Journal article
The Impact of Information Sources on COVID-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) among University Students: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study
International journal of environmental research and public health, Vol.18(23), p.12462
12/01/2021
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312462
PMCID: PMC8656615
PMID: 34886184
Abstract
COVID-19 is an emerging respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus accompanied by a tsunami of misinformation and fake news. This can weaken the public health responses by affecting the COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the public. Therefore, this cross-sectional study was designed during the early stage of the pandemic to evaluate the KAP of Palestinian university students and their commonly used information sources. We found that the most trusted information source among students was the World Health Organization (WHO), followed by the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH) briefings and healthcare workers, whereas social media was the most frequently used source of information. The participants exhibited a high level of COVID-19-related knowledge, having an average score of 8.65 (range: 0-10). In total, 76% avoided going to crowded places, and only 33% wore a mask while being outdoors. The vast majority (93%) checked the accuracy of COVID-19-related information before publishing it, 56% used the WHO and MoH briefings for fact-checking, and only 8% relied on healthcare workers. This was particularly the case for those who lived in refugee camps. This study provides an insight into the information sources used by Palestinian university students, the sources they trust, and the information formats they prefer. These results may help public health authorities to locate the information sources through which university students should be targeted. Efforts should be made to recommend healthcare workers as credible information sources. In this way, they will be able to prevent the spread of misleading information and provide high-quality information, especially within unconventional settings such as refugee camps.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The Impact of Information Sources on COVID-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) among University Students: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study
- Creators
- Israa Baker - Al-Quds UniversityNizar Marzouqa - Al-Quds UniversityBashar Nafe Yaghi - Al-Quds UniversitySamer Osama Adawi - Al-Quds UniversityShahd Yousef - Al-Quds UniversityTayseer Nedal Sabooh - Al-Quds UniversityNataly Mazen Salhab - Al-Quds UniversityHiba Mahmoud Khrishi - Al-Quds UniversityYahya Qabaja - Al-Quds UniversityAbanoub Riad - Masaryk UniversityElham Kateeb - Al-Quds UniversitySameh Attia - Justus Liebig Univ, Dept Oral & Maxillofacial Surg, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- International journal of environmental research and public health, Vol.18(23), p.12462
- DOI
- 10.3390/ijerph182312462
- PMID
- 34886184
- PMCID
- PMC8656615
- NLM abbreviation
- Int J Environ Res Public Health
- ISSN
- 1661-7827
- eISSN
- 1660-4601
- Publisher
- Mdpi
- Number of pages
- 18
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/501100010653, name: Masaryk University, award: MUNI/IGA/1543/2020, MUNI/A/1608/2020
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/01/2021
- Academic Unit
- Public Policy Center (Archive)
- Record Identifier
- 9984283563602771
Metrics
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