Fear of COVID-19 Scale—Associations of Its Scores with Health Literacy and Health-Related Behaviors among Medical Students

Hiep T. Nguyen, Binh N. Do, Khue M. Pham, Giang B. Kim, Hoa T.B. Dam, Trung T. Nguyen, Thao T.P. Nguyen, Yen H. Nguyen, Kristine Sørensen, Andrew Pleasant and Tuyen Van Duong
Additional contact information
Hiep T. Nguyen: Faculty of Public Health, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh 725-10, Vietnam
Binh N. Do: Department of Infectious Diseases, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi 121-08, Vietnam
Khue M. Pham: Faculty of Public Health, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hai Phong 042-12, Vietnam
Giang B. Kim: Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 115-20, Vietnam
Hoa T.B. Dam: Department of Psychiatry, Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Nguyen 241-17, Vietnam
Trung T. Nguyen: School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi 113-09, Vietnam
Thao T.P. Nguyen: Health Management Training Institute, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thua Thien Hue 491-20, Vietnam
Yen H. Nguyen: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho 941-17, Vietnam
Kristine Sørensen: Global Health Literacy Academy, Viengevej 100, 8240 Risskov, Denmark
Andrew Pleasant: Health Literacy Media, St. Louis, MO 63101, USA
Tuyen Van Duong: School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110-31, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic causes fear, as its immediate consequences for the public have produced unprecedented challenges for the education and healthcare systems. We aimed to validate the fear of COVID-19 scale (FCoV-19S) and examine the association of its scores with health literacy and health-related behaviors among medical students. A cross-sectional study was conducted from 7 to 29 April 2020 on 5423 students at eight universities across Vietnam, including five universities in the North, one university in the Center, two universities in the South. An online survey questionnaire was used to collect data on participants’ characteristics, health literacy, fear of COVID-19 using the FCoV-19S, and health-related behaviors. The results showed that seven items of the FCoV-19S strongly loaded on one component, explained 62.15% of the variance, with good item–scale convergent validity and high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.90). Higher health literacy was associated with lower FCoV-19S scores (coefficient, B, −0.06; 95% confidence interval, 95%CI, −0.08, −0.04; p < 0.001). Older age or last academic years, being men, and being able to pay for medication were associated with lower FCoV-19S scores. Students with higher FCoV-19S scores more likely kept smoking (odds ratio, OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.08, 1.14; p < 0.001) or drinking alcohol (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02, 1.06; p < 0.001) at an unchanged or higher level during the pandemic, as compared to students with lower FCoV-19S scores. In conclusion, the FCoV-19S is valid and reliable in screening for fear of COVID-19. Health literacy was found to protect medical students from fear. Smoking and drinking appeared to have a negative impact on fear of COVID-19. Strategic public health approaches are required to reduce fear and promote healthy lifestyles during the pandemic.

Keywords: fear of COVID-19; academic year; medical students; psychological health; mental health; health literacy; lifestyles; behaviors; principal component analysis; Vietnam (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (22)

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