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COVID-19 Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of United Arab Emirates Medical and Health Sciences Students: A Cross Sectional Study

Noura Baniyas, View ORCID ProfileMohamud Sheek-Hussein, Nouf Al Kaabi, Maitha Al Shamsi, Maitha Al Neyadi, Rauda Al Khoori, View ORCID ProfileSuad Ajab, Muhammad Abid, Michael Grivna, Fikri M. Abu Zidan
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.19.427250
Noura Baniyas
1Medical Student, United Arab Emirates University
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Mohamud Sheek-Hussein
2Institute of Public Health, United Arab Emirates University
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  • For correspondence: msheekhussein@uaeu.ac.ae
Nouf Al Kaabi
1Medical Student, United Arab Emirates University
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Maitha Al Shamsi
1Medical Student, United Arab Emirates University
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Maitha Al Neyadi
1Medical Student, United Arab Emirates University
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Rauda Al Khoori
1Medical Student, United Arab Emirates University
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Suad Ajab
2Institute of Public Health, United Arab Emirates University
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Muhammad Abid
2Institute of Public Health, United Arab Emirates University
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Michael Grivna
2Institute of Public Health, United Arab Emirates University
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Fikri M. Abu Zidan
3Department of Surgery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
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Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic is the largest unprecedented viral pandemic of the 21st century. We aimed to study the COVID-19 knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among medical and health sciences students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). We performed a cross-sectional study between 2nd June and 19th August 2020. The survey was developed using online Survey Monkey. The link was distributed via UAE University to all students and via WhatsApp© groups. The self-administered questionnaire was conducted in English and comprised of two parts: socio-demographic characteristics and KAP towards COVID-19. A total of 712 responses to the questionnaire were collected. 90% (n=695) were under-graduate, while 10% (n=81) were post-graduate students. Majority (87%, n=647) stated that they obtained COVID-19 information from multiple reliable sources. They were highly knowledgeable about COVID-19 pandemic but 76% (n=539) did not recognize its routes of transmission. 63% (n=431) were worried of getting COVID-19, while 92% (n=633)) were worried that a family member could get infected with the virus. 97% (n=655) took precautions when accepting home deliveries, 94% (n=637) had been washing their hands more frequently, and 95% (n=643) had been wearing face masks. In conclusion, participants showed high levels of knowledge and awareness about COVID-19. They were worried about getting infected themselves or their family members, and had good practices against COVID-19.

Footnotes

  • (201509021{at}uaeu.ac.ae), (msheekhussein{at}uaeu.ac.ae), (201506064{at}uaeu.ac.ae), (201509851{at}uaeu.ac.ae), (201501343{at}uae.ac.ae), (201513347{at}uaeu.ac.ae), (200631649{at}uaeu.ac.ae), (mabid{at}uaeu.ac.ae), (m.grivna{at}uaeu.ac.ae), (fabuzidan{at}uaeu.ac.ae)

  • Abbreviations
    SARS-CoV-2
    Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
    COVID-19
    Coronavirus disease 2019
    HCW
    Healthcare workers
    ICU
    Intensive care unit
    ILO
    International Labour Organization
    IFAD
    The International Fund for Agricultural Development
    WHO
    World health organization
    FAO
    Food and Agriculture Organization
    KAP
    knowledge, attitudes, and practices
    UAE
    United Arab Emirates
    UAEU
    United Arab Emirates University
  • Copyright 
    The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY 4.0 International license.
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    Posted January 19, 2021.
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    COVID-19 Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of United Arab Emirates Medical and Health Sciences Students: A Cross Sectional Study
    Noura Baniyas, Mohamud Sheek-Hussein, Nouf Al Kaabi, Maitha Al Shamsi, Maitha Al Neyadi, Rauda Al Khoori, Suad Ajab, Muhammad Abid, Michael Grivna, Fikri M. Abu Zidan
    bioRxiv 2021.01.19.427250; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.19.427250
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    COVID-19 Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of United Arab Emirates Medical and Health Sciences Students: A Cross Sectional Study
    Noura Baniyas, Mohamud Sheek-Hussein, Nouf Al Kaabi, Maitha Al Shamsi, Maitha Al Neyadi, Rauda Al Khoori, Suad Ajab, Muhammad Abid, Michael Grivna, Fikri M. Abu Zidan
    bioRxiv 2021.01.19.427250; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.19.427250

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