Factors related to the appropriateness of COVID-19 testing behavior using Antigen test kits (ATK) among university students

Authors

  • Patcharaporn Dachkunmak Student, Department of Pharmaceutical Care, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University
  • Pitchakorn Prasertwittaya Student, Department of Pharmaceutical Care, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University
  • Chidchanok Ruengorn Lecturer, Department of Pharmaceutical Care, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University

Keywords:

Antigen Test Kits (ATK), The theory of motivating factors for disease prevention, University students, COVID-19 testing behavior

Abstract

     This mixed-method study aimed to investigate the relationship between personal factors and the theory of motivating factors for disease prevention for the appropriateness of COVID-19 testing behavior using Antigen Test Kits (ATK). The research consisted of two phases: phase 1 involved interviewing 10 students, and phase 2 involved a cross-sectional survey of students enrolled in the academic year 2023 with a questionnaire on ATK testing behavior and a questionnaire on motivation for disease prevention of COVID-19. The reliability of these questionnaires are 0.92 and 0.82, respectively. The data were collected through the Survey Monkey program, which analyzed the association between factors and the appropriateness of testing behavior using univariable and multivariable logistic regression.
     The results found that of 196 students, 132 students (67.4%) exhibited appropriate testing behavior. The motivation for disease prevention that was positively correlated with the appropriateness of testing behavior
included a low level of refusal to undergo COVID-19 testing using the ATK test kit (adj.OR, 4.48; 95% CI: 1.77-11.35), while the negative correlation, for example, was a low perception of the risk of contracting COVID-19 (adj.OR, 0.30; 95% CI: 0.12-0.74). Other factors that showed correlation included being female (adj.OR, 3.16; 95% CI: 1.56-6.58). The predictive ability of the final model was moderate, with an area under the ROC curve of 73.7% (95% CI: 66.2-81.1). In conclusion, the appropriateness of ATK testing behavior of university students was moderate. The findings could be used as a guideline to promote the appropriateness of testing behavior, such as increasing risk perception, reducing test refusal by providing accurate information, and confidence in infection management, especially among male students

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Published

2025-04-28

How to Cite

Dachkunmak, P. ., Prasertwittaya, P. ., & Ruengorn, C. (2025). Factors related to the appropriateness of COVID-19 testing behavior using Antigen test kits (ATK) among university students. Journal of Public Health and Health Sciences Research, 7(1), 150–168. retrieved from https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/JPHSR/article/view/271192