Cover Image

Knowledge, attitude, and practices among the general population during the later stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study

Purpose: A different pattern of mental health issues was reported during the later stage of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, few studies have examined Malaysians' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) prevalent during this time. Patients and Methods: A nationwide online cross-sectional study...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chai, Chee-Shee, Ng, Diana-Leh-Ching, Chua, Wei-Jing, Tung, Yu-Zhen, Sindeh, Woweham, Ibrahim, Muhammad Amin, Sham, Siti Fatimah Badlishah, Tan, Seng-Beng
Format: Article
Published: Dove Medical Press Ltd. PO Box 300-008, Albany, Auckland 0752, New ZealandAND 2022
Subjects:
RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Online Access:http://eprints.um.edu.my/32490/
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
id my.um.eprints.32490
record_format eprints
spelling my.um.eprints.324902022-04-18T02:22:24Z http://eprints.um.edu.my/32490/ Knowledge, attitude, and practices among the general population during the later stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study Chai, Chee-Shee Ng, Diana-Leh-Ching Chua, Wei-Jing Tung, Yu-Zhen Sindeh, Woweham Ibrahim, Muhammad Amin Sham, Siti Fatimah Badlishah Tan, Seng-Beng RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine Purpose: A different pattern of mental health issues was reported during the later stage of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, few studies have examined Malaysians' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) prevalent during this time. Patients and Methods: A nationwide online cross-sectional study was conducted in Malaysia from June 1, 2021 to June 14, 2021, ie, 18-months from the first reported COVID-19 case in the country. Citizens aged 18 years and above were recruited by means of the snowball sampling method. ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and linear regression tests were used. Results: Of the 2168 respondents, most were young adults (62.7%), females (62.4%), tertiary educated individuals (84%), non-health care workers (85.9%), and individuals who knew someone diagnosed with COVID-19 (75.2%). The mean score for knowledge was 10.0 +/- 1.52 (maximum score = 12); correct response rate for each question ranged from 54.2% to 99%. The mean score in terms of attitude was 1.3 +/- 0.85 (maximum score = 2); 68.7% respondents agreed that control over COVID-19 would finally be achieved; and 62.3% believed that Malaysia could conquer COVID-19. The mean score for practices was 5.1 +/- 1.10 (maximum score = 6); 81.5%, 88.1%, and 74.1% respondents avoided crowded places, confined spaces, and conversations in close physical proximity, respectively. Furthermore, 94.2% wore masks when leaving home; 89.0% practiced hand hygiene; and 83.8% adhering to COVID-19 warnings. Small but significant correlations were found between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.078, p < 0.001) as well as between knowledge and practices (r = 0.070, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Malaysians exhibited sound knowledge but negative attitudes and inadequate practices pertaining to COVID-19 during the pandemic's later stage. At this phase, unlike at the early stage, the public's sound knowledge ensured little improvement in their attitudes and practices. Therefore, health education at the later pandemic stage should focus on promoting positive attitudes and developing better practices. Dove Medical Press Ltd. PO Box 300-008, Albany, Auckland 0752, New ZealandAND 2022 Article PeerReviewed Chai, Chee-Shee and Ng, Diana-Leh-Ching and Chua, Wei-Jing and Tung, Yu-Zhen and Sindeh, Woweham and Ibrahim, Muhammad Amin and Sham, Siti Fatimah Badlishah and Tan, Seng-Beng (2022) Knowledge, attitude, and practices among the general population during the later stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 15. pp. 389-401. ISSN 1179-1594, DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S349798 <https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S349798>. 10.2147/RMHP.S349798
institution Universiti Malaya
building UM Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Malaya
content_source UM Research Repository
url_provider http://eprints.um.edu.my/
topic RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
spellingShingle RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Chai, Chee-Shee
Ng, Diana-Leh-Ching
Chua, Wei-Jing
Tung, Yu-Zhen
Sindeh, Woweham
Ibrahim, Muhammad Amin
Sham, Siti Fatimah Badlishah
Tan, Seng-Beng
Knowledge, attitude, and practices among the general population during the later stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study
description Purpose: A different pattern of mental health issues was reported during the later stage of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, few studies have examined Malaysians' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) prevalent during this time. Patients and Methods: A nationwide online cross-sectional study was conducted in Malaysia from June 1, 2021 to June 14, 2021, ie, 18-months from the first reported COVID-19 case in the country. Citizens aged 18 years and above were recruited by means of the snowball sampling method. ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and linear regression tests were used. Results: Of the 2168 respondents, most were young adults (62.7%), females (62.4%), tertiary educated individuals (84%), non-health care workers (85.9%), and individuals who knew someone diagnosed with COVID-19 (75.2%). The mean score for knowledge was 10.0 +/- 1.52 (maximum score = 12); correct response rate for each question ranged from 54.2% to 99%. The mean score in terms of attitude was 1.3 +/- 0.85 (maximum score = 2); 68.7% respondents agreed that control over COVID-19 would finally be achieved; and 62.3% believed that Malaysia could conquer COVID-19. The mean score for practices was 5.1 +/- 1.10 (maximum score = 6); 81.5%, 88.1%, and 74.1% respondents avoided crowded places, confined spaces, and conversations in close physical proximity, respectively. Furthermore, 94.2% wore masks when leaving home; 89.0% practiced hand hygiene; and 83.8% adhering to COVID-19 warnings. Small but significant correlations were found between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.078, p < 0.001) as well as between knowledge and practices (r = 0.070, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Malaysians exhibited sound knowledge but negative attitudes and inadequate practices pertaining to COVID-19 during the pandemic's later stage. At this phase, unlike at the early stage, the public's sound knowledge ensured little improvement in their attitudes and practices. Therefore, health education at the later pandemic stage should focus on promoting positive attitudes and developing better practices.
format Article
author Chai, Chee-Shee
Ng, Diana-Leh-Ching
Chua, Wei-Jing
Tung, Yu-Zhen
Sindeh, Woweham
Ibrahim, Muhammad Amin
Sham, Siti Fatimah Badlishah
Tan, Seng-Beng
author_facet Chai, Chee-Shee
Ng, Diana-Leh-Ching
Chua, Wei-Jing
Tung, Yu-Zhen
Sindeh, Woweham
Ibrahim, Muhammad Amin
Sham, Siti Fatimah Badlishah
Tan, Seng-Beng
author_sort Chai, Chee-Shee
title Knowledge, attitude, and practices among the general population during the later stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study
title_short Knowledge, attitude, and practices among the general population during the later stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study
title_full Knowledge, attitude, and practices among the general population during the later stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Knowledge, attitude, and practices among the general population during the later stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Knowledge, attitude, and practices among the general population during the later stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study
title_sort knowledge, attitude, and practices among the general population during the later stage of the covid-19 pandemic in malaysia: a cross-sectional study
publisher Dove Medical Press Ltd. PO Box 300-008, Albany, Auckland 0752, New ZealandAND
publishDate 2022
url http://eprints.um.edu.my/32490/
_version_ 1735409583766110208
score 13.211869

Similar Items