COVID-19 preventive behaviors of Sirindhorn College of public health students, Phitsanulok

Abstract

World populations including Thais are encountering Coronavirus pandemic or COVID-19. Those infected with this causative agent may suffer from mild or severe illness, and this may even result in death. By coughing, sneezing, or touching patients' respiratory secretions, this virus can be transmitted from one person to another. Consequently, prevention is a critical component of preventing people from contracting the disease. This descriptive study aimed to investigate knowledge, perception, preventive behaviors, and factors related to COVID-19 preventive behaviors of students at Sirindhorn College of Public Health. Participants included 271 college students of Sirindhorn College of Public Health, Phitsanulok. Data collection via electronic survey was conducted. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s Product-Moment Correlation at p<0.05 were applied. Students at Sirindhorn College of Public Health, Phitsanulok were at moderate level of knowledge, good level perception, and at good level of preventive behaviors on COVID-19. Knowledge, perception, and preventive behaviors on COVID-19 were significantly positively related to each other(p<0.05). Therefore, students should be encouraged to gain proper knowledge and perception about the disease, which in turn will lead to improvements in preventive behaviors against COVID-19, as well as preventing transmission in the college and surrounding communities.