Table 1. Characteristics and primary studies result.
| Author(s), year and country | Design | Sample | Findings | Bias Risk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Outcome | Measure of Association | ||||
| Almutairi et al., 2015, Saudi Arabia | Cross-sectional | 1147 adults aged >18 years. Male 62%, female 38%. | Health knowledge was a significant predictor for precautionary practices and attitudes in the coronavirus pandemic (MERS-CoV). | Behaviors: β = 0.28; SE = 0.02; p < 0.001. | High |
| Attitudes: β = 0.35; SE = 0.08; p < 0.001. | |||||
| Askarian et al., 2013, Iran | Cross-sectional | 125 resident doctors. The mean age was 30,62 (SD = 5.17) years. Male 59,2%, female 40,8%. | Health knowledge was positively and significantly correlated with health protection practices for pandemic H1N1 influenza. | r = 0,45; p value <0.001 | Average |
| Etingen et al., 2013, United State | Cross-sectional | 3113 veterans. The mean age was 61,82 (SD = 11.70). Male 96,97%, female 3,03%. | An adequate reception of health information during H1N1 influenza increased the probability of presenting self-protective behaviors in a cohort of older adults | Wear a facemask OR = 1.39, 95% CI 0.99 1.95, p = 0.053. | High |
| Stay home to avoid illness’ OR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.53–0.90, p = 0.006. | |||||
| Ho et al., 2013, Singapore | Cross-sectional | 1055 adults aged > 18 years. Male 45,3% and female 54,7%. | Public health knowledge was positively associated with precautionary behavior intentions in the H1N1 pandemic. | β = 0.11, p < 0.001 | Average |
| Keller et al., 2014, China. | Cross-sectional | 2882 university students. Age not reported. Male 70.4%, female 66.6%. | Health knowledge about H1N1 moderately predicted preventive health behaviors. | Wear a facemask: OR = 0.99, 95% IC 0.81–1,20 | High |
| Increased Hand Washing: OR = 1,10, 95% IC 0.94–1.30 | |||||
| Reporting Symptoms OR = 1.10, 95% IC 0.92–1.33. | |||||
| Krishnappa et al., 2020, India | Cross-sectional | 860 dentists. Continent: Asia 30.7%, Americas 25%, Europe 16.3%, Africa 22.6% and other (Australia and Antarctica 22.6%). | Health knowledge was significantly associated with protective practices in the COVID-19 pandemic. | r = 0.669; 95% CI 0,77–26,64 p <0.05 | Average |
| Liao et al., 2010, Hong Kong | Cross-sectional | 1016 adults aged >18 years. Male 46%, female 54%. | Health knowledge is a partial mediator between confidence in formal information and personal hygiene practices towards the Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic. | β = 0,35; ~17% mediation. | Average |
| Lin et al., 2011, China | Cross-sectional | 10669 adults. Aged between 18 and 90 years (M = 41.47 years). Male 45.6%, female 54.4%. | Health knowledge was significantly associated with self-protection practices during the H1N1 pandemic. | OR = 1.57; 95% CI, 1.42 to 1.73; p<0.0001 | Average |
| Nabil et al., 2011, Egypt | Cross-sectional | 1312 university students. Male 50.3%, female 49.7%. | Health knowledge in university students was associated with more availability to comply with home quarantine during the H1N1 pandemic. | OR = 0.27, 95% CI 0.2–0.34, p < 0.001. | Average |
| Ping et al., 2011, Malaysia | Cross-sectional | 1049 adults aged between 18 and 19 years. Male 37%, female 63%. Malay 41%, Indian 25% and Chinese 34%. | Health knowledge was a significant predictor for the health protective behaviors practice in the three ethnic groups for the pandemic H1N1 outbreak. | Malay: β = 0.08; SE = 0.03; p < 0.05; Chinese: β = 0.10; SE = 0.03; p < 0.001; Indian: β = 0.08; SE = 0.03; p < 0.01. | Average |
| Rahman et al., 2020, Bangladesh | Cross-sectional | 441 adults. 85,7% aged between 18 and 29 years, and 14.3% aged in 30 years or more. Male 68.7% and female 31.3%. | Health knowledge about COVID-19 increases the likelihood of executing preventive practices such as wearing masks and staying home. | Wear a facemask: AOR = 1.54; 95% CI, 1.25 to 1.77; p<0.01. | High |
| Stay home: AOR = 1.73; 95% CI, 1,43 to 2,09; p<0.01. | |||||
| Yap et al., 2010, Singapore | Cross-sectional | 1063 adults aged between 17 and 61 years (M = 21.4; SE = 0.2). Male 95.8%, female 4.2%. Chinese 75.6%, Malay 13.5%, Indian 5.8% and others 2.9%. | High health knowledge was a significant predictor for high levels of protection practices and attitudes towards the Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic. | Practices: β = 0.30; 95% CI 0.22–0.37; p < 0.001. | Average |
| Attitudes β = 0.21; 95% CI 0.14–0.28; p < 0.001. | |||||
| Zhang et al., 2020, China | Cross-sectional | 1367 health workers. Male 53.4%, female 46.7%. Doctors 36.5%, Nurses 46.5% and Paramedics 17% | Health knowledge significantly influenced the protective attitudes of health workers. | Attitudes: “Confidence in defeating the virus”, OR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.12–1.77, p < 0.01.). “Patients must disclose their exposure” OR = 1.217, 95% CI 1.04–1.42, p < 0.001. | High |
β = beta coefficient, SE = Standard Error, OR: Odds Ratio, AOR = Adjusted Odds Ratio, CI = Confidence Interval.