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

Author

Listed:
  • Israa Baker

    (Al-Quds Medical Research Association, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem 510 00, Palestine
    Equal contribution as first authorship.)

  • Nizar Marzouqa

    (Al-Quds Medical Research Association, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem 510 00, Palestine
    Equal contribution as first authorship.)

  • Bashar Nafe’ Yaghi

    (Al-Quds Medical Research Association, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem 510 00, Palestine)

  • Samer Osama Adawi

    (Al-Quds Medical Research Association, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem 510 00, Palestine)

  • Shahd Yousef

    (Al-Quds Medical Research Association, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem 510 00, Palestine)

  • Tayseer Nedal Sabooh

    (Al-Quds Medical Research Association, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem 510 00, Palestine)

  • Nataly Mazen Salhab

    (Al-Quds Medical Research Association, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem 510 00, Palestine)

  • Hiba Mahmoud Khrishi

    (Al-Quds Medical Research Association, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem 510 00, Palestine)

  • Yahya Qabaja

    (Al-Quds Medical Research Association, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem 510 00, Palestine)

  • Abanoub Riad

    (Department of Public Health, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic)

  • Elham Kateeb

    (Oral Health Research and Promotion Unit, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem 510 00, Palestine)

  • Sameh Attia

    (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University, 353 92 Giessen, Germany)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Israa Baker & Nizar Marzouqa & Bashar Nafe’ Yaghi & Samer Osama Adawi & Shahd Yousef & Tayseer Nedal Sabooh & Nataly Mazen Salhab & Hiba Mahmoud Khrishi & Yahya Qabaja & Abanoub Riad & Elham Kateeb & , 2021. "The Impact of Information Sources on COVID-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) among University Students: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-18, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:23:p:12462-:d:688780
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Abanoub Riad & Anton Drobov & Martin Krobot & Natália Antalová & Muhammad Abdullatif Alkasaby & Aleš Peřina & Michal Koščík, 2022. "Mental Health Burden of the Russian–Ukrainian War 2022 (RUW-22): Anxiety and Depression Levels among Young Adults in Central Europe," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-14, July.

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