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What Is More Viral, Knowledge or the Pandemic?- A COVID-19 Global Awareness Survey
20 Pages Posted: 13 May 2020
More...Abstract
Background: Awareness and education are key components of outbreak management. The global pandemic of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 has an additional component in its mitigation which is the availability of vast amount of information. The aim of the study was to examine the relevance and knowledge level about COVID-19 among the general public.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional poll titled ‘COVID-19 Global Awareness Survey’ conducted for two months with fifteen questions asked to the participants.
Findings: 346 responses were collected after informed consent. The response rate was 100% and 97·67% of the participants were aware of the pandemic. While 30·88 % agreed that their main source of information was newspaper & television, 39·41 % said official websites and 14·41% said social media. Only 78·43% felt that the pandemic is dangerous and only 51·16% said their public health authorities are doing enough to control. Hand hygiene was important to 96·21 % and wearing masks was important to 70% of them. For masks, 48·39% chose N95 respirator as a better option and 27·86 % felt usage depends on situation and guidelines. Antibiotics were presumed to be effective for COVID-19 -19 by 8·16% of them while 72·67% agreed that there are no specific medicines for COVID-19.
Interpretation: The survey revealed the importance of public health education and the impact of communication modes during the COVID-19 pandemic. A more real time monitored and targeted approach with innovative interventions which builds confidence and trust in the global community is the need of the hour.
Funding Statement: None
Declaration of Interests: The author declares no competing interests.
Ethics Approval Statement: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at St. Martha's Hospital.
Keywords: COVID-19 awareness, community infection control, public perception of COVID-19, novel corona virus
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