An Online Cross Sectional Survey Study to Assess Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Covid-19 among Nursing Students in Sgt University, Gurugram

Abstract

Purpose: Nurses are the forefront COVID 19 response. They need to have adequate knowledge and updated with latest guidelines for practice as well. Aims and Objectives: The objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of nursing students regarding COVID -19 and to find association between knowledge score and selected demographic variables. Material and Methods:  An online Cross sectional survey design was used for the study. Total of 300 nursing students at Faculty of Nursing, SGT University who met the inclusion criteria were selected using convenient sampling technique. The tools used to collect data from the sample were a structured Knowledge Questionnaire to assess knowledge, Likert scale to assess the attitude whereas Likert item questions to assess practice regarding COVID 19 pandemic among nursing students. The reliability of the structured knowledge questionnaire was established by Kudar Richardson 20 and it was found to be 0.72. For the attitude scale, Crohnbach alpha was used and reliability was found to be 0.85. Results: Findings of the study revealed that the mean knowledge score was 7.50. It is found that mean %, median and standard deviation of knowledge score were 68.18, 7 and 1.875. The range of score was from 3 to 11. A large part of the subjects (88 %) had a favourable attitude towards COVID 19. A greater part of the study subjects (78.3%) had inadequate practice regarding COVID 19. Demographic variables age and religion were found to be statistically significant. There is a slight positive relationship between knowledge and attitude. It was found to have a positive correlation between the level of knowledge and practice, but the magnitude of the correlation was found to be low (r = .119). the analysis also showed that there is a slight positive relationship between attitude and practice as revealed by r = .15 Conclusion: It is concluded that there is a strong need to implement periodic educational interventions and training programs on infection control practices and other updates of COVID-19 across all healthcare professions including nursing students.