Online Survey of University Students’ Perception, Awareness and Adherence to COVID-19 Prevention Measures

Details

• Personal Author:
  Akhter S ; Curtis P ; Hinshaw B ; Robbins M ; Wells EM
• Description:
  Background: Determining factors correlated with protective measures against COVID-19 is important to improve public health response. This study describes student opinions related to university COVID-19 preventive measures. Methods: In fall 2020, 643 US university students completed an online survey on perception, awareness, and adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. Outcomes included protocol effectiveness (self or others), protocol adherence (self or others), consequences of protocol violation, knowledge of violations, and level of concern for COVID-19. Multiple linear regression models determined correlates of outcome variables. Covariates included gender, race, residence, area of study, class, and knowledge of someone with a positive COVID-19 test. Results: Overall, students agreed with protective measures (equivalent to higher scores). In adjusted linear models, females (versus males) had significantly higher scores for protocol effectiveness (self) (p < 0.001), consequences of protocol violation (p = 0.005), and concern about COVID-19 (p < 0.001). Asian/Pacific Islander (versus white) had significantly higher scores for protocol effectiveness (self) (p < 0.001), consequences of protocol violation (p = 0.008), and concern about COVID-19 (p = 0.001). Graduate students (versus freshman) had higher scores for protocol effectiveness (self) (p < 0.001), protocol adherence (self) (p = 0.004) and concern about COVID-19 (p < 0.001). In contrast, participants who had a positive COVID-19 test had significantly lower scores for protocol effectiveness (self) (p = 0.02), protocol adherence (self) (p = 0.004), and consequences of protocol violation (p = 0.008). Conclusion: Overall, females, Asian/Pacific Islanders, and graduate students were more likely to agree with or adhere to COVID-19 prevention guidelines but those who tested positive for COVID-19 were less likely to do so. These results may inform future prevention efforts. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Communicable Diseases Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Preventive Medicine Public Health Respiratory Protective Devices Safety Sex Characteristics
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Policy Adherence Coronavirus COVID-19 Disease Prevention Disease Transmission Face Masks Gender Factors Infectious Diseases Masks Policy Prevention Preventive Measures Protective Measures Public Health Social Distancing Students

  More +
• ISSN:
  1471-2458
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Indiana ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  22
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20067206
• Citation:
  BMC Public Health 2022 May; 22(1):964
• Contact Point Address:
  Ellen M. Wells, Department of Public Health, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
• Email:
  wells54@purdue.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• Performing Organization:
  Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20010701
• Source Full Name:
  BMC Public Health
• End Date:
  20270630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:fac9d4b269897c1cc56b13687179fb620562134f35f67a119819d8319cd616599b3685b3a7fb6f3ba02b2bf353e9efbcd4ef20f752907dc28b774604cb8e67bc
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/231338/cdc_231338_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1009.57 KB ]