Evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practice towards corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among second year medical students in post lockdown period: A quick online questionnaire based study

Abstract

Background: The year 2019–2020 has seen a worldwide pandemic resulting from corona virus disease 2019 (COVID‑19), which can result in illnesses ranging from the common cold to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Hence, this global health crisis of COVID‑19 pandemic offers a unique opportunity to evaluate knowledge, attitude, and practice among medical students. Methods: This prospective, web‑based, cross‑sectional study was conducted among 100 undergraduate medical students after obtaining informed consent during first week of August 2020 using a 37-items structured questionnaire based on the Ministry of Health and Family welfare course materials and was distributed using Google forms. All the tests were performed at a significance level of 5%. Results: Overall, the study participants’ knowledge regarding COVID‑19 was satisfactory they have positive attitude and they followed healthy preventive practices also. There was no significant difference found among male and females in knowledge and practice however attitude score was affected by gender. Conclusions: Most medical students had satisfactory knowledge levels, and discrepancies in the perceptions of COVID‑19, thus, with adequate training and counseling undergraduate medical students via structured teaching program, most medical students can act as a potential reservoir to fill the gaps in health‑care services in the hour of need. Keywords: COVID-19, Knowledge, attitude, Practice, Medical students, questionnaire