Table 3.
Participants’ awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic
| Response | Correct, N (%) |
|---|---|
| 1. One way of transmission of coronavirus is respiratory droplets from person to person among close contacts | 245 (90%) |
| 2. Coronavirus can be transmitted after touching surfaces that were contaminated with the virus | 19 (7.0%) |
| 3. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen can decrease the risk of complications when used during viral infections | 166 (61%) |
| 4. Fever/dry cough/shortness of breath are associated with coronavirus | 259 (95%) |
| 5. Muscle aches and gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea/vomiting/diarrhea) are not associated with coronavirus | 177 (65%) |
| 6. Handwashing with soap and water for 20 s is enough to clean the hands and protect from spreading the infection | 155 (57%) |
| 7. Using steroids do not increase vulnerability to coronavirus infection | 98 (36%) |
| 8. Generally, the use of autoimmune disease treatments increases the susceptibility to contract coronavirus infection | 165 (61%) |
| 9. Hydroxychloroquine has not been used as a preventative therapy against coronavