The Impact of Information Sources on COVID-19-Related
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) among University
Students: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study

J 2021

The Impact of Information Sources on COVID-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) among University Students: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study

BAKER, I., N. MARZOUQA, B. N. YAGHI, S. O. ADAWI, S. YOUSEF et. al.

Basic information

Original name

The Impact of Information Sources on COVID-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) among University Students: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study

Authors

BAKER, I., N. MARZOUQA, B. N. YAGHI, S. O. ADAWI, S. YOUSEF, T. N. SABOOH, N. M. SALHAB, H. M. KHRISHI, Y. QABAJA, Abanoub RIAD (818 Egypt, belonging to the institution), E. KATEEB (guarantor) and S. ATTIA

Edition

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Basel, MDPI, 2021, 1660-4601

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

30304 Public and environmental health

Country of publisher

Switzerland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 4.614

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14110/21:00123185

Organization unit

Faculty of Medicine

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312462

UT WoS

000734974000001

Keywords in English

knowledge; information sources; information checking; COVID-19; Palestine

Abstract

V originále

COVID-19 is an emerging respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus accompanied by a tsunami of misinformation and fake news. This can weaken the public health responses by affecting the COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the public. Therefore, this cross-sectional study was designed during the early stage of the pandemic to evaluate the KAP of Palestinian university students and their commonly used information sources. We found that the most trusted information source among students was the World Health Organization (WHO), followed by the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH) briefings and healthcare workers, whereas social media was the most frequently used source of information. The participants exhibited a high level of COVID-19-related knowledge, having an average score of 8.65 (range: 0–10). In total, 76% avoided going to crowded places, and only 33% wore a mask while being outdoors. The vast majority (93%) checked the accuracy of COVID-19-related information before publishing it, 56% used the WHO and MoH briefings for fact-checking, and only 8% relied on healthcare workers. This was particularly the case for those who lived in refugee camps. This study provides an insight into the information sources used by Palestinian university students, the sources they trust, and the information formats they prefer. These results may help public health authorities to locate the information sources through which university students should be targeted. Efforts should be made to recommend healthcare workers as credible information sources. In this way, they will be able to prevent the spread of misleading information and provide high-quality information, especially within unconventional settings such as refugee camps.

Links

MUNI/A/1608/2020, interní kód MU

Name: Prohlubování znalostí v oblasti zdravotních rizik a benefitů výživy, prostředí a životního stylu III

Investor: Masaryk University

MUNI/IGA/1543/2020, interní kód MU

Name: Evidence-based Practice of Healthcare Professionals and Students in the Czech Republic (Acronym: Evidence-Based Practice in Czechia)

Investor: Masaryk University

Citovat

BAKER, I., N. MARZOUQA, B. N. YAGHI, S. O. ADAWI, S. YOUSEF, T. N. SABOOH, N. M. SALHAB, H. M. KHRISHI, Y. QABAJA, Abanoub RIAD, E. KATEEB and S. ATTIA. The Impact of Information Sources on COVID-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) among University Students: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Basel: MDPI, 2021, vol. 18, No 23, p. 1-18. ISSN 1660-4601. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312462.

@article{1808418,
   author = {Baker, I. and Marzouqa, N. and Yaghi, B. N. and Adawi, S. O. and Yousef, S. and Sabooh, T. N. and Salhab, N. M. and Khrishi, H. M. and Qabaja, Y. and Riad, Abanoub and Kateeb, E. and Attia, S.},
   article_location = {Basel},
   article_number = {23},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312462},
   keywords = {knowledge; information sources; information checking; COVID-19; Palestine},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {1660-4601},
   journal = {International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health},
   title = {The Impact of Information Sources on COVID-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) among University Students: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study},
   url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/23/12462},
   volume = {18},
   year = {2021}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1808418
AU  - Baker, I. - Marzouqa, N. - Yaghi, B. N. - Adawi, S. O. - Yousef, S. - Sabooh, T. N. - Salhab, N. M. - Khrishi, H. M. - Qabaja, Y. - Riad, Abanoub - Kateeb, E. - Attia, S.
PY  - 2021
TI  - The Impact of Information Sources on COVID-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) among University Students: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
VL  - 18
IS  - 23
SP  - 1-18
EP  - 1-18
PB  - MDPI
SN  - 16604601
KW  - knowledge
KW  - information sources
KW  - information checking
KW  - COVID-19
KW  - Palestine
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/23/12462
N2  - COVID-19 is an emerging respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus accompanied by a tsunami of misinformation and fake news. This can weaken the public health responses by affecting the COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the public. Therefore, this cross-sectional study was designed during the early stage of the pandemic to evaluate the KAP of Palestinian university students and their commonly used information sources. We found that the most trusted information source among students was the World Health Organization (WHO), followed by the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH) briefings and healthcare workers, whereas social media was the most frequently used source of information. The participants exhibited a high level of COVID-19-related knowledge, having an average score of 8.65 (range: 0–10). In total, 76% avoided going to crowded places, and only 33% wore a mask while being outdoors. The vast majority (93%) checked the accuracy of COVID-19-related information before publishing it, 56% used the WHO and MoH briefings for fact-checking, and only 8% relied on healthcare workers. This was particularly the case for those who lived in refugee camps. This study provides an insight into the information sources used by Palestinian university students, the sources they trust, and the information formats they prefer. These results may help public health authorities to locate the information sources through which university students should be targeted. Efforts should be made to recommend healthcare workers as credible information sources. In this way, they will be able to prevent the spread of misleading information and provide high-quality information, especially within unconventional settings such as refugee camps.
ER  -

BAKER, I., N. MARZOUQA, B. N. YAGHI, S. O. ADAWI, S. YOUSEF, T. N. SABOOH, N. M. SALHAB, H. M. KHRISHI, Y. QABAJA, Abanoub RIAD, E. KATEEB and S. ATTIA. The Impact of Information Sources on COVID-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) among University Students: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study. \textit{International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health}. Basel: MDPI, 2021, vol.~18, No~23, p.~1-18. ISSN~1660-4601. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312462.

Detailed Information on Publication Record