A Study to Assess the Level of Knowledge and Practice regarding precautions against Covid 19 Infection among students of selected college in Kottayam

 

Amil Ravi1, Anjaly Shaji1, Ann Mary Biju Lukose1, Arya CC1, Ashna Benny1, Chinnu PR1,

Liya Mathew1, Maria TJ1, Neethu Sunny1, Parvathy Jayachandran1, Santy John2, Arsha S2, Joseena SVM3

1BSc Nursing Students, Little Lourdes College of Nursing, Kottayam, Kerala.

2Assistant Professor, Little Lourdes College of Nursing, Kottayam, Kerala.

3Principal, Little Lourdes College of Nursing, Kottayam, Kerala.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: amilravi14@gmail.com

 

ABSTRACT:

A descriptive study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge and practice regarding precautions against covid 19 infection among students of selected college in kottayam. The study was conducted in little Lourdes College of nursing, kidangoor among 40 nursing students, random sampling technique was used. Structured questionnaire and attitude scale was used to collect data. The result showed that among 40 samples 65% have average and above knowledge about precautions against covid 19 infection and 57.5% sample has good practice of prevention against covid 19 infection.

 

KEYWORDS: SARS-coV-2, Myalgia, Sore throat, fatigue, Nursing students.

 

 


INTRODUCTION:

The COVID-19 is a contagious virus and spread from human to human primarily through respiratory droplets and potentially aerosol transmission. The symptoms of COVID-19 infection include fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, and myalgia, it is estimated that 30% and up to 70% of patients have the virus attacked without showing of symptoms. On 13 may 2021 Kerala reported the largest single day spike with 43, 529 new cases.1

 

On 18 may 2021, 23.29% test positivity rate in Kerala with 6, 612 deaths and 83.89% recoveries in state. Kerala has the third highest number of confirmed cases in India.2

 

NEED FOR RESEARCH STUDY:

Researcher had the personal experience of community transmission of COVID-19 infection among nursing students. This fabricated in us an inquisitiveness to know about the level of knowledge and practice regarding COVID-19 infection prevention among nursing students.3

 

PROBLEM STATEMENT:

A study to assess the level of knowledge and Practice regarding Precautions against covid 19 infection among students of selected colleges in Kottayam.

 

OBJECTIVES:

·       To assess knowledge regarding precautions against covid 19 among nursing students.

·       To assess the level of practice regarding precautions against covid 19 among nursing students.

·       To find out association between knowledge and Practice regarding precautions against covid 19 with selected demographic variables.

 

OPERATIONAL DEFINITION:

In this study, the specific way in which a variable is measured in a particular study is operational definition.

 

Assess:

In this study it refers to identify the knowledge and practice of Nursing students regarding the precaution of covid 19.

 

Knowledge:

In this study Knowledge refers to level of awareness of nursing students regarding the precaution and practices to precautions covid 19. Knowledge was assessed by questionnaire.

 

Practice:

In this study it refers to the application of knowledge regarding the precaution of covid 19 among nursing students.

 

COVID 19:

Covid 19 is a disease caused by new strain of Corona virus. Co- Corona, Vi- Virus, D- Disease

 

STUDENTS:

In this study, it refers to a nursing student of little Lourdes college of nursing Kidangoor, kottayam.

 

Assumptions:

1.   The Nursing students may have the basic knowledge about the precautions to prevent covid -19infection.

2.   The knowledge and practices will help to reduce the rate of outbreak of infection.

 

Hypothesis:

1.   H1 -There is a relationship between level of knowledge regarding precautions against covid 19 among nursing students.

2.   H2 -There is association between level of practice regarding precaution against covid 19 among nursing students.

3.   H3 -There is association between level of knowledge and practices regarding precaution against covid 19 infection among nursing students with selected demographic variables.

 

Delimitation:

The study involves 40 samples, The study is limited to Nursing students of Little Lourdes College of nursing, Kidangoor, Use convenient sampling which limits the generalization of findings.

 

Projected outcome:

The study is aimed to identify the knowledge and precautions of nursing students regarding precautions against COVID 19 infection. A good knowledge among the nursing professionals helps them to deliver a quality care to patient.

 

REVIEW OF LITERATURE:

A descriptive study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge and practice regarding precautions against covid 19 infection among students of selected college in Kottayam. The study was conducted in little Lourdes College of nursing, Kidangoor among 40 nursing students, random sampling technique was used to select the sample. The result showed that among 40 samples 65% have average and above knowledge about precautions against covid 19 infection and 57.5% sample has good practice of prevention against covid 19 infection.

