COVID-19-Related Information Engagement, Risk Perceptions and Behaviors among Undergraduate Students
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Lee A
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9444174 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the education system worldwide faced sudden and unforeseen challenges. Many academic institutions closed their doors, forcing both educators and students to transition to Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) for the remainder of the semester. This transition eliminated hands-on experiences, increased workload, and altered curricula. However, these aspects, as well as students' perceptions, study habits, and performance in response to ERT remain poorly documented. This contribution describes changes in the curriculum of an undergraduate cadaver-based laboratory, and explores students' performance, self-perceived learning, and overall satisfaction during this educational crisis. Online content delivery for this course included both asynchronous instruction and synchronous discussion sessions. While formative assessments remained the same, online spotter examinations included short answer, multiple choice, multiple answer, ordering, and true and false questions. Despite examination grades improving 20% during ERT, students reported lower levels of learning, confidence, and engagement with the course materials when compared to the face-to-face portion of the class. The most prevalent challenges identified by students were those related to the loss of access to cadaver-based learning, including difficulty identifying and visualizing structures in three dimensions, and the loss of context and sensorial cues. Flexibility in taking examinations and learning the material at their own pace were recognized as positive outcomes of the ERT transition. While the resulting student perceptions and performances are unsurprising, they offer insight into the challenges of fostering a productive learning environment in a future threatened by epidemic outbreak and economic uncertainty.
| S-EPMC9011711 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Physical and social disruptions resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting young adults in higher education. The purpose of this survey research is to unveil COVID-19 related beliefs using the Health Belief Model, and COVID-19 prevention behaviors, including self-reported fruit and vegetable consumption among university students. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 304 male and female undergraduate students from diverse ethnic backgrounds and majors at a New Jersey state university using convenience sampling. Variables measured included frequency of COVID-19 prevention behaviors (e.g.: wearing indoor mask, handwashing), and consumption of fruit and vegetables (dark green and orange vegetables) over the previous week. Health Belief Model constructs were assessed namely perceived susceptibility to COVID-19, severity, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy. Statistical distributions were computed for the entire sample and t-tests were investigated for subgroups of age and sex. The sample mean age was 21.7 (SD = 4.7) years with 222 females (73%) and 82 males (27%), and 46% identified as White, non-Hispanics. Participants consumed a mean of 0.95 cups of fruit, 0.81 cups of green vegetables, and 0.46 cups of orange vegetables. Female students practiced more COVID-19 prevention behaviors with a mean difference of 0.26 (p<0.001), perceived greater severity from the virus (Δ = 0.37, p = 0.002) and had stronger perceptions of benefits (Δ = 0.18, p = 0.041), barriers (Δ = 0.21, p = 0.046), and self-efficacy (Δ = 0.20, p = 0.020) than their male counterparts. Older students (aged 23 and above) adopted more COVID-19 prevention behaviors (Δ = -0.35, p = 0.001) and perceived less barriers (Δ = 0.24, p = 0.047) than their younger peers. Nutrition educators and health professionals need to emphasize the importance of adopting preventive health behaviors among university students as strategies to mitigate the severity of COVID-19. Addressing barriers younger male and female students may elevate their motivation and self-efficacy to enact health behaviors.
| S-EPMC11361559 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Individuals are dependent on institutions (e.g., universities, governments, healthcare systems) to protect their safety and advocate for their needs. When institutions harm the individuals who depend on them, they commit institutional betrayal, which has been associated with numerous negative outcomes in prior research. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, students have entrusted universities to protect both their health and their educational opportunities. However, many universities have failed to meet these expectations, and it is likely that many students experience COVID-19-related institutional betrayal. In two similar studies, we examined the prevalence and correlates of institutional betrayal among undergraduate students at a large, public university in the Northwest United States during the fall 2020 and winter 2021quarters. In both studies, more than half of students endorsed at least one type of COVID-19-related institutional betrayal, and higher institutional betrayal ratings were significantly correlated with both current trauma symptoms and COVID-19-related avoidance and intrusion cognitions. In Study 2, the relationship between COVID-19-related institutional betrayal and current trauma symptoms remained significant, even when controlling for gender, personal and familial COVID-19 infection, and past trauma history. These results indicate that COVID-19 institutional betrayal is common and may be uniquely associated with distress among undergraduate students. We suggest it would behoove university institutions to reduce COVID-19-related institutional betrayal.
