Knowledge Of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Research Articles

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of COVID-19 Prevention among Medical Undergraduates of a Higher Institution in Enugu Metropolis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has posed a global health crisis since its emergence in late 2019. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to COVID-19 prevention among medical undergraduates in Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, involving undergraduate medical students from the University of Nigeria, Enugu, and Ituku-Ozalla campuses. A total of 450 participants were recruited through convenience sampling, and a structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire covered sociodemographic information, COVID-19 knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices. Data were analyzed using the Social Package for Social Science version 28, with statistical significance set at P < 0.05. Results: The majority of participants demonstrated good knowledge of COVID-19 prevention (89.6%), with significant associations observed between knowledge and the level of study (P = 0.001). A significant relationship was also noted between knowledge and attitude (P = 0.000). In terms of practice, 24.2% of medical students reported good COVID-19 prevention practices. Additionally, a majority of participants (n = 405; 90%) had not been vaccinated against COVID-19, largely influenced by vaccine hesitancy. Conclusion: Efforts should focus on transforming knowledge into positive attitudes and encouraging better COVID-19 preventive practices among medical undergraduates. Addressing vaccine hesitancy through targeted education and awareness campaigns is imperative to mitigate the risks associated with the pandemic and potential future waves.

Infection prevention and control status at public hospitals and factors associated with COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers in Myanmar: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundHospitals should prepare for emerging diseases and protect healthcare workers (HCWs) from work-related infection. This study aims to assess public hospital preparedness for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a year after the Myanmar government began implementing COVID-19 prevention measures, and to identify factors associated with work-related COVID-19 infection among HCWs in Myanmar.MethodsIn January 2021, data were collected from 101 hospitals and 706 HCWs who had COVID-19 in Myanmar in 2020. Data from the hospitals included basic information, the status of infection prevention and control (IPC), the preparedness for COVID-19 (guidelines, checklists, fever screening, patient pathway, and training), handwashing facilities, and availability of personal protective equipment (PPE). Data of COVID-19 infected HCWs included age, occupation, workplace, severity and source of COVID-19 infection, knowledge and practice of handwashing, and working environment. Chi-square test was performed to compare the preparedness for COVID-19 among three hospital levels (primary, secondary and tertiary levels). Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the associated factors of work-related infection of HCWs.ResultsThe total number of beds, HCWs, and COVID-19 patients in 2020 at the 101 hospitals was 12,888, 14,421, and 19,835, respectively. The availability of PPE was high in hospitals at all levels. Approximately 80% of hospitals had functional status of IPC, set up fever screening and patient pathway, and provided training on IPC and COVID-19. However, only 39.6% of hospitals had developed COVID-19 guidelines and 55.4% had developed checklists. The percentage of hospitals that prepared each measurement was lowest at the primary level. The factors associated with work-related COVID-19 among HCWs were being 30–39 years old, working as a doctor, working at isolation wards, having disinfection technique training, and having enough PPE at the workplace.ConclusionThe preparedness for COVID-19 at public hospitals in Myanmar in January 2021 was insufficient, especially in the availability of the guidelines and checklists and at primary hospitals. A support system for hospital pandemic preparedness and monitoring of IPC implementation is needed. The government should prepare for emerging diseases and provide appropriate and adequate PPE and additional training to all HCWs, especially HCWs who work for isolation wards.

