COVID-19 Awareness, Overview of Vaccines and Method of Medical Education Among Medical Faculty Students

Background: Medical faculty students symbolize a significant part of the health-care society and are remarkable members of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to response. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate various factors associated with COVID-19 awareness, vaccine, and medical education during the pandemic among medical faculty students via surveys. Study design: We conducted a prospective cross-sectional survey study about masks, distance and hygiene awareness, COVID-19 vaccination, and methods of medical education with medical faculty students (MFS). Methods: A total of 322 medical faculty students answered the questionnaire forms. The questionnaire collected socio-demographic characteristics, COVID-19 Awareness, general willingness, attitude toward vaccination, and attitude toward educational models. Results: The total awareness score (79.53±27.45) was determined as a high level of awareness among the participants. 4th grade MFS were found to be more sensitive to mask, hygiene, and total score awareness than in the 2nd grade (p= 0.03, p=0.006). There were no statistically significant differences between educational grades in general willingness and attitude towards vaccination. It was determined that the medical students in the last 3 years wanted face-to-face education statistically more than the MFS in the first 3 years (p=0.00). Conclusion: The vast majority of the participants had a high level of knowledge about COVID-19. The majority of the study population is willing to be vaccinated whereas some populations are hesitant about vaccination. This information may be used in future immunization strategies to increase the vaccination rates and which educational methods to choose among this group of future medical professionals.