SOURCES OF INFORMATION AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Abstract
Introduction: Relevant information about COVID-19 is crucial for disease prevention and its spread. The aim of this study was to assess sources of information among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 373 students of the Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade. The anonymous questionnaire consisted of 3 parts: socio-demographic characteristics, information sources and the attitude towards available information about COVID-19. Questionnaire was available online during January 2021.Results: At the beginning of the pandemic, most students informed several times a day (37.5%), latter it would drop to beeing informed several times a week (33.8%) (p<0.05). Television and official websites were stated as the main information sources during the pandemic. Students of IV-VI year of medical school significantly more often informed themselves from official websites in contrast to I-III year students (75.5% vs 61.6%, p=0.014). More than 2/3 of the students stated that the information about the coronavirus is accurate and up-to-date, but only a third were satisfied with the information during the pandemic.Conclusion: The most common source of information among medical students during COVID-19 pandemic was television. The interest in being informed about the pandemic has decreased since its onset. Only a third of respondents were satisfied with the information availability during the pandemic.
References
1. Lu R, Zhao X, Li J, Niu P, Yang B, Wu H, et al. Genomic characterisation and epidemiology of 2019 novel coronavirus: implications for virus origins and receptor binding. Lancet. 2020;395(10224):565–74.
2. Zhu N, Zhang D, Wang W, Li X, Yang B, Song J, et al. A Novel Coronavirus from Patients with Pneumonia in China, 2019. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(8):727–33.
3. World Health Organization. Geneva, Switzerland; 2020 Mar 11. WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19-11 March 2020 URL: https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020 [accessed 2021-02-28]
4. WHO. Weekly Operational Update on COVID-19. World Heal Organ [Internet]. 2020;(November):1–10. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/weekly-update-on-covid-19---16-october-2020 [accessed 2021-02-28]
5. WHO. Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic. (2020). Available online at: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 (accessed 2021-03-05).
6. Huang C, Wang Y, Li X, Ren L, Zhao J, Hu Y, et al. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. Lancet.(2020) 395:497–506.
7. Chan JFW, Kok KH, Zhu Z, Chu H, To KKW, Yuan S, et al. Genomic characterization of the 2019 novel human-pathogenic coronavirus isolated from a patient with atypical pneumonia after visiting Wuhan. Emerg Microbes Infect. (2020) 9:221–36.
8. Blendon RJ, Benson JM, DesRoches CM, Raleigh E, Taylor-Clark K. The Public’s response to severe acute respiratory syndrome in Toronto and the United States. Clin Infect Dis. (2004) 38:925–31.
9. Almutairi KM, Al Helih EM, Moussa M, Boshaiqah AE, Saleh Alajilan A, Vinluan JM, et al. Awareness, attitudes, and practices related to coronavirus pandemic among public in Saudi Arabia. Fam Community Heal. (2015)38:332–40.
10. Kobayashi M, Beer KD, Bjork A, Chatham-Stephens K, Cherry CC, Arzoaquoi S, et al. Community knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding Ebola virus disease — Five counties, Liberia, September–October, 2014. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.(2015) 64:714–8.
11. Khasawneh AI, Humeidan AA, Alsulaiman JW, Bloukh S. Medical Students and COVID-19 : Knowledge , Attitudes , and Precautionary Measures . A Descriptive Study From Jordan. 2020;8(May):1–9.
12. Sallam M, Dababseh D, Yaseen A, Al-haidar A, Ababneh NA. Conspiracy Beliefs Are Associated with Lower Knowledge and Higher Anxiety Levels Regarding COVID-19 among Students at the University of Jordan. 2020;
13. Olaimat AN, Aolymat I, Shahbaz HM, Holley RA. Knowledge and Information Sources About COVID-19 Among University Students in Jordan : A Cross-Sectional Study. 2020;8(May).
14. Olum R, Kajjimu J, Kanyike AM, Chekwech G, Wekha G, Nassozi R, et al. Perspective of Medical Students on the COVID-19 Pandemic : Survey of Nine Medical Schools in Uganda Corresponding Author : 2020;6:1–12.
15. Fan KS, Ghani SA, Machairas N, Lenti L, Fan KH, Richardson D, et al. COVID-19 prevention and treatment information on the internet : a systematic analysis and quality assessment. 2020;(March).