Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Related Factors Towards COVID-19 Prevention Among Patients at University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

• Main Authors: Nguyen HB, Nguyen THM, Tran TTT, Vo THN, Tran VH, Do TNP, Truong QB, Nguyen TH, Ly LK
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2021-05-01
• Series: Risk Management and Healthcare Policy
• Subjects: knowledge; attitudes; practices; covid-19 prevention; patients; vietnam
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/knowledge-attitudes-practices-and-related-factors-towards-covid-19-pre-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-RMHP

Hoang Bac Nguyen,1,2 Thi Hong Minh Nguyen,1 Thi Thanh Tam Tran,1 Thi Hong Nhan Vo,1 Van Hung Tran,1 Thi Nam Phuong Do,1 Quang Binh Truong,1,2 Thi Hiep Nguyen,3,4 Loan Khanh Ly3,4 1University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam; 2University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam; 3Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Department, School of Biomedical Engineering, International University, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam; 4Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, VietnamCorrespondence: Thi Hong Minh Nguyen Email [e-mail]: This study measured the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 prevention and examined associated factors among patients at a national tertiary general hospital in Vietnam.Methods: Adult patients admitted to University Medical Center during research period were recruited in a cross-sectional study, which employed a convenience sampling method with a 4-component questionnaire in order to examine the patients’ consciousness towards COVID-19 spreading prevention based on four aspects: demographic characteristics (10 items), knowledge (14 items), attitudes (6 items), and practices (7 items).Results: The study involved 2769 respondents (18– 90 years) with the mean age of 38.05± 13.91 years. About two thirds of the respondents obtained diploma degree or higher (63.4%) and shared their living space with others (64.4%). The majority of patients settled in urban area (74.9%). All participants stayed informed about COVID-19, with the most commonly used channels like television (75.2%), the Internet (72.2%) and phone (69.8%). The vast majority showed sufficient knowledge (93.7%) and positive attitudes (76.3%). Just over half of participants remained good practiced of COVID-19 prevention (57.7%). On average, the factors of younger age, higher educational level, frequency and department of admission, and the number of COVID-19 informative channels were significantly associated with sufficient knowledge, positive attitudes, and good practices regarding preventive action against COVID-19 spreading. The optimistic attitude and having more undergoing chronic diseases were associated with the likelihood of well-practiced COVID-19 preventive measures (OR 3.63, 95% CI 1.54– 8.55, p=0.003 and OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.78– 0.98, p=0.02, respectively).Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that the likelihood of good preventive practices in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic was influenced by attitudes and several sociodemographic factors. More drastic interventions for the prevention of COVID-19 should be widely furnished and equipped in hospitals, through various routes to maximize the efficiency and adherence to prevention practices.Keywords: knowledge, attitudes, practices, COVID-19 prevention, patients, Vietnam