Characterization of the student component in the door-to-door active screening related to COVID-19

Abstract

Background: the student component in the door-to-door active screening related to COVID-19 is essential for the early detection of positive cases and risk groups.Objective: to characterize the student component in the door-to-door active screening related to COVID-19, in students of the “Dr. Zoilo Enrique Marinello Vidaurreta” Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Medical Sciences of Las Tunas, from March 23 to April 6, 2020.Methods: a cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out with students of the aforementioned institution and during the period herein declared. The sample was made up of 20 5th-year students majoring in Medicine appointed to a doctor’s office of the health district of “Manuel Fajardo” University Polyclinic of Las Tunas. The data were processed according to descriptive statistics.Results: there was a sex balance in the pair work. Regarding the students’ knowledge, in the taxonomy the selection of COVID-19 as a disease by 11 students prevailed (55 %); whereas only 6 students (30 %) classified SARS-Cov-2 as a new type of coronavirus. The environment of the ecological triad and the hypothesis of the stages of the epidemiological method were the aspects where the students presented the greatest difficulties. The communication media were the main way of knowledge acquisition (80 %). Collectively, professional performance was assessed as good. The population showed a high level of satisfaction.Conclusions: the student component in the door-to-door active screening for COVID-19 was characterized. The student discipline stood out and the insufficiencies in the training to carry out the door-to-door screening were identified.

Keywords

• students, medical
• disease prevention
• coronavirus infections, pandemics
• epidemiology