Yaşlı Bireylerin COVID-19 Salgınına Yönelik Bilgi Düzeyleri ile Önleyici Uygulamaları Arasındaki İlişki

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to analyze the knowledge levels and preventive practices of the elderly people regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and to test the structural relationship between the knowledge levels and preventive practices towards COVID-19 pandemic with structural equation modeling. The population of the study consisted of patients over the age of 60 and their relatives who received health services from pharmacies operating in Sakarya city center. The data were collected personally by the researcher using the face-to-face survey technique. The total number of questionnaires evaluated and used in data analysis is 680. SPSS and AMOS package programs were used in the analysis of the data. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, ANOVA analysis and structural equation modeling were applied to the data. Elderly individuals had a high level of knowledge and preventive practices regarding the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition, it was found that the preventive practices for the COVID-19 pandemic were higher in elderly women than in old men, regular drug users compared to non-users, and those with moderate general health status compared to those with low levels. Structural equation analysis revealed that the positive relationship between COVID-19 knowledge level and preventive practices for the COVID-19 outbreak has an acceptable fit index. It has been observed that there is a reciprocal and positive relationship between COVID-19 knowledge level and preventive practices towards COVID-19.