A cross-sectional study on COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices among undergraduate medical students in an Indian setting

• Published in: National journal of physiology, pharmacy and pharmacology Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 1 - 5
• Main Authors: Anees, Azeem, Ahmed, Syed, S, Kishore
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Surat Association of Physiologists, Pharmacists & Pharmacologists 01.01.2024
• Subjects: Attitudes; College students; Coronaviruses; COVID-19 vaccines; Cross-sectional studies; Disease prevention; Disease transmission; Infections; Knowledge; Medical students; Pandemics; Questionnaires; Research centers; Respiratory diseases; Statistical analysis; Teaching hospitals; China; India
• ISSN: 2320-4672; 2231-3206
• DOI: 10.5455/njppp.2023.13.05242202305062023

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a severe acute respiratory disease that emerged with viral pneumonia-like symptoms in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. As the main strategies for dealing with COVID are prevention of transmission rather than medical intervention, the role of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the population and medical faculty are of paramount importance in reducing risk and mortality due to COVID-19, especially in Indian setting where population density is very high. Aims and Objectives: The aims and objectives of the study are to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices among undergraduate medical students regarding COVID-19 in a South Indian teaching hospital. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire-based study was conducted among 150 2nd-year undergraduate students from Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysore, from January 2022 to March 2022. A validated questionnaire consisting of 23 questions divided under 3 sections, knowledge, attitude, and practice, was used. Statistical analysis of data was done using MS-Excel spreadsheet. Results: 98.6% of the respondents had good knowledge regarding COVID-19. With respect to attitude, majority of the students (92%) felt that the COVID pandemic will come under control eventually and 20.7% wanted it to remain private if someone in their family were to get infected with COVID. With regard to their practices, 71.3% changed their daily routines in response to the pandemic. Conclusion: The study shows good knowledge and practices among medical students but lacks in certain social aspects regarding attitude toward COVID-19 such as keeping COVID-19 infections in the family private, which shows scope for improvement.