Assessment of the COVID-19 related knowledge and its association with perceived worries of COVID-19 infection and severe illness among higher education students in 26 countries: A cross-sectional study

• Published in: European journal of public health Vol. 31; no. Supplement_3
• Main Authors: Berhe, N, Van De Velde, S, Van Hal, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 20.10.2021; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Bivariate analysis; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Cross-sectional studies; Distance learning; Education; Higher education; Illnesses; Infections; Institutions; Internet; Knowledge; Population studies; Public health; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Respondents; Sampling; Software; Students; Trauma; Viral diseases; Viruses
• ISSN: 1101-1262; 1464-360X
• DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckab164.183

Background During COVID-19, various public health measures such as physical distancing and distance learning are being implemented. As a consequence, higher education (HE) students face social as well as mental trauma at a crucial developmental stage in their lives. Having inadequate COVID-19 related knowledge can lead to an exaggerated worrying as well as to negative COVID-19 outcomes. Our study aims to assess COVID-19 related knowledge and its association with perceived worries among HE students. Methods Between April 27 & July 7, 2020, a cross sectional survey, called COVID-19 International Students Well-being Study (C19 ISWS) was conducted in HE institutions in 26 countries. A stratified convenience sampling technique was used to select HE institutions. An online questionnaire was distributed to HE students to investigate behaviour and mental well-being. Descriptive, bivariate and mixed effect logistic regression analysis were conducted using R software. Perceived worries of COVID-19 infection as well as of severe COVID-19 illness (outcome measures) were studied. Results Over 127,000 students from more than 100 HE institutions in 26 countries filled out the questionnaire. 97,495 (76.5%) respondents have never acquired COVID-19 (our study population). 70,365 (72.1%) of these respondents were female. The most frequent correct response to COVID-19 related knowledge questions among respondents was observed about having the virus without having symptoms (94.3%). The odds of being worried of contracting severe COVID-19 illness among respondents with poor knowledge is 1.15 (95%CI:1.11,1.18). Conclusions COVID related knowledge was independently associated with perceived worries of contracting severe COVID-19 illness. We recommend scaling up of awareness creation campaigns to increase the comprehensive and timely COVID-19 related knowledge in order to tackle exaggerated perceived worries of severe COVID-19 illness among HE students.