Alhusseini Noara K, Sajid Muhammad R, Alsheikh Haifa A, Sriwi Tala H, Odeh Nour B, Elshaer Rawan E, Altamimi Rawand E, Cahusac Peter M B
From the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology (Alhusseini, Cahusac); from the Department of Pathology (Sajid); from the College of Medicine (Alsheikh, Sriwi, Odeh, Elshaer, Altamimi), Alfaisal University; and from the Department of Comparative Medicine (Cahusac), King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Med J. 2021 Apr;42(4):377-383. doi: 10.15537/smj.2021.42.4.20200706.
To examine the awareness level of COVID-19 and to highlight the frequency of myths and misconceptions among Saudi Arabia's population.
We conducted a cross-sectional study from June 13 to 20, 2020 by distributing a 16-item online Google forms questionnaire among adults (18-65 years old) living in Saudi Arabia. We utilized the convenience sampling. Data analysis was performed using Chi-square and multiple regression analysis on Jamovi.
A total of 1436 responses were analyzed with 43.5% males and 56.5% females. Most respondents (89.1%) thought that only the elderly above 60 years old are considered at high risk of contracting COVID-19. Most respondents (86.5%) agreed that people with other health conditions could be more affected by COVID-19. Approximately 97.2% agreed that wearing a mask and avoiding touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands was the leading preventive action. Most participants (99.4%) chose fever as an associated symptom. Respondents from the healthcare sector presented statistically higher scores than those in non-healthcare sectors (<0.001). Higher education and higher salary were important predictors of better COVID-19 knowledge.
Public health officials need to increase awareness measures on COVID-19 to limit myths and misconceptions and reduce psychological distress associated with it.
调查沙特阿拉伯民众对新冠病毒病（COVID-19）的认知水平，并突出谣言和误解的出现频率。
我们于2020年6月13日至20日进行了一项横断面研究，通过在线谷歌表单向居住在沙特阿拉伯的成年人（18 - 65岁）发放一份包含16个条目的问卷。我们采用了便利抽样法。使用Jamovi软件进行卡方检验和多元回归分析以进行数据分析。
共分析了1436份回复，其中男性占43.5%，女性占56.5%。大多数受访者（89.1%）认为只有60岁以上的老年人被视为感染新冠病毒病的高危人群。大多数受访者（86.5%）同意患有其他健康问题的人可能更容易受到新冠病毒病的影响。约97.2%的人同意佩戴口罩以及避免用未洗手的手触摸眼睛、鼻子和嘴巴是主要的预防措施。大多数参与者（99.4%）选择发热作为相关症状。医疗保健部门的受访者得分在统计学上高于非医疗保健部门的受访者（<0.001）。高等教育和较高收入是对新冠病毒病有更好了解的重要预测因素。
公共卫生官员需要加强关于新冠病毒病的宣传措施，以减少谣言和误解，并减轻与之相关的心理困扰。