 

METHODOLOGY:

Research design:

The research design is an overall plan and investigator used to obtain valid answer to research question.4

The research design of this study is non experimental descriptive design.

 

Setting of the study:

The setting of the study is Little Lourdes college of nursing Kidangoor

 

Population:

In this study population is the nursing students of selected college at Kottayam.

 

Sample:

A part or subject selected to participate in research study.5

In this study sample is the nursing students of Little Lourdes college of nursing Kidangoor.

 

Sample size:

Sample size articulated for this study include 40 students from 4 batches in Little Lourdes college of nursing Kidangoor.

 

Sampling  technique:

The sampling technique selected for the current study was convenient sampling technique.

 

Criteria for sample selection:

Inclusion criteria:

Who are willing to participate in the research study, Being a nursing student of Little Lourdes College of nursing, Both sexes can be involved?

 

Exclusion criteria:

Students involved in covid related education program, Students involved other health related study.

 

METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION:

Data collection is the process of collecting the data needed for the study.

 

INSTRUMENT:

The instrument used for this study was structured knowledge questionnaire Developed after thorough reviewing various literature and articles.

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE TOOL:

TOOL 1 - It is divided in to section A and B

SECTION A – Socio demographic data

It comprised 6 question. It includes age, gender, religion, area of living, the batch of participants and most accessible mass media.

 

SECTION B – Structured Knowledge questionnaire.

This consist of 21 questions to access the knowledge of nursing students regarding covid -19. The knowledge level of nursing students will be analysed based on following scores.

 

SCORE KEY: <50 – poor knowledge, 50-75 -average knowledge , Above 76- good knowledge

Tool-2: This section includes 10 statements regarding the practice of nursing students towards precautions against covid19 infection. Each statements is classified under YES or NO. Allotted 1 mark for each Yes answer. Maximum score 20.The practice of nursing students towards the precaution against covid19 infection will be analysed based on following score

Score key : <50-poor practice, 50-75%-Average, Above 75%-Good

 

Analysis and interpretation of data: Demographic variables of sample population:

This section describes the distribution of sample according to the baseline variables such as academic year, gender, religion, area of living, most accessible mass media

 

Table 1: Tabulated representation of percentage and frequency distribution of sample population according to demographic data. n=40

Sl No

Demographic variable

Frequency

Percentage

1

Academic year of participants

First year

10

25%

Second year

10

25%

Third year

10

25%

Fourth year

10

25%

2

Gender

Male

3

7.50%

Female

37

92.50%

3

Religion

Hindu

7

17.50%

Christian

37

82.50%

4

Area of living

Rural

27

67.50%

Urban

13

32.50%

5

Most accessible mass media

Television

4

10%

Internet

35

87.50%

Newspaper

1

2.50%

 

Table 2; Frequency distribution of sample based on less than or equal to median and greater than or equal to median.     n=40

Key

frequency

percentage

Good or average knowledge

26

65%

Poor knowledge

14

35%

 

Data shows among the 40 sample, 26 samples(65%) have good or average knowledge. 14 sample (35%) have poor knowledge.

 

Table 3: Frequency and percentage distribution of sample based on the practice of nursing students.               n=40

Practice

Frequency

Percentage

More than or equal to 11

23

57.5%

Less than or equal to 11

17

42.5%

 

Data shows that among 40 samples 23 samples (57.5%) were having good practice, 17samples (42.5%) were having moderate practice. There is significants on effect of practice regarding precautions against COVID 19

 

Association between selected demographic variables and level of knowledge:

This section presents association between selected demographic variables and level of knowledge regarding covid19.chi square values are computed to find out association between demographic variables and level of knowledge regarding covid 19.

 

Table 4; Association between selected demographic variable and level of knowledge regarding covid 19.  n=40

Sl No

Demographic variables

Level of knowledge

X2 value

 

 

 

1

Academic year

 

First year

5

5

 

 

Second year

4

6

0.021

 

Third year

4

9

 

 

Fourth year

1

9

 

2

Gender

 

Male

1

2

 

 

Female

13

24

0.003

3

Religion

 

Hindu

4

3

 

 

Christian

10

23

0.029

4

Area of living

 

Urban 11 16

 

 

 

 

Rural 13 10 1.201

 

 

 

5

Most accessible mass media

 

Television

2

2

 

 

Internet

12

23

0.14

 

News paper

0

1

 

 

This table depict the association between the demographic variable and level of knowledge. The chi square is computed with 1 degree. Here, H1 is rejected, that is there is no association between demographic variables.

