Effect of Guidelines for Preparatory Students on Prevention and Combatting COVID -19

Abstract

Background : The protection of students and educational facilities is particularly important. Precautions are necessary to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19 in school settings, so, guidelines for prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19 in schools are very essential. Aim: This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of guidelines for preparatory students on prevention and combatting COVID-19. Research design : A quasi-experimental design was used. Setting : The study was conducted at two governmental preparatory schools namely Omar Ibn Al-Khattab and Zahraa Helwan affiliated to Wady Hof District in Helwan, Cairo Governorate, Egypt. Sampling : A multi-stage random sample was used. Sample size: 605 students both boys and girls. Tools: Three tools were used in this study: Tool one: An interview questionnaire which consisted of the following parts: a) Characteristics’ data of studied students. b) Knowledge of studied students about COVID-19. Tool two: Attitude as reported by students using Likert Scale toward COVID-19 . Tool three: Students' Preventive Behavior Likert Scale regarding to COVID-19. Results: The current study showed that 58.3% of studied students had poor knowledge, 69.1% of them had negative attitude and 64.3% of them had inadequate preventive behavior at pre guidelines about prevention of COVID-19. However, highly statistically significant improvements were detected after the implementation of guidelines in good knowledge (76%), positive attitude (94.2%) and adequate preventive behavior (85.5%). There were highly statistically significant positive correlations between students' total knowledge scores and total attitude and total preventive behavior scores at P <0.001. Conclusion: Guidelines about prevention of COVID-19 improved preparatory students' knowledge, attitude and preventive behavior at the posttest than pretest, with highly statistically significant differences.