Path analysis of COVID-19 cognition, social support, and mental health of pregnant women with interventional prenatal diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic based on structural equation modeling.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cognition, social support, and mental health among pregnant women proposed for undergoing interventional prenatal diagnosis in Sichuan Province during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 2270 pregnant women (2232 valid) who were proposed to undergo interventional prenatal diagnosis at a tertiary hospital prenatal diagnosis center in Sichuan Province from January to December 2022 were selected by Convenience sampling and surveyed using a self-administered general information questionnaire, social support rating scale, mental health questionnaire (including: Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale), and self-administered COVID-19 cognition questionnaire. Structural equation modeling showed that social support negatively predicted anxiety (β = -0.34, t = -14.98, P < .001) and negatively predicted depressive status (β = -0.21, t = -9.57, P < .001); COVID-19 cognition negatively predicted anxiety (β = -0.76, t = -5.34, P < .001) and depression (β = -0.40, t = -2.99, P < .01); anxiety positively predicted anxiety (β = 0.73, t = 37.34, P < .001). The overall knowledge rate of COVID-19 cognition among 2232 pregnant women who were to undergo interventional prenatal diagnosis was 76.40%. The fit indices of the model were: CMIN/DF = 3.071, GFI = 0.999, AGFI = 0.993, CFI = 0.999, RMSEA = 0.030, NFI = 0.998, and TLI = 0.992, indicating that the model had a good fit and the model was scientifically valid. Pregnant women in Sichuan province who are to undergo prenatal interventional diagnosis have a medium level of COVID-19 awareness, and their level of COVID-19 awareness and social support will directly affect their anxiety and depression level, and their anxiety level will also affect their depression level. We should give more attention to pregnant women, especially those in particular situations such as advanced age, poor maternal history, family history of genetic disease, etc, they should be given adequate care and social support, and multiple channels and types of health education should be provided for the COVID-19 to improve the pregnant women's knowledge of COVID-19, which is important for improving the mental health of pregnant women.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 Knowledge, Its Vaccine Uptake Intentions, and the Influence of Personality Traits among Undergraduate Pharmacy Students in a University Setting: Findings and Implications.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the greatest global health catastrophe of the century, with its vaccine hesitancy compounding the woes. Relevant stakeholders, including pharmacy students (whose education was disrupted) are important bulwarks against these catastrophes, but their COVID-19-related information are scarce. We assessed COVID-19 knowledge, its vaccine uptake intentions, and the influence of personality traits among pharmacy undergraduates in a Nigerian university. This was a post-lockdown cross sectional study conducted at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. A 61-item questionnaire was used to collect data among pharmacy undergraduates who attended Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria, in May 2021. Summary statistics- mean (±standard deviation), range, frequency, proportion; inferential statistics- Chi square statistics, binary logistic regression. The response rate was 88% (168/191). The average COVID-19 knowledge score, the frequency of acceptance, and hesitancy to take COVID-19 vaccine among study participants were 42.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 42.1-43.7), 39.1% (95% CI = 37.3%-41.8%), and 61.9% (95% CI = 58.0%-64.2%), respectively. In addition, of the 168 study participants, 73 (43.5%) considered themselves to have high self-esteem, 67 (39.9%) were highly extroverted, 91 (54.2%) highly privately self-conscious, 96 (57.1%) highly publicly self-conscious, and 60 (35.7%) highly self-restrained, with 57 (34.0%) not believing in the existence of COVID-19. COVID-19 knowledge varied significantly by level of study (F [2,165] = 5.539; P = 0.005; η2 = 0.06). Similarly, those with high self-esteem were twice as knowledgeable regarding COVID-19 as those with low self-esteem (odds ratio [OR]: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.08-3.78; P = 0.03) with gleaning COVID-19-related information from social media platforms predicting COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (CVH) (OR: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.16-0.85; P = 0.02). The observed suboptimal COVID-19 knowledge was associated with participants' low level of self-esteem, and the prevalent CVH was associated with obtaining COVID-19-related information from social media platform.

Medical students' professionalism attributes, knowledge, practices, and attitudes toward COVID-19 and attitudes toward care provision during pandemic amidst the COVID-19 outbreak according to their demographics and mental health.

This study examines various aspects related to medical professionalism in medical students during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, focusing on their medical professionalism attributes, KPA (knowledge, practices, and attitudes) toward COVID-19 and attitudes toward provision of care in pandemic. We assessed whether these aspects related to medical professionalism were varied by their demographics and mental health level. Six questionnaires related to medical professionalism were distributed online to medical students in six grades at a single medical school. A one-way analysis of variance was used to examine differences in scores related to medical professionalism based on their demographics, for examples, gender, grade, residence, religion, as well as their mental health levels. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine correlations between each variable. Female students scored higher on medical professionalism attributes and attitudes toward duty-to-care than male students. Medical professionalism attribute scores were higher with higher relationship satisfaction and resilience levels but lower with higher anxiety levels. Furthermore, these scores were significantly associated with attitudes toward COVID-19 preparedness. However, COVID-19 knowledge and practice scores were negatively associated with attitudes toward COVID-19 preparedness and careers after graduation. Meanwhile, students who took the leave of absence related to 2020 doctors' strike had significantly lower scores on attitudes toward COVID-19 preparedness and duty to care than those who did not. Our findings suggest that mental health of medical students is strongly related to their various aspects related to medical professionalism, especially their attitudes toward COVID-19 preparedness. Good mental health was positively linked to medical professionalism attributes and attitudes toward COVID-19 preparedness. However, knowledge and practice of COVID-19 were negatively associated with willingness to participate in the pandemic response. Additionally, the experience of the 2020 leave of absence impacted the attitudes of medical students toward COVID-19 preparedness (p=0.015) and their duty to care (p=0.012) negatively.

