Knowledge towards COVID-19 among healthcare students in the central region of Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional observational study.

Mohsin, Syed Fareed; Agwan, Muhammad Atif; Alsuwaydani, Ziyad Ahmad

STUDY PURPOSE Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious illness of high public concern. Healthcare students are directly or indirectly exposed to this disease. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of healthcare students in the central region of Saudi Arabia. STUDY DESIGN A cross-sectional survey was planned to collect information from healthcare students living in the central region of Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire was formulated to evaluate the healthcare student's knowledge towards COVID-19 pandemic. The collected data were analysed by using frequencies of correct knowledge answers. RESULTS A total of 612 students were analysed for the study. The overall knowledge score of healthcare students was 65.7%. The regression analysis showed a significant association between academic year and knowledge score p<0.001. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis demonstrates satisfactory student's knowledge but lacks awareness about background and mode of transmission of this disease; therefore, there is a strong need for further education and training programmes.