The relationship between health-related quality of life of students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences and their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding COVID-19 in 2020

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Present study attempts to investigate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its relation with knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) during this pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study which was conducted between 23 may to 21 June 2020, 470 students in different levels of TUMS were included to the study randomly. participants completed validate, designed online questionnaire which assessed KAP towards coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and HRQoL. All statistical tests were applied, including Chi-square and Fisher's exact test, Partial correlation, analysis of variance, multiple linear regression, multiple binary and multinomial logistic regression models (P < 0.05) and were performed in SPSS 16, R 4.0.2, and GraphPad Prism 6.0 softwares. RESULTS: A total of 470 students were included in the study. The overall correct answer rate of the COVID-19 knowledge questionnaire was 74.43% and total score of the HRQoL was 72.50 (14.85). 61.7% of the students were agreed that COVID-19 will finally be successfully controlled, 44.3% had confidence that Iran can win the battle against the COVID-19, and 92.6% agreed that Quarantine will reduce the prevalence of COVID-19. Most of them adhered to health protocols and about a relation between HRQoL and knowledge we have a weak positive and unsignificant correlation between them (r = 0.05, P = 0.27). CONCLUSIONS: TUMS students showed expected levels of knowledge, proper attitudes, and preemptive practices regarding COVID-19, whereas COVID-19 outbreak substantially affected the physical and mental health but, the students were in a way better physical health rather than mental. Therefore, motivational planning and other related intervention to improve mental health can be noticeable.