Knowledge and attitude about emerging coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among dental public health students in Thailand

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was an emerging disease outbreak. Now a pandemic, it continues threaten public health around the world. The objective of this study aimed to study knowledge and attitudes toward COVID-19 among dental public health students. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among students of the Bachelor of Public Health program in the dental public health program at the Sirindhorn College of Public Health, Ubon Ratchathani, Faculty of Public Health and Allied Health Sciences, Praboromarajchanok Institute, Thailand from May to June 2021. Our participants included 102 students from a pool of 123 eligible students. The data were collected via a self-administered COVID-19 outbreak, online questionnaire. We analysed the data using descriptive statistics and also computed the independent t-test to understand the relationship between variables. Results We found that the participants were primarily female (96.1%). The students were in their first year (35.3%), second year (33.3%) and third year (31.8%) of study. Their average age was 22 years old. Most of them had no underlying disease (96.1%). A majority of the participants (67.7%) reported that their knowledge of COVID-19 was at a moderate. Attitudes toward COVID-19 were at a moderate level (88.2%). There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in the mean knowledge scores compared with and without a coexisting disease (t=-0.138). The mean scores for attitude towards COVID-19 were statistically significant differences (p<0.05) between gender (t=-4.723). and the participants with and without coexisting (t=-1.041). Conclusions The majority of dental public health students had moderate knowledge of COVID-19, but they had a good attitude. To prevent COVID-19 infection, we recommend promoting the spreading of knowledge about the disease.