Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward COVID-19 and its prevention among medical and dental students in an educational institution in Telangana

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward COVID-19 and its prevention among medical and dental students in an educational institution in Telangana

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moen finney Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged as a global pandemic, threatening millions of lives worldwide.Everyone was overwhelmed by the plethora of information from different sources, creating confusion, misconceptions, and panic in the community.Aims: This study aimed to estimate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among medical and dental students toward COVID-19 and to identify factors influencing them.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students enrolled in MBBS and BDS courses, and KAP scores were calculated using a self-administered questionnaire.The statistical analysis was done by unpaired t test and one-way analysis of variance.

Results: MBBS students had higher KAP scores when compared with BDS students.Knowledge gaps were discovered in the areas of COVID-19 transmission through blood, World Health Organization (WHO)-designated variants of concern, disinfectant emtek 2113 usage, and mandatory vaccination.A majority (91.33%) of the students had a positive attitude toward COVID-19.Better knowledge and practice scores were significantly associated with vaccinated students and those who trusted government website resources.

Conclusion: Curriculum modifications and creative teaching strategies can fill the lacunae in the KAP scores.Medical and dental students, as torchbearers of the healthcare fraternity, can play a critical role in raising awareness during public health emergencies.