Department of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, Isra University, Amman 11622, Jordan.
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Kuwait University, Kuwait City 12037, Kuwait.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Apr 28;18(9):4699. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18094699.
This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practices of the general public in the Middle Eastern countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted between the 19th of March and the 6th of April 2020 in three Middle Eastern countries (Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait) to explore the knowledge and practices of the Middle Eastern population regarding COVID-19. A previously developed questionnaire was adapted and used for this study. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify predictors of COVID-19 knowledge. A total of 1208 participants (members of the public) participated from the three countries (Jordan = 389, Saudi Arabia = 433, and Kuwait = 386). The majority of participants ( = 810, 67.2%) were females aged 30 to 49 years ( = 501, 41.5%). Participants had moderate overall COVID-19 knowledge, with a mean (SD) score of 7.93 (±1.72) out of 12 (66.1%). Participants had better knowledge about disease prevention and control (83.0%), whereas the lowest sub-scale scores were for questions about disease transmission routes (43.3%). High education level was an important predictor of greater COVID-19 knowledge scores ( < 0.01). Further public education is needed to address the relatively low level of education regarding the transmission of COVID-19 in the Middle Eastern countries. Policymakers are recommended to develop informative COVID-19 related campaigns that specifically target young people (university students), unemployed individuals, and those with lower levels of education.
本研究旨在评估中东国家在 COVID-19 大流行期间公众的知识和实践。采用横断面研究方法，于 2020 年 3 月 19 日至 4 月 6 日在三个中东国家（约旦、沙特阿拉伯和科威特）进行了在线调查，以探讨中东人口对 COVID-19 的知识和实践。本研究使用了先前开发的问卷进行。采用多元线性回归分析确定 COVID-19 知识的预测因素。共有 1208 名参与者（公众成员）来自三个国家（约旦 = 389，沙特阿拉伯 = 433，科威特 = 386）。大多数参与者（n=810，67.2%）为 30 至 49 岁的女性（n=501，41.5%）。参与者总体 COVID-19 知识水平中等，平均（SD）得分为 12 分（66.1%）中的 7.93（±1.72）。参与者对疾病预防和控制的知识较好（83.0%），而对疾病传播途径的问题的得分最低（43.3%）。高教育水平是 COVID-19 知识得分较高的重要预测因素（<0.01）。需要进一步开展公众教育，以解决中东国家在 COVID-19 传播方面相对较低的教育水平问题。建议决策者制定有针对性的信息性 COVID-19 相关宣传活动，专门针对年轻人（大学生）、失业人员和教育水平较低的人群。
