The Influence of Online Seminars on Public’s Knowledge Regarding Covid-19 Prevention in Vulnerable Groups in The New Normal Era

Abstract

Covid-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory SyndromeCoronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. A total of70,736 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 3,417 deaths have been reported by theMinistry of Health (9 July 2020). Various steps have been taken to control the spreadof the Covid-19 pandemic that is currently happening in Indonesia, one of which ishealth promotion. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it was suggested that educationalmethods be better done online. So, this study is interested in assessing the effect ofeducational methods with online seminars through WhatsApps on the knowledge ofthe general public about the prevention of Covid-19 in vulnerable groups in the newnormal era. This study uses a research design quasi experimental pre and post testdesign by comparing the knowledge of respondents before and after observation.Observations were made when respondents attended online seminars on theprevention of covid-19 in vulnerable groups in the new normal era through theWhatsApp group. The population in this study were 471 people who were membersof the online seminar group carried out by the IKM-IKK FK Unsri department. In thisstudy, 100 respondents met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results of theunivariate analysis regarding the characteristics of the respondents obtained anaverage age 29.78 years old, female (69.0%), same as Islam (92.0%), highly educated(75.0%) and not yet working (58.0%) including students and students. It was foundthat the level of respondents’ knowledge about Covid-19 increased from 87.0% to99.0%. Comparative analysis showed a significant change in knowledge about theprevention of Covid-19 in vulnerable groups in the new normal era of respondentsafter attending an online seminar, namely p=0.012. So, it can be concluded thatonline seminars have a significant effect on changing the knowledge of the generalpublic about the prevention of Covid-19 in vulnerable groups in the new normal era.