| S-EPMC8528300 | biostudies-literature
Project description:This article presents a novel data set on perceptions and behaviors of university students collected after the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak in Vietnam. Our questionnaire design is based on employing both qualitative interview with students and survey of SARS literature, probing into the sensitivity of students toward the crisis in making crucial decisions of daily routines, as well as future travel plans in presence of a grave health concern. The data set consists of 440 valid responses from Vietnamese university students through Internet platforms (Facebook, Google Form). Besides descriptive statistics, this article also includes the results of explanatory factor analysis, which may serve as a good reference for future studies.
| S-EPMC7303612 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveTo investigate clusters of students' COVID-19 preventive behaviors and their associated factors.MethodsWe surveyed undergraduate students using an online questionnaire at a regional university in southern Thailand, between April and June 2022. Statistical analyses included latent class analysis and multinomial regression analysis.ResultsThree latent classes were identified: moderately consistent practitioner (7.5%), high compliance overall (48.9%), and good compliance with routine safeguards (43.6%). Females tended to have high compliance overall (RRR 2.46 95% CI 1.23-4.94), and higher academic performance was associated with high compliance overall and good routine safeguards. Perceived threats from COVID-19 were associated with good compliance with routine safeguards (RRR 4.21 95% CI 1.70-10.45). Benefits of actions and clear cues to action were associated with high overall compliance (RRR 5.24 95% CI 2.13-12.90). Students who perceived feasibility were more likely to be moderately consistent practitioners.ConclusionThe common clusters of the students' preventive behaviors were high compliance overall and good compliance with routine preventions. Female, academic performance, perceived threats, and perceived benefits and cues to action were associated with compliance.
| S-EPMC11412799 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Background: Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals have been encouraged to engage in health-promoting behaviors, namely actions taken to prevent infection and keep themselves healthy, such as maintaining social distancing. However, other factors, such as risk perception and feelings of fear, also might influence whether an individual takes such measures. This study compared people's responses to the pandemic in terms of their adoption of COVID-19 health-promoting behaviors, COVID-19 risk perceptions, and attention to COVID-19-related information during two periods: the 2020 Chinese New Year (CNY) in Hong Kong (HK), i.e., the very beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak (Time 1, T1), and summer 2020, i.e., before and during the third wave of COVID-19 infections in HK (Time 2, T2). Methods: Data were extracted from 180 HK participants, who were asked to recall and report their health-promoting behaviors, emotional and cognitive COVID-19 risk perceptions, and attention to COVID-19-related information during T1 and T2. A repeated-measures ANOVA series was conducted to investigate differences in public responses between the two aforementioned time points. Main Findings: After controlling for the effects from gender, age, and education levels, the participants reported practicing more infection-prevention behaviors, experiencing a lower level of fear as a psychological response, and paying less attention to COVID-19-related information during T2 than T1. Conclusions: This study addressed the need to monitor public responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, including changes in people's behaviors and psychological responses across time. The results also suggest that the HK public was steered toward striking a balance between strengthening their infection-prevention behaviors and reducing their fear of COVID-19 infection.
| S-EPMC8650156 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The dataset presented in this paper is an examination of COVID-19-related knowledge, attitude, and practice among Indonesian undergraduate students. The data were collected during first month of college or university closure due to COVID-19 through a survey distributed via an online questionnaire, assessing sociodemographic information (6 items), knowledge (18 items), attitude (6 item), and practice (12 items), from 27th April and 2nd May 2020, gathering a total of 6,249 responses. A combination of purposive and snowball techniques helped to select the respondents via Whatsapp from more than ten universities in Indonesia. The survey data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The data will assist in preventing and curbing the spread of COVID-19 in the university and can assist with planning for educational interventions for students' awareness.
