Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding COVID-19 among medical and allied health students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Context: Notwithstanding the recognizable impact on public health, knowledge regarding this virus remains inadequate. Aims: This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical and allied health students regarding COVID-19 and its relationship to their demographic information. Setting and Design: This study was conducted at the University of Hail, Hail region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This study used a quantitative comparative-correlational design. Materials and Methods: There were 232 students recruited as respondents resulting from convenience sampling. A Google Forms survey was used to collect the data from March 2, 2020, until April 15, 2020. Statistical Analysis Used: One-way ANOVA, t-test, and Pearson's correlation test were used to analyze the data. Results: The participants had good knowledge, positive attitudes, and good practices on COVID-19. Of all the variables tested, only gender (P < 0.002) has statistical difference to knowledge. The Pearson's results showed no significant relationship between knowledge and attitudes (P > 0.5), knowledge and practices (P > 0.5), or attitudes and practices (P > 0.5). Conclusion: With the good knowledge, positive attitudes, and good practices of the participants about COVID-19, it is inferred that they can help to do information dissemination needed by the community. As females found to be more knowledgeable than males, female involvement in prevention and information of COVID-19 in the family dynamics of the Saudi context is worth considering. Moreover, male participants' knowledge should be improved through health education.