Medical Science
Volume 24, Issue 105, September - October, 2020
Knowledge, awareness, and attitudes of population in Eastern Province during outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
Eman Elsheikh1♦, Hassan H. Alhamoud2, Ahmed Z. Alkhars3, Abdullah I. Albeladi4, Norah F. AlEid5, Ahmad A. Almuhanna6, Fatimah M. Alabdulmuhsin7, Mohammed A. Alabdullah8
1Department of Internal Medicine, college of Medicine, King Faisal University, Alahsa, Saudi Arabia, Email:
emancardiology@yahoo.com
2Medical Intern, collage of Medicine, King Faisal University, Alahsa, Saudi Arabia, Email: 7assan.70@gmail.com
3Medical Intern, collage of Medicine, King Faisal University, Alahsa, Saudi Arabia, Email: azamkx@gmail.com
4Medical Intern, collage of Medicine, King Faisal University, Alahsa, Saudi Arabia, Email: abdullahbladi@gmail.com
5Medical Intern, collage of Medicine, King Faisal University, Alahsa, Saudi Arabia, Email: norahfahad41@gmail.com
6Medical Intern, collage of Medicine, King Faisal University, Alahsa, Saudi Arabia, Email: dr.ahmad1995@gmail.com
7Medical Intern, collage of Medicine, King Faisal University, Alahsa, Saudi Arabia, Email: ftom.075003@gmail.com
8Medical Intern, collage of Medicine, King Faisal University, Alahsa, Saudi Arabia, Email: m-a-a-al-2010@hotmail.com
♦Corresponding author
Eman Elsheikh, Assistant professor of Cardiology, Internal Medicine Department, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Alahsa,
Saudi Arabia
IP Phone [Direct]: +966-13-589-7871
Mobile: +966-544709634
Email: emancardiology@yahoo.com;
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3150-7125
ABSTRACT
Objective: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been declared a pandemic. The current study aimed to assess public’s knowledge,
perception, and attitude during COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: An online survey was administered during the rapid outbreak of
COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. Questions focused on the signs, symptoms, transmission, prevention, and control of COVID-19. In
addition, the attitudes and practices of the participants were explored. Descriptive statistics, t-test, and one-way analysis of variance
(ANOVA) which followed by Tukey post-hoc test was conducted. Results: 2453 respondents participated in this study. 90.6% of them
represent eastern of Saudi Arabia. Most of them had good knowledge about COVID-19. Better knowledge was among female,
attitude improve significantly with age and knowledge was significantly higher among higher educational level. The practices of
wearing a mask (80.6%) and keeping a safe distance from people in public places (82.5%) were common among the participants.
Conclusion: Participants demonstrated good knowledge, optimistic attitudes, and practices toward most aspects of the COVID-19
outbreak. Suggesting that governmental efforts of health education about COVID-19 is helpful and important to control the disease.
Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, COVID-19, Saudi Arabia
Medical Science, 2020, 24(105), 3494-3505