Homeostasis imbalance process ontology: a study on COVID-19 infectious processes.

One significant challenge in addressing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is to grasp a comprehensive picture of its infectious mechanisms. We urgently need a consistent framework to capture the intricacies of its complicated viral infectious processes and diverse symptoms. We systematized COVID-19 infectious processes through an ontological approach and provided a unified description framework of causal relationships from the early infectious stage to severe clinical manifestations based on the homeostasis imbalance process ontology (HoIP). HoIP covers a broad range of processes in the body, ranging from normal to abnormal. Moreover, our imbalance model enabled us to distinguish viral functional demands from immune defense processes, thereby supporting the development of new drugs, and our research demonstrates how ontological reasoning contributes to the identification of patients at severe risk. The HoIP organises knowledge of COVID-19 infectious processes and related entities, such as molecules, drugs, and symptoms, with a consistent descriptive framework. HoIP is expected to harmonise the description of various heterogeneous processes and improve the interoperability of COVID-19 knowledge through the COVID-19 ontology harmonisation working group.

Factors associated with willingness to receive coronavirus disease vaccination during the pandemic: A nationwide survey in Taiwan

Background/purposeVaccination is the most important preventive measure to protect people from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Governments worldwide have prioritized their vaccination policy against COVID-19. However, there is a lack of relevant research on Taiwanese attitudes and considerations toward COVID-19 vaccination. This study aimed to investigate the cognition, preventive behaviors, and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines that influence people's willingness to get vaccinated in Taiwan. MethodsFrom October 1 to 31, 2021, a computer-assisted telephone interview system was used to randomly select Taiwanese people to investigate their COVID-19 preventive behaviors, knowledge, and willingness to be vaccinated. ResultsWe included 2000 participants of whom 96.45% showed vaccination willingness. The overall mean age and knowledge scores were 48.6 years and 5.78, respectively. All of the participants chose to wear masks, and 80% chose to be vaccinated to prevent COVID-19. Compared with the non-willing vaccination participants, those with younger ages, higher incomes, and higher knowledge scores regarding masks and vaccination were more likely to be vaccinated. Furthermore, apprehensions about vaccine side effects and negative news about COVID-19 vaccines were the major reasons for vaccination hesitancy. ConclusionTo improve people's willingness to get vaccinated, the government should strive to deliver correct knowledge and refute inappropriate negative information about COVID-19 vaccination. Moreover, recommendation by physicians was an important factor for older individuals to decide on receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, and policies could be implemented from this aspect.

Knowledge and preventive practices regarding COVID-19 disease among Ukrainian refugees in Poland.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine contributed one of the largest migration movements in the 21st century. Refugees may become a source of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections for the residents of host countries. The study aim was to assess knowledge and preventive practices regarding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among Ukrainian refugees in Poland. The cross-sectional study was conducted between March and April 2022 among Ukrainian refugees registering consecutively in Zielona Góra, Poland. Knowledge and preventive practices were assessed by giving 1 point for each correct answer by anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. The response rate was 96%, 190 participated (mean age 37.8 ± 15.5 years; 57.9% females); 61.6% self-reported their socio-economic status (SES) as high, 38.9% reported high level of education. The mean COVID-19 knowledge score was 3.06 ± 1.95; 19.5% scored >50%. The knowledge level was higher among migrants with high SES (P = .003). The mean preventive practices score was 2.56 ± 1.38; 54.0% scored ≥ 60%. 40.5% declared social distancing, 62.6% followed coughing etiquette, 69.0% home isolate themselves during COVID-19. 57.9% always used masks in public space, however 74.2% wore masks with uncovered nose. Refugees with higher education, high SES and knowledge level had significantly greater preventive practices scores (P = .002; P = .02; P = .03, respectively). The knowledge and preventive practices level was insufficient. Educational campaigns oriented to raising knowledge and prevention behavior skills should be implemented, especially targeting high-risk groups to avoid spread of COVID-19.

