Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Indonesian medical and non-medical undergraduate students toward COVID-19

Abstract

As the COVID-19 Pandemic spread across Indonesia, good knowledge, proper attitude, and appropriate practices among undergraduate students must be achieved before staring face-to-face lecture. These are also important since most students are active in social media and can spread true or false rumors regarding COVID-19. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical and non-medical undergraduate students toward COVID-19. A 51-item, online questionnaire was developed and sent to random undergraduate students from different faculties in Diponegoro University, Indonesia. A total of 482 students completed the survey. Chi-Square test showed that there were significant associations in the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards the COVID-19 between medical and non-medical students, where medical students have better knowledge, attitudes, and practices than non-medical students. This study's findings may become the basis for an awareness campaign planning among students in particular and the public in general , which at this time most student activities are still carried out online and to prepare face-to-face lectures and also to deepen the material regarsing COVID-19 among students, especially non-medical students, and furthermore, help to guide the efforts and plans of state health authorities for a better containment of COVID-19.