| S-EPMC7291994 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Background: From March to May 2020, lockdown measures were adopted in Italy to contain the epidemic of the novel Coronavirus. People were forced to restrict their movement and social contacts, therefore having a higher risk of inactivity. This study, carried out among Italian undergraduates, explored their sedentary and physical activities (PA) during the lockdown with respect to their previous habits. Methods: An electronic questionnaire was administered once to students attending three Italian universities after the end of lockdown. Results: A total of 1430 students (mean age 22.9 ± 3.5 years, 65.5% females) completed the questionnaire. All the sedentary behaviors increased significantly, and all the physical activities decreased significantly during the lockdown. Time spent using electronic devices showed the highest increase (+52.4 min/day), and walking the greatest decrease (-365.5 min/week). Being younger than 22 years old, female, and previously active, attending the universities of Naples and Rome and having at least one graduate parent were associated with the achievement of recommended levels of PA even during the lockdown. Conclusions: This study highlights the reduction of PA among Italian undergraduates in the course of home-confinement due to the CoViD-19 pandemic. The practice of adequate PA during the lockdown was mainly associated with the previous adoption of an active lifestyle. Promoting active lifestyles during the non-pandemic period may have had positive effects also in case of lockdown.
| S-EPMC7504707 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionThe study objective was to explore the impact of the complete virtual transition of in-hospital clinical training on students' academic performance and to assess students' perceptions of the overall experience.MethodsIn-hospital clinical training was delivered via distance learning using daily synchronous videoconferences for two successive weeks to 350 final-year pharmacy students. The Virtual Faculty of Pharmacy Cairo University (VFOPCU) platform allowed trainees to virtually browse patient files interactively with their clinical instructors to simulate a typical rounding experience. Academic performance was evaluated through identical 20-question tests before and after training. Perceptions were assessed through an online survey.ResultsResponse rates were 79% pretest and 64% posttest. The median score was significantly higher after receiving the virtual training (7/20 [6-9] out of 20 pretest vs. 18/20 [11-20] posttest, P < .001]. Training evaluations revealed high levels of satisfaction (average rating > 3.5/5). Around 27% of respondents were completely satisfied with the overall experience, providing no suggestions for improvement. However, inappropriate timing of the training (27.4%) and describing training as being condensed and tiring (16.2%) were the main disadvantages reported.ConclusionsImplementing a distance learning method with the aid of the VFOPCU platform to deliver clinical experiences instead of physical presence in hospitals appeared to be feasible and helpful during the COVID-19 crisis. Consideration of student suggestions and better utilization of available resources will open the door for new and better ideas to deliver clinical skills virtually even after resolution of the pandemic.
| S-EPMC9968616 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundSocial gatherings are frequent sources of COVID-19 infections, especially among youth. However, little is known about youth testing behaviors before and after gatherings. Our aim was to assess behaviors and perceptions of youth related to testing for COVID-19 before or after social gatherings in order to inform efforts to reduce disease spread.MethodsFive open-ended questions were texted to participants aged 14-24 throughout the United States via MyVoice. Using a content analysis approach, two investigators reviewed responses by question, developed a codebook, and independently applied codes. Discrepancies were resolved via discussion. Code frequency and demographic data were summarized using descriptive statistics.ResultsOf 1204 participants, 989 responded to at least one question (RR = 94.1%). The mean age was 20.2 years (SD: 2.4 years). Most participants (80.7%) reported testing for COVID-19 at least once. Most (70.6%) were likely to test following an event, especially "[i]f someone at the gathering tested positive," while a smaller number (50.9%) endorsed testing prior to a gathering. Of youth who would not get tested, being vaccinated was the highest reported.ConclusionYouth in our nationwide sample are likely to test for COVID-19 after an event, though less likely if they are vaccinated. Their desire to test is primarily driven by symptoms, exposures, and requirements. Youth are interested in increased access to home testing. Youth-centered communications regarding testing recommendations and increased test availability for youth may reduce COVID-19 spread among young people and inform future pandemic recommendations.
| S-EPMC10420336 | biostudies-literature