Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Towards COVID-19 Among Healthcare Students in Vietnam

Abstract

Pham Le An,1,2 Giao Huynh,3 Han Thi Ngoc Nguyen,4 Binh Duong Uyen Pham,5,6 Tuong Vy Nguyen,2 Tam Thao Tuyet Tran,1 Tuan Diep Tran7 1Family Medicine Training Center, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 2Grant and Innovation Center, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 3Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 4Infection Control Department, University Medical Center at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 5Department of Educational Quality Assurance, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 6Department of Social Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan; 7Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamCorrespondence: Tuan Diep TranFaculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, 217 Hong Bang, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamTel [phone]Email [email protected] HuynhFaculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, 217 Hong Bang st, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamTel [phone]Email [email protected]: Healthcare students are a force that will aid healthcare workers in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and preventive practices (KAP) towards COVID-19 for this population in Vietnam.Methods: An online-based cross-sectional survey was considered with all students at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City (UMP), Vietnam, between June and August 2020. A structured questionnaire was used to assess KAP towards COVID-19 with response having considerable data missing in the areas of KAP being excluded from the analysis. All data were analysed by using STATA 14 software, to determine the factors associated with preventive practices, and a multivariable regression analysis was performed, along with odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI).Results: A total of 2351 eligible participants completed the survey, 65.6% of whom were female, and their mean age was 21.9 years old (SD = 2.7). Almost all had sufficient knowledge (86.6%) and good preventive practice (92.8%) towards COVID-19; however, there was also a rather low level of positive attitude recorded, at 68.8%. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the female participants, and the receiving of information from the official websites, reported a significantly higher level of good practice. Besides, students who had a high level of sufficient knowledge and positive attitude towards COVID-19 were more likely to have good preventive practices (All p< 0.001).Conclusion: The findings demonstrated good preventive practice towards COVID-19; however, sufficient knowledge and positive attitude were lower. Therefore, it is an identified requirement to continue with additional education and training strategies to offer a better understanding and positive viewpoint of the pandemic for all students, including healthcare students.Keywords: attitude, COVID-19, knowledge, practice, healthcare students, Vietnam

Keywords

• attitude
• covid-19
• knowledge
• practice
• healthcare students
• vietnam