Knowledge, attitude and perception towards COVID-19 among representative educated sub-Saharan Africans: A cross-sectional study during the exponential phase of the pandemic.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the Severe Acute Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a global health threat with extensive misinformation and conspiracy theories. Therefore, this study investigated the knowledge, attitude and perception of sub-Saharan Africans (SSA) on COVID-19 during the exponential phase of the pandemic. In this cross-sectional survey, self-administered web-based questionnaires were distributed through several online platforms. A total of 1046 respondents from 35 SSA countries completed the survey. The median age was 33 years (18-76 years) and about half (50.5%) of them were males. More than 40% across all socio-demographic categories except the Central African region (21.2%), vocational/secondary education (28.6%), student/unemployed (35.5%), had high COVID-19 knowledge score. Socio-demographic factors and access to information were associated with COVID-19 knowledge. Bivariate analysis revealed that independent variables, including the region of origin, age, gender, education and occupation, were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with COVID-19 knowledge. Multivariate analysis showed that residing in East (odds ratio [OR]: 7.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.7-14, p<0.001), Southern (OR: 3.7, 95% CI: 2.1-6.5, p<0.001) and West (OR: 3.9, 95% CI: 2.9-5.2, p<0.001) Africa was associated with high COVID-19 knowledge level. Apart from East Africa (54.7%), willingness for vaccine acceptance across the other SSA regions was <40%. About 52%, across all socio-demographic categories, were undecided. Knowledge level, region of origin, age, gender, marital status and religion were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. About 67.4% were worried about contracting SARS-CoV-2, while 65.9% indicated they would consult a health professional if exposed. More than one-third of the respondents reported that their governments had taken prompt measures to tackle the pandemic. Despite high COVID-19 knowledge in our study population, most participants were still undecided regarding vaccination, which is critical in eliminating the pandemic. Therefore, extensive, accurate, dynamic and timely education in this aspect is of ultimate priority.

The Nigerian youth knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) towards the national drive against the Spread of COVID-19: An online cross-sectional Survey.

The global impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)has led to the need to prioritise public health campaign by all stakeholders among diverse population groups. This study investigated the dispositions of Nigerian adolescents towards the prevention of the spread of COVID-19. The young adolescents (n=1,529) included in this study, were between the ages of 15 and 26 years from Afe Babalola University. Students were contacted through their various colleges and residential hostels to complete the questionnaire via a shared link. All students included, voluntarily participated in this cross-sectional study by completing the adapted COVID-19 knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) questionnaire. The collected data were analysed to show the level of knowledge, attitude and preventative practices and also to test for significant association between gender and variables for the study. The study was conducted between March 23-April 25, 2021. The outcome of the findings showed that students with families with 5-10 members showed significant association with knowledge accuracy on COVID-19 (χ 2 = 6.077, p = 0.044). There was a significant association between gender and the need to report the suspected case of COVID-19 infection to the health authorities (χ 2 = 14.075, p = 0.001) with more females likely to report a suspected case. More females (59.2%) were significantly (χ 2 = 8.904, p = 0.012) involved in the practice of social distancing or home quarantine as a preventive measure. This study showed evidence of high prevalence of knowledge related to COVID-19 in majority of the study participants. This is a pointer to the efficacy and success of present public health campaigns in Nigeria.

