Academic Nursing Students Awareness about Preventive Measures regarding COVID-19

Abstract

Background: Academic nursing students considered from the most groups who are at risk for COVID-19 infection. To protect them should keep them away from infection and improve their knowledge and practice about preventive measures towards COVID-19 by healthcare authorities. The study aimed to compare the preventive measures among academic nursing students' awareness regarding COVID-19. Subjects and Methods: Design: A comparative research design was used for the study. Setting: The study was conducted at the Faculty of Nursing, Beni-Suef and El-Fayoum Universities. Sample: A convenient sample of 660 including all the third academic nursing students' year in the previous setting. Tools: A self-administered questionnaire which consisted of three parts; (1) demographic characteristics of academic nursing students, (2) knowledge and (3) preventive measures regarding the COVID-19. Results: The major source of information among academic nursing students for COVID-19 was social media (70%) in Fayoum group and (74 %) in Beni-Suef group. Most of academic nursing students (95%, 93%) in Beni-Suef group and Fayoum group had satisfactory level of knowledge about COVID-19. A statistical significant differences were observed in academic nursing students about the preventive measures regarding COVID -19 in almost tested areas (P<0.001). Conclusion: It was found that academic nursing students in both groups had satisfactory knowledge level and good practice of preventive measures regarding COVID-19. Recommendations: Establishing educational program through various media and faculties to help academic nursing students become more knowledgeable during the COVID-19 epidemic and its preventive measures.