Risk perception and preventive behaviors among Turkish medical students during early period of the COVID-19 pandemic

Year 2021, Volume: 46 Issue: 2, 460 - 472, 30.06.2021

Süleyman Utku Uzun , Nevzat Atalay Çelikyürek , Ahmet Ergin

https://doi.org/10.17826/cumj.840507

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess COVID-19 related risk perception, preventive behaviors among Turkish medical students within the two weeks after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 646 medical students (1st-6th year) in Pamukkale University with an online questionnaire. Forms were collected between 23rd to 31st of March 2020 via Google form. The questionnaire consisted of 39 questions including 12 items about sociodemographic information, 6 questions regarding COVID-19, 11 items about risk perception and 10 items regarding preventive measures about COVID-19.
Results: The mean age of students was 21.77±2.28 years and 413 (63.8%) of them were female. The mean risk perception score of students was 22.70±4.68 (out of 44) and the mean preventive behavior score of students was 32.20±4.70 (out of 40). There was a significantly positive correlation between risk perception and preventive behavior scores. Female students, students with lower income, students whose mothers were highly educated, students who evaluated their health status as poor and who evaluated their knowledge about COVID-19 as insufficient had higher risk perception. Adoption of protective measures were higher in female students, married students, students who have chronic diseases and students who evaluated their health status as poor.
Conclusion: Medical students in Turkey had a moderate risk perception and high preventive behaviors about COVID-19. In order to enhance students’ risk perception, educators should be more involved in the process of medical education regarding the pandemic.

Keywords

COVID-19 pandemic, medical student, risk perception, health behavior, prevention

COVID-19 pandemisi erken döneminde Türk tıp öğrencilerinin risk algısı ve korunmaya yönelik davranışları

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye'de pandeminin başlamasından sonraki iki hafta içinde Türk tıp öğrencilerinin COVID-19 ile ilgili risk algılarını ve korunmaya yönelik davranışlarını değerlendirmektir.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Kesitsel tipteki bu çalışma, Pamukkale Üniversitesi'ndeki 646 tıp öğrencisi (1-6. sınıf) arasında çevrimiçi bir anketle gerçekleştirilmiştir. Formlar 23-31 Mart 2020 tarihleri arasında Google formlar aracılığıyla toplanmıştır. Anket sosyo-demografik bilgilerle ilgili 12 madde, COVID-19 ile ilgili 6 soru, risk algısı ile ilgili 11 madde ve COVID-19 ile ilgili korunmaya yönelik davranışlarla ilgili 10 madde olmak üzere toplam 39 sorudan oluşmaktadır.
Bulgular: Çalışmaya katılan öğrencilerin yaş ortalaması 21.77±2.28 olup, 413'ü (63.8%) kadındır. Öğrencilerin ortalama risk algısı puanı 22.70±4.68 (44 üzerinden) ve öğrencilerin korunmaya yönelik davranış puanı ortalaması 32.20±4.70 (40 üzerinden) idi. Risk algısı ile korunmaya yönelik davranış puanları arasında anlamlı pozitif korelasyon vardı). Kız öğrenciler, düşük gelirli öğrenciler, anneleri yüksek eğitim almış öğrenciler, sağlık durumlarını kötü olarak değerlendiren öğrenciler ve COVID-19 hakkındaki bilgilerini yetersiz olarak değerlendiren öğrencilerin risk algısı daha yüksekti. Kız öğrencilerde, evli öğrencilerde, kronik hastalığı olanlarda ve sağlık durumunu kötü olarak değerlendiren öğrencilerde korunmaya yönelik davranışları daha yüksekti.
Sonuç: Türkiye'deki tıp öğrencilerinin COVID-19 ile ilgili risk algısı orta düzeyde olup korunmaya yönelik davranışları yüksektir. Öğrencilerin risk algısını geliştirmek için, eğitimcilerin salgınla ilgili tıp eğitimi sürecine daha fazla dahil olması gerekmektedir.
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Keywords

COVID-19 pandemisi, tıp öğrencisi, risk algısı, sağlık davranışı, korunma

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