Medical Students and COVID-19: Knowledge, Preventive Behaviors, and Risk Perception

Mansour Alsoghair, Mohammad Almazyad, Tariq Alburaykan, Abdulrhman Alsultan, Abdulmajeed Alnughaymishi, Sulaiman Almazyad, Meshari Alharbi, Wesam Alkassas, Abdulaziz Almadud and Mohammed Alsuhaibani
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Mansour Alsoghair: Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Qassim 51452, Saudi Arabia
Mohammad Almazyad: Department of General Surgery, National Guard Hospital, Eastern Province 34217, Saudi Arabia
Tariq Alburaykan: Department of Internal Medicine, Buraidah Central Hospital, Qassim 52361, Saudi Arabia
Abdulrhman Alsultan: Department of Anatomy and Histology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Qassim 51452, Saudi Arabia
Abdulmajeed Alnughaymishi: Department of Family Medicine, Uyun Aljawa General Hospital, Qassim 52347, Saudi Arabia
Sulaiman Almazyad: Medical Intern, Unayzah College of Medicine, Qassim University, Qassim 51452, Saudi Arabia
Meshari Alharbi: Medical Resident, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Qassim 52347, Saudi Arabia
Wesam Alkassas: Medical Intern, College of Medicine, Sulaiman Al Rajhi University, Qassim 52347, Saudi Arabia
Abdulaziz Almadud: Medical Intern, Unayzah College of Medicine, Qassim University, Qassim 51452, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Alsuhaibani: Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Qassim 51452, Saudi Arabia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-9

Abstract: Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is an international public health threat. This study aimed to evaluate COVID-19-related knowledge, preventive behaviors, and risk perception among Saudi Arabian medical students and interns. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among fourth- and fifth-year medical students and interns between June and August 2020 at three colleges of medicine in Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia. A previously validated questionnaire was distributed as an online survey. Results: The total mean knowledge score was 12.5/15 points; 83.9% achieved a high score. The mean score of self-reported preventive behavior was 8.40; 94.1% achieved a high score. The overall mean risk perception score was 5.34/8 points; 31.6% achieved a high score. Conclusion: Medical students assessed in this study displayed sufficient knowledge and preventive behaviors regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and an average level of risk perception. Lower scores by younger medical students suggest that they must improve their COVID-19 knowledge and risk perception, as they are a potential source of health information in their communities.

Keywords: COVID-19; knowledge; behavior; risk perception; medical students; Saudi Arabia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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