Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Healthcare Students’ Infection Control in COVID-19 Test Sampling in Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study

Khanh Hoang Pham^{1, 2}, Quyen Thi My Huynh¹, Ny Dang Tieu Tran¹, Phuong Truc Vo¹, Nhat Minh Phan¹, Tuong Manh Do¹, Thi Anh Nguyen¹, Karl Rennick-Zuefle³ and Tin Hoang Nguyen^{1, 2,}

¹Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 179 Nguyen Van Cu Street,

²An Khanh Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City 900000, Vietnam

³Department of Functional Exploration, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, 179 Nguyen Van Cu Street,

Cite this paper:
Khanh Hoang Pham, Quyen Thi My Huynh, Ny Dang Tieu Tran, Phuong Truc Vo, Nhat Minh Phan, Tuong Manh Do, Thi Anh Nguyen, Karl Rennick-Zuefle and Tin Hoang Nguyen. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Healthcare Students’ Infection Control in COVID-19 Test Sampling in Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study. American Journal of Epidemiology and Infectious Disease. 2024; 12(3):29-36. doi: 10.12691/ajeid-12-3-1

Abstract

Background. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic became much more severe in 2021. Healthcare students are a crucial population that needs to participate in disease preventive assistance and are very susceptible to COVID-19 exposure due to the specialized nature of their area of study. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices are important for protecting healthcare volunteer students against infection in COVID-19 sampling. Objectives. To better understand the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of COVID-19 infection control among the community sampling team student volunteers. Materials and Method. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 195 volunteer students of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy (CTUMP). Participants were interviewed with a series of questions and performed demonstrations under the observation of data collectors. Results. Students had a solid understanding of infection control, with the best understanding of the topic coming from content based on maintaining a minimum safe distance, where 98.5% of students answered correctly. In 59% of cases, students displayed a positive attitude about a minimum safe distance. Students performing demonstrations displayed strong practical knowledge, with 100% of students correctly demonstrating how to wear and remove clean gloves and 95% of students washing their hands exactly. There were some factors connected to the knowledge of students including gender, course, number of sessions attended, and skills training background while factors related to the attitudes of students were number of sessions attended and skills training background. Conclusion. Students participating in COVID-19 community sampling showed good understanding and attitudes toward most research topics. Most students practiced hand washing routine, wearing, and removing clean gloves well. Students’ gender, course, number of sessions attended, and history in skills training were associated with their knowledge and attitudes.

Keywords:
COVID-19 pandemics infection control infectious disease public health

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