The Knowledge and Behavior of Preservice Schoolteachers Regarding Respiratory Infections and Coronavirus Disease 2019 Measures, Vaccination Confidence, and Impacting Factors

Abstract

The aim of this study to determine the knowledge and behavior of preservice schoolteachers regarding respiratory infections and COVID-19 measures, as well as their vaccination confidence and impacting factors. For this purpose, a descriptive study was conducted with 306 college students in their senior year at 11 universities. The Kruskal–Wallis χ2 , Mann–Whitney U test, and regression were employed. Among the participants, 41.5% correctly identified the areas that were missed in handwashing, while 12.7% stated that vaccinations were the most effective way of protecting the community from infections. The participants’ mean score was 56.03 ± 12.78 on the Vaccination Confidence Scale. The vaccination confidence of the preservice teachers who would be advising students’ parents to have their child vaccinated was 8.15 units greater (β = 8.150; p < .001). The vaccination confidence score of those who did not want to get the coronavirus vaccine was 7.943 units greater (β = 7.943). In conclusion, the knowledge of the participants about preventing infectious respiratory diseases is unsatisfactory. Vaccination confidence is low.