RESEARCH ARTICLE: Adequacy of preventive measures, awareness, and attitude regarding the COVID-19 pandemic among university pharmacy students

Authors

  • Saba Tariq University Medical & Dental College; University of Health Sciences, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6191-0601
  • Sundus Tariq University Medical & Dental College, Pakistan; University of Health Sciences, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0083-1819
  • Mukhtiar Baig Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University Kingdom of Saudi Arabia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0058-2031
  • Saadia Shahzad Alam Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Medical and Dental College, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2020.202.283289

Keywords:

Knowledge, Attitude, Preparedness, Pharmacy Students, Social Media

Abstract

Introduction: The aim was to investigate the adequacy of preventive measures, awareness, and attitudes of pharmacy university students in the Punjab province, Pakistan, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey was designed at a private university in Faisalabad, Pakistan. The questionnaire was developed on Google forms and distributed to students of five universities in the Punjab province via WhatsApp groups.

Results: The comparison of COVID-19 knowledge for specific questions showed that non-pharmacy students (NPS) had significantly better knowledge about the source of the virus (p<0.001), while pharmacy students (PS) had better knowledge regarding COVID-19 treatment (p=0.01). The PS’s perception of the dangerousness and risk of contracting COVID-19 infection was better than NPS’s perception (p=0.026; p=0.019, respectively). The regression analysis revealed that the knowledge score was negatively associated with the female gender, and females were less likely to have a positive attitude.

Conclusion: The authors’ results suggest that PS had good knowledge, positive attitude, and preparedness towards COVID-19. However, there are still misconceptions and confusion about the disease.

Author Biographies

Saba Tariq, University Medical & Dental College; University of Health Sciences, Pakistan

Pharmacology, University Medical & Dental College, Faisalabad & University of Health Sciences, Lahore

Sundus Tariq, University Medical & Dental College, Pakistan; University of Health Sciences, Pakistan

Physiology, University Medical & Dental College; University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

Mukhtiar Baig, Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Faculty of Medicine, Rabigh

Saadia Shahzad Alam, Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Medical and Dental College, Pakistan.

Pharmacology

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Published

08-12-2020

How to Cite

Tariq, S., Tariq, S., Baig, M., & Shahzad Alam, S. (2020). RESEARCH ARTICLE: Adequacy of preventive measures, awareness, and attitude regarding the COVID-19 pandemic among university pharmacy students. Pharmacy Education, 20(2), p. 283 – 289. https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2020.202.283289

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Section

COVID-19 Research Paper