Assessment of patients’ knowledge, attitude and practice of cross-infection control in the dental clinic during COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a highly contagious disease that causes viral respiratory illness, has changed the lifestyle of humans worldwide. Dental practitioners and patients are at high risk of infection during their routine practice due to their exposure to saliva, blood, and droplet production.&#x0D; Aim: To gain insight into the patient’s viewpoint regarding the practice, altitude, and knowledge of COVID-19 and its transmission and cross-infection in dental clinics.&#x0D; Methods: This was cross–sectional analytic survey in dentistry during the COVID-19 pandemic. A self-administered close-ended questionnaire consisting of 32 variables was distributed among the study participants. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. The level of significance was p ≤ 0.05.&#x0D; Results: The age of the participants varied from 20 - 58 years, with a mean age of 34.6 ±5. The majority (89.3%) felt COVID-19 was a highly contagious disease, while 50.0% of the respondents believed that the most common route of COVID-19 transmission in dentistry is through aerosols. The majority, 78.6%, recorded good knowledge of infection control following the COVID-19 outbreak. The number of married patients who had good knowledge of cross-infection control was 118, which was statistically significant.&#x0D; Conclusion: From the study, it is evident that the patients possess a good range of knowledge in both preventive and cross-infection protocols to follow during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the same cannot be said about the practice.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of COVID-19 in Adolescents Attending Covid Vaccination Center in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kolkata, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among adolescents in India, recognizing the vital role this demographic plays in pandemic control. Materials and Methods: Conducted at the Medical College, Kolkata COVID-19 vaccination center from June to August 2022, this web-based prospective cross-sectional study included individuals aged 13–19 years. Data collection involved a structured questionnaire in multiple languages, ensuring broad accessibility. Ethical standards were upheld with online informed consent and rigorous data confidentiality measures. Results: The study revealed balanced gender representation among participants, with most enrolled in the 10th or 12th standard. Parents’ educational backgrounds varied, but a significant proportion had family members employed in the health-care sector (66.7%). Knowledge about COVID-19 in India was surprisingly limited: only 3.7% knew about oxygen saturation and its utility. 18.75% considered depression as a comorbidity of COVID-19. 73.8% of the participants relied on social media for information about COVID-19. A majority (66.25%) of the participants believed 2 doses of the vaccine would protect them from the disease. Twice as many women believed in the protection offered by vaccines. Conclusion: This research, distinct from conventional scoring-based studies, emphasized uncovering misconceptions and knowledge gaps. Importantly, many adolescents lacked awareness of the true COVID-19 situation in India, potentially undermining the pandemic gravity perception and preventive measures. Although participants showed awareness of common COVID-19 symptoms and preventive measures, knowledge about comorbidities’ influence on mortality rates was limited.

COVID-19 Seropositivity Among Adults of Tribal Origin Attending a Primary Care Centre in Wayanad Kerala- A Cross Sectional Study

Introduction: Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious viral illness caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Serological surveys help in understanding the burden of past infections. The World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests the need for populationbased sero-epidemiological investigations to acquire data for implementing containment measures. The tribal population, being the most marginalised and vulnerable section, is at a higher risk for COVID-19. However, there is limited literature regarding the seroprevalence of COVID-19 among the tribal population in our country. Aim: To assess the COVID-19 seropositivity, associated factors, and knowledge among adults of tribal origin attending a primary care centre in Wayanad, Kerala. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 279 adults of tribal origin, aged between 18 and 95 years, attending a primary tribal healthcare centre at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala, India, from August 2021 to October 2021. A semistructured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic details, history of COVID-19 infection, vaccination status, and participants’ knowledge and awareness about COVID-19. Antibody presence was tested using the WANTAI test kit. Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences(SPSS) version 21.0 A multivariable logistic regression was conducted following univariate analysis to identify independent factors associated with COVID-19 seropositivity. Results: The mean age of the study population was 45.34±15.86 years. Among the 279 participants, the proportion of seropositivity to COVID-19 antibodies was found to be 245 (87.8%) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 83.98 to 91.62. Regarding knowledge and awareness related to COVID-19, 186 (66.7%) participants were not aware of the common symptoms of COVID19. Individuals aged above 60 years had a five times higher probability of having COVID-19 antibodies compared to those aged 30 years or younger (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.71, 95% CI 0.111 to 20.025). Those who had received atleast one dose of the vaccine were nine times more likely to have seropositivity (aOR 8.58, 95% CI 1.390 to 53.028). Conclusion: The seropositivity of COVID-19 was high at 87.8%. Older people and vaccinated individuals were more likely to be seropositive. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen vaccination efforts among all age groups. Continued sero-surveillance and vaccination surveys need to be conducted to gain more insights into the antibody kinetics of this novel pathogen.

Systematic Review of Factors Associated with COVID-19 Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice among Middle School Students

Purpose: The spread of infectious disease, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has had a significant impact on people worldwide in the past three years. Although people's production and livelihoods are no longer strictly restricted, the fact is that the epidemic is not over. lack of understanding of the disease is one of the most common drivers of improper use of COVID-19 preventive measures, which increases the spread of the disease and the number of new cases in many countries. Although children and adolescents, are less likely to be infected with COVID-19 or to be or less symptomatic than other populations, adolescents are more likely to fail to follow strict precautions. This systematic review aimed to identify COVID-19 related KAP levels and associated factors among middle school students.

