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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Eur J Dent 2020; 14(S 01): S50-S55
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1719212
Original Article

Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior, and Stress Related to COVID-19 among Undergraduate Health Care Students in Jordan

Ruba M. Mustafa
1   Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
,
Nasr N. Alrabadi
2   Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
,
Ruwaida Z. Alshali
3   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
,
Yousef S. Khader
4   Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
,
Dana M. Ahmad
1   Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
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Abstract

Objectives This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude, and infection control measures related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak among Jordanian health care students. Besides, their social behavior and stress level regarding COVID-19 infection were assessed.

Materials and Methods An online questionnaire was distributed to medical, dental, pharmacy, nursing, and applied health science students in Jordan during the COVID-19 outbreak quarantine in March 2020. The questionnaire comprised 38 questions assessing demographic data, knowledge, attitude, risk perception, and stress level toward COVID-19. Questions regarding infection control measures and social behavior after the quarantine were also included.

Statistical Analysis Independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and chi-square at a significance level of 5% were used for data analysis.

Results A total number of 935 responses were collected. The knowledge score of 55.72% of participants was satisfactory and it was higher for the clinical years’ students compared with the basic years’ students (p = 0.000) (descending order: sixth year > fifth year > fourth year > third year > first year > second year). Also, knowledge scores were significantly higher for medical and dental students than other disciplines (descending order: medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing/applied) (p = 0.000). The social media (89.1%) and TV or radio (69.5%) were mainly routes through which participants heard about COVID-19. Moderate and justifiable feelings about COVID-19 were found in the majority of the participants.

Conclusion Although the majority of students showed good knowledge scores, few of them appeared to have a serious lack of knowledge. Therefore, proper education and mentoring are necessary for students before reopening the university campuses.

Keywords

attitude - COVID-19 - infection control - knowledge - students


Publication History

Article published online:
24 November 2020

© 2020. European Journal of Dentistry. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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