A Cross-Sectional Study on University Students’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward COVID-19 in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

The unprecedented coronavirus pandemic is hitting the whole world, including the United Arab Emirates. Public awareness and adherence to the recommendations play a major role in managing a crisis of this magnitude which is largely affected by knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). Hence, the aim of this study was to assess COVID-19-related KAP of the University of Sharjah (UOS) students and compare between health-related (HR) and non-HR (NHR) majors. A cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2020 in which 1,012 (481 health-related and 531 NHR) students participated via an online KAP questionnaire. The students' sociodemographic characteristics and sources of information were also recorded, and data were analyzed. Students were aged 20-25 years, with an overall knowledge score of 72.4%, and the main source of their information was the Internet and social media (85.2%). Those in HR majors had a higher knowledge score (76%) than those in NHR students (69%). Regarding attitudes, both HR and NHR students demonstrated comparable and positive attitudes to curb the spread. With respect to practices, more NHR students used masks (92.3%), almost all the time than HR students (88.4%). HR students (99.4%) avoided crowded places and practiced social distancing more than NHR students (99.4% versus 97.4% and 97.7% versus 93.2%, respectively). In conclusion, UOS students demonstrated adequate knowledge, and possessed good attitudes and low-risk practices toward prevention of COVID-19. It is recommended that universities including UOS continue to use digital university communication platforms to regularly disseminate vital information in such emergencies.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Medical Students Regarding COVID-19 in Afghanistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…A majority of students in our study (88.6%) were aware of common symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Similar findings were reported from students at the University of Sharjah 12 and nursing students in China (100% and 91.2%, respectively). 28 It is important that people be informed about common symptoms of COVID-19, via valid sources to prevent misconceptions.…”

“… 20 More than three quarters of study participants knew that the genetic material in COVID-19 was not DNA, whereas in a study conducted among health-science and other students at the University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, almost two thirds of students from all majors were not able to identify the genetic material of the virus. 12 …”

“…Similarly, in a study conducted among students of the University of Sharjah, >80% of the students were able to identify the elderly and those with comorbidities as being at higher risk of getting COVID-19. 12 Another study conducted among medical students in India reported that 40% of participants knew that persons with comorbidities were more prone to COVID-19. 20 Three quarters of students knew that currently there was no effective treatment for the COVID-19, which is very similar to that reported from health-science students at the University of Sharjah.…”

“…The symptoms generated by COVID-19 range from mild fever, cough, and shortness of breath to severe pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and multiple-organ failure resulting in death. 12 The fight against COVID-19 is ongoing, and almost all governments have implemented measures to contain, control, and curb the disease, such as partial or complete lockdowns. 13 In Afghanistan, the lockdown that was announced in early April 2020 included partial movement restrictions for the elderly and children below the age of 12 years, which were followed by additional measures later that year.…”

“…People suffering from coughs and other medical complaints are advised to seek medical attention. 12 , 18 In Afghanistan, the MPH also issued a set of guidelines and preventive measures to fight COVID-19. 19 With Afghanistan’s high rate of infected cases and deaths, accurate figures were needed to work better on perceptions of the public about the disease.…”