Factors Related to Nurses’ Professional Autonomy When Caring for Patients with COVID-19 in a University Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study

Although individual factors play a vital role in determining professional autonomy, their specific impact during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has not been studied. This study aimed to compare nurses’ professional autonomy when caring for patients with COVID-19 and for other patients and explore factors related to autonomy when caring for these patients. A paper-based questionnaire survey was conducted from June to August 2022 among nurses working at a university hospital in Japan. The survey included demographic factors (10 items, including, age, section, years of nursing experience, position, educational background, ladder level, and having certified nurse specialists or certified nurse qualifications) and individual experience factors (4 items: number of COVID-19 patients experienced, frequency and contents of searching for the latest information about COVID-19, frequency of using scientific sources, and frequency of training/study sessions on COVID-19 attended at the hospital). Additionally, basic knowledge of COVID-19 was evaluated. The scale for nurses’ professional autonomy was developed based on a previous study. A paired t-test and stepwise multiple linear regression were used for the analyses. Overall, 241 nurses participated in the survey. The average length of nursing experience was 10.3 ± 9.2 years. The total scores for nurses’ professional autonomy in all 5 factors 27 items were significantly lower (t = −12.1, p &lt; 0.001 ) when caring for COVID-19 patients than when caring for other patients. Specifically, Factor 1 (Cognition) exhibited the most decreased scores when caring for COVID-19 patients than when caring for other patients. Factor 4 (Abstract judgment) differed the least between caring for COVID-19 and for other patients, but the average score was the lowest. More years of nursing experience (β = 0.208, p = 0.001 ) and a higher number of patients with COVID-19 cared for (β = 0.140, p = 0.026 ) were associated with higher autonomy scores. In conclusion, to enhance professional autonomy during an unprecedented pandemic, nurses must enhance cognition and abstract judgment. In the event of a future pandemic, nurses need to create an environment in which they routinely access and utilize the latest information and scientific evidence to provide high-quality nursing care based on their professional judgment and competence.

Effect of Health Education on COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors in Oil Industry Workers: An Application of Health Belief Model

Background: Recently, the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new emerging universal challenge in infectious epidemic disease management. Even today, with access to vaccines, the most effective intervention is behavioral intervention, and as new types emerge, it continues to be significant. The goal of the present study was to promote preventive behaviors during the coronavirus pandemic among oil factory workers using the health belief model (HBM). Methods: A total of 138 onshore shift workers (69 control and 69 case group) were randomly chosen from the two sites of oil fields in southern Iran. Data collection tools were demographic characteristics questionnaire, COVID-19 knowledge questionnaire, HBM questionnaire, and prevention behaviors questionnaire. The Whatsapp application was used to educate the intervention group. Workers completed questionnaires at baseline, after the intervention, and three months after the educational program. Data analyses were done using SPSS software, version 24. Results: Except for knowledge and cues to action, there were significant interactions between time and group for HBM constructs and behavior (P≤0.05). Furthermore, there were significant changes in all variables between follow-up and baseline in the intervention group (P≤0.05). The linear regression indicated that the perceived benefit (ß=0.48, P=0.001) and self-efficacy (ß=0.40, P=0.001) were the most effective factors in preventive behavior, respectively. Conclusion: The results showed that efficient education based on the HBM and emphasizing enhancing knowledge and preventive behavior adoption can prevent individuals from developing COVID-19 and its complications. Considering that the perceived benefits and self-efficacy were the strongest predictor of behavior, attention to these constructs in educational interventions, especially among oil factory shift workers studied, who are at risk of COVID-19 and without enough knowledge, can provide better outcomes related to COVID-19 preventive behaviors.

Understanding Risk Perception and Xenophobic Attitudes during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic in the United States

Introduction: There have been over 87 million cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States (US). Objective: The objective of this study was to develop a novel questionnaire to assess risk perception of COVID-19 and xenophobic attitudes among adults in the US at the beginning of the pandemic. Methods: An anonymous self-report questionnaire was developed for this study in February 2020, and was distributed using convenience sampling from March 10 to March 25, 2020. The questionnaire assessed knowledge and risk perceptions of COVID-19, as well as attitudes toward individuals of various races and ethnicities. Results: 662 US adults completed the questionnaire. On a scale from 1 (low) to 5 (high), the mean risk perception was 3.44. Those with knowledge of COVID-19 and higher education levels reported higher risk perception and higher feelings of warmth towards Asian people. Forty percent of the sample had recently witnessed or experienced anti-Asian attitudes at the time of the survey. The majority of participants reported having heard about COVID-19 from news media, social media, and family or friends. Conclusions: Our sample had a moderate level of risk perception, potentially due to the time period of data collection (i.e., early in the pandemic course). The results suggest that knowledge about COVID-19 informed perceived risk and affected willingness to engage in healthy protective behaviors. Our study provides historic context of how people perceived the virus at the beginning of the pandemic, and gives insight into the aftermaths regarding quarantine and attitudes towards Asian Americans.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of COVID-19 in the General Population of the Southeastern Region in Iran

