ORIGINAL PAPER
Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding Covid-19 among the Greek general population
 
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1
Center of Clinical Epidemiology and Outcomes Research (CLEO), Athens, Greece
 
2
ECONCARE LP, Athens Greece
 
3
Department of Anatomy and Surgical Anatomy, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
 
4
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia
 
 
Publication date: 2021-08-30
 
 
Corresponding author
Georgia Kourlaba   

5 Chatzigianni Mexi Street, 11528, Athens, Greece, Clinical Epidemiology and Outcomes Research (CLEO)
 
 
Pneumon 2020;33(4):1-19
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Countries worldwide have adopted unprecedented infection control and prevention measures to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The success of these measures depends on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the general population toward COVID-19.The objective of this study was to measure the KAP of adult Greek residents toward COVID-19.

Methods:
A cross-sectional nationwide survey (n=1,004) was conducted during between April 28,2020 to May 03,2020 using a mixed methodology for data collection: Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) and Computer Assisted web Interviewing (CAWI).A proportionate stratified by region systematic sampling procedure was used to ensure a nationally representative sample of the urban/rural population. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire.

Results:
35% of respondents reported correctly the five most commonly related to COVID-19 symptoms (i.e. cough, fever, shortness of breath, gastrointestinal symptoms and myalgia). Most respondents (>90%) knew that coronavirus can be transmitted by droplets from human-to-human and contaminated surfaces. Avoiding touching the face with one’s hands and social distancing were identified as the most appropriate prevention and control measures against COVID-19 by over 95% of respondents. The median (IQR) of the total knowledge score was 17 (16-19).45.6% of respondents believed that the novel coronavirus was developed by humans in laboratories, and 79.4% and 69.0% believed that novel coronavirus is more contagious and more lethal than flu virus H1N1, respectively.41.1% of respondents stated that they had proceeded to social distancing before government measures were taken.

Conclusions:
Overall, the Greek general population had adequate knowledge of the symptoms, transmission routes and prevention measures of the COVID-19,although there is undoubtedly still room for improvement.

ABBREVIATIONS
COVID-19: Coronavirus Disease 2019, CATI: Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing, CAWI: Computer Assisted Web Interviewing, GLM: Generalized Linear Model, KAP: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
None.
FUNDING
This survey was partially funded by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
 
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