Nationwide Survey in Greece about Knowledge, Risk Perceptions, and Preventive Behaviors for COVID-19 during the General Lockdown in April 2020

Varvara A. Mouchtouri, Evagelia Agathagelidou, Kleovoulos Kofonikolas, Xanthi Rousou, Katerina Dadouli, Ourania Pinaka, Evi Agathocleous, Lemonia Anagnostopoulou, Chrysanthi Chatziligou, Eleni P. Christoforidou, Thekla Chalntoupi, Loukas Kalomoiris, Christina Kapoula, Vasiliki Kokkinou, Aggeliki Constantinides, Petros Konstantinou, Elina Kostara, Leonidas Kourentis, Anastasia Lantou, Georgios Lempidakis, Polixeni-Natalia Liasidi, Christos Michalakis, Dorothea Panagiotou, Freideriki Panteliadou, Vasileios Papadoulis, Grigorios Papantoniou, Maria Psatha, Dimitrios Ragias, Vera Ringa, Argyro Syrakouli, Angeliki Skoutari, Stella Stergiadou, Andreas Theodorou, Vasiliki Tzika, Areti Lagiou, Theodoros Dardavesis, Panagiotis Prezerakos and Christos Hadjichristodoulou
Additional contact information
Varvara A. Mouchtouri: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Evagelia Agathagelidou: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Kleovoulos Kofonikolas: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Xanthi Rousou: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Katerina Dadouli: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Ourania Pinaka: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Evi Agathocleous: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Lemonia Anagnostopoulou: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Chrysanthi Chatziligou: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Eleni P. Christoforidou: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Thekla Chalntoupi: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Loukas Kalomoiris: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Christina Kapoula: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Vasiliki Kokkinou: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Aggeliki Constantinides: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Petros Konstantinou: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Elina Kostara: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Leonidas Kourentis: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Anastasia Lantou: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Georgios Lempidakis: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Polixeni-Natalia Liasidi: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Christos Michalakis: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Dorothea Panagiotou: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Freideriki Panteliadou: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Vasileios Papadoulis: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Grigorios Papantoniou: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Maria Psatha: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Dimitrios Ragias: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Vera Ringa: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Argyro Syrakouli: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Angeliki Skoutari: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Stella Stergiadou: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Andreas Theodorou: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Vasiliki Tzika: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
Areti Lagiou: Department of Public and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
Theodoros Dardavesis: Department of Hygiene, Social-Preventative Medicine and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Panagiotis Prezerakos: Department of Nursing, University of Peloponnese, 22100 Tripoli, Greece
Christos Hadjichristodoulou: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 23, 1-12

Abstract: Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the Greek general population toward coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the lockdown period in April 2020, to examine factors associated with misperceptions and to determine behavioral patterns that may require interventions. Methods: A cross-sectional study of the general Greek population ( N = 1858) was conducted. A geographically stratified cluster sampling was implemented. A questionnaire was composed consisting of 35 questions. Data collection took place from 15 April to 2 May 2020. A random-digit dialing survey was conducted by 29 interviewers. Results: The majority of respondents (62.7%) answered ≥12/17 questions correctly. Participants aged 18–44 years, male gender, specific occupations (freelancer, unemployed, housewife, retiree) and those who sought information about COVID-19 from less than two sources received lower aggregated scores on knowledge questions. Regarding attitudes toward future vaccination, 18.9% declared that were against it, while 81.1% that they may consider or will be vaccinated. About 40% were not using a face mask and only 42% washed their hands appropriately. Conclusion: Adjusting information campaigns targeting especially people below 45 years of age can help to sensitize them and realise their role to control the spread. Further targeted surveys are needed to adjust/design prevention campaigns.

Keywords: coronavirus; COVID-19; knowledge; attitude; practices; behavior; Greece; risk perception; general population (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 (3)

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