Background: It is necessary to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic for good management and intervention. Objectives: The current study aimed to evaluate the KAP of the public population regarding COVID-19 in the southeastern region of Iran. Methods: A self-constructed questionnaire based on the literature was developed. The items were asked from the participants via a telephone interview in Zahedan, Iran, during September and October 2020. This study evaluated the association of demographic and socioeconomic information using KAP scales. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 20.00). A significance level of 0.05 was considered for the study. Results: A total of 524 participants accepted to have an interview via telephone in the study. About 17% and 10.10% of the participants had poor and excellent knowledge, respectively. Moreover, 72.9% and 66.6% of the respondents had good knowledge and attitude, respectively. The practice was good in 42.4%of the participants. Overall, 73.3% of the subjects had good KAP. Gender had a significant association with attitude toward COVID-19 (χ2 = 18.85; P &lt; 0.001). Place of living did not have any significant association with all scales and overall KAP. Marital status had a significant association with attitude (χ2 = 15.89; P = 0.003), practice (χ2 = 9.60; P = 0.048), and KAP (χ2 = 18.64; P &lt; 0.001) of COVID-19. Education had a significant association with attitude (χ2 = 19.58; P = 0.012), practice (χ2 = 20.26; P &lt; 0.001), and KAP (χ2 = 28.98; P &lt; 0.001) regarding COVID-19. Occupation had a significant association with knowledge (χ2 = 26.94; P &lt; 0.001), practice (χ2 = 15.65; P = 0.017), and KAP (χ2 = 22.29; P &lt; 0.001) regarding COVID-19. Conclusions: The majority of the participants had great knowledge, a positive state of attitude, and acceptable practice. Although the findings are reasonable, it is recommended that the public should proceed to reinforce knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding COVID-19.

Development of the Panic Response Scale and the Predicting Factors of Panic Response During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During emergencies, individuals and communities often react in a variety of ways, including panic response. However, the study of panic response is limited due to narrow assessment tools that measure only one or two dimensions of human response (eg, physiology, cognition, emotion, and behavior). To address this limitation and to explore the risk and protective factors of panic response during the global spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the current study developed and evaluated the Panic Response Scale (PRS). Four samples were recruited for the following purposes: interview analysis (n = 26); item analysis and exploratory factor analysis (n = 604); confirmatory factor analysis and reliability analysis (n = 603); and retest reliability, validity analysis, and regression analysis (n = 349). The PRS consists of 21 items with four subscales: Physical Discomfort, Anxious Fluster, Sensitive Depression, and Excessive Prevention. Each of these subscales demonstrated good internal consistency (rs > 0.73), test-retest reliability (rs > 0.77), criterion validity (r = 0.69, p < 0.01), and convergent validity (rs = 0.31-0.65, p < 0.01). Regression analysis revealed significant predicting effects of COVID-19 knowledge and neuroticism on panic response. Additionally, cognitive reappraisal moderated the association between neuroticism and panic response. Following a traumatic event, the PRS offers a potential tool for identifying individuals in need of mental health services. Moreover, during the COVID-19 pandemic, knowledge and neuroticism served as risk factors for heightened panic response, while cognitive reappraisal served as a protective factor for coping with panic response.

Antecedent of Knowledge of Fatwa, Coronavirus, and Family Factors on Student Compliance with Social Distancing Policies to Reduce the Negative Impact of Covid-19 in Indonesia

Abstract. This study aims to determine the effect of knowledge of fatwa, the knowledge of coronavirus disease, and family factors on student compliance with social distancing policies to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in Indonesia. This study was quantitative and the data were collected through questionnaires distributed via google forms. The data were collected from 426 respondents who were students of private and public Universities in Indonesia. The tool of analysis used in this study was the Partial Least Square (PLS) method, a variance-based structural equation analysis (SEM) that can simultaneously perform the measurement and structural model testing. The study found that there was a significant influence of the family factors on the compliance of students with social distancing policies. While there was no significant influence of the knowledge of fatwa and Covid-19 variables on student compliance with social distancing. The results of this study contribute to enriching the discourse of the role of religious and social factors on student compliance with social distancing policy to reduce the spread of Covid-19