students (n=225, 55.6%). Of the respondents, 357 noted that they “frequently” or “always” abided by social distancing. The most common definition of social distancing with which respondents were familiar was the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s (n=276 of 369 responses, 74.8%). There were significant differences across groups when grouping students by the definition of social distancing that they were aware of, the social distancing guideline they most closely followed, and their school of attendance regarding the importance of specific social distancing examples (p<0.05 for each).
 Conclusions: A survey of healthcare students identified differences in the importance of social distancing practices based on the definition of social distancing that they were aware of. The results of this study underscore the importance of having unified definitions of public health messaging, which ultimately may impact disease spread.
Highlights
On March 11, 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).[1]
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defined social distancing as, “remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance from others,”[7] the WHO instructed that people should maintain, “at least one meter distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing,”[6] while the White House made no mention of physical distancing, instead encouraging working from home and avoiding social gatherings in groups larger than ten people.[5]
Setting and Participants An anonymous, internet-based survey was administered from April 17, 2020, to May 3, 2020, to 2,453 students in healthcare programs at Emory University, students enrolled in on-campus education at one of the three following schools: The Emory University School of Medicine (n=833), the Woodruff School of Nursing (n=794), and the Rollins School of Public Health (n=776)
Summary
On March 11, 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).[1]. The exponential growth dynamics of the virus[2] and failed efforts to control the spread burden healthcare resources and services, and economies, education, and the psychological wellbeing of the general population, students.[3] With limited knowledge of how to treat and contain the virus throughout the first half of 2020, organizations like the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States, the WHO, and the White House in Washington, DC published guidelines for behavior, including ‘social distancing’.4. The most common definition of social distancing with which respondents were familiar was that of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (n=276 of 369 responses, 74.8%). Conclusion: A survey of healthcare students identified differences in the importance of social distancing practices based on the definition of social distancing that they were aware of. The results of this study underscore the importance of having unified definitions of public health messaging, which may impact disease spread
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