 

 

Association between demographic variables and level of practice

Table 5: Association between level of practice with selected demographic variables n=40

Sl No

Demographic variables

Level of practice

Chi square

 

 

 

1.

Academic year of participants

 

First year

5

5

 

 

Second year

5

5

9.20

 

Third year

6

4

 

 

Fourth year

1

9

 

2.

Gender

 

Male

1

2

 

 

Female

16

21

0.111

3.

Religion

 

Hindu

4

3

 

 

Christian

13

20

1.084

4.

Area of living

 

Rural

13

14

 

 

Urban

4

9

0.74

5.

Most accessible media

 

Television

2

2

 

 

Internet

15

20

0.014

 

Newspaper

0

1

 

 

Table 5: depict the association between the demographic variables and level of practise. The chi square is computed 1 degree. Here, the calculated value is less than table value 3.8 at 1 degree freedom. Hence H1 is rejected that there is no association between demographic variables with level of practice.

 

DISCUSSION:

The findings from the present study shows that among 40 samples, 26 samples (65%) have good or average and above and 14 samples (35%) have poor knowledge about as COVID 19 infection and its precautions. Among 40 samples, 23 samples (57.5%) were having good and 17 samples (42.5%) were having moderate practices. The above-mentioned results when taken for a comparison to a cross sectional study conducted to assess the knowledge of prevention of COVID- 19 among general population in Bangladesh, it portrays that 67.2% of them knew that washing hands with soap could prevent disease but 72.5% did not know that avoidance of touching mouth, nose, eye without washing hands was a preventive measure. Hence there is no association between demographic variables and level of knowledge.

 

RESULTS:

1.   The study shows that among 40 samples, 26 samples (65%) have good or average and above knowledge about precautions against COVID 19 infection. 14 samples (35%) have poor knowledge about as COVID 19 infection and its precautions.

2.   Among 40 samples, 23 samples (57.5%) were having good practices, 17 samples (42.5%) were having moderate practices.

3.   Most accessible mass media is internet.

 

NURSING IMPLICATIONS:

Nursing Education:

Adequate knowledge regarding precautions against COVID 19 among nurses is very important, the researcher adds better knowledge to the body of knowledge of nursing profession.

 

Nursing Administration:

Nursing administration can also be made in the way by prioritizing the process of promoting information regarding precautions against COVID19.

 

Nursing Practice:

Nurses who have good knowledge and who apply the evidence-based practice can provide a better care for patient.

 

Nursing Research:

The findings of the present study can be baseline for future study to build up and motivates for other investigator to conduct studies in future under different living conditions.

 

CONCLUSION:

The following was drawn based on the findings from the study was aimed to assessing the knowledge and practice regarding precautions against COVID 19 infection among students of selected colleges in kottayam. Among total 40 samples, 26 samples (65%) have good average and above knowledge about precautions against COVID 19 infection. 14 samples (35%) have poor knowledge about as COVID 19 infection and its precautions. Among 40 samples, 23 samples (57.5%) were having good practices, 17 samples (42.5%) were having moderate practice.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS:

On the basis of study findings the recommendations are; A similar study can be conducted with large sample so that the findings can be, This study can be conducted among other professionals with variety of samples, study like the present study could be figure out among school going children.

 

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY:

The following are the limitations of our study: Being small sample (40) the generalisation of this study is limited, Selection of sample was limited selected institutions.

 

REFERENCE:

1.      Clement JM. Knowledge and behaviour towards covid 19 among US fesident during the early days of questionnaire.2020. JMIR Public health Surveill PMC article.

2.      World Health Organisation. COVID19 situation. 2012. Bhagavathula AS Aldhaleeu W A, Bandari DK. Knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19 among health care workers: crosssectional study.2020. JMIR. Vol 6, No2 : apr. Jun

3.      Sharma S. K. Nursing research and statistics. 3rd edition. India: Elsevier; 2020.

4.      Adela Ngwewondo, Lucia Nkengazong, Leem Abienai Ambe, Jean Thierry Ebogo. Knowledge, attitude, practices towards covid 19 preventivr measures and symptoms: a cross sectional study during exponential rise of the out break in Cameroon.; 2020

5.      Mohammed K Al-Hanawi, Khadijab Angawi, Noor Alshareef, Ameerah M. N. Qattam. Knowledge, Attitude and practice towards covid 19 among the public in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia : a Cross Sectional Study; 2020

 

 

Received on 28.05.2022         Modified on 19.06.2022

Accepted on 02.07.2022       ©A&V Publications All right reserved

Int.  J. of Advances in Nur. Management. 2022; 10(3):249-253.

DOI: 10.52711/2454-2652.2022.00057