Effect of an educational program via WhatsApp on knowledge, attitude, and practices of elderly toward COVID-19

Abstract

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic. Knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) influence the adherence of elderly to COVID-19 mitigation measures. Aim To measure the effect of an educational program via WhatsApp on KAP of elderly toward COVID-19. Patients and methods A quasi-experimental research design (pre–post intervention study) study was done on 102 older adults, able to communicate via smart phone and participating in the WhatsApp group members of El-Sadaa elderly club in Mansoura city, Egypt. Data collection took a period of 1 month from the first to the end of April 2020. Tools Demographic data and health history of the elderly questionnaire, knowledge related to COVID-19 and its preventive measure questionnaire, attitude related to COVID-19 questionnaire, and practices related to COVID-19 questionnaire were collected. Results The postimplementation scores were significantly higher than the preimplementation ones. The mean scores were 30.1 versus 20.4 for knowledge, 10.6 versus 8.2 for attitude, and 11.4 versus 9.1 for practice. The median practice score is significantly higher among the elderly with enough income compared with those without enough income. Conclusions Participants had a significant improvement in KAP about COVID-19 after the implementation of the educational program. Recommendations Education via WhatsApp can be an effective teaching method that enables the elderly to enhance their KAP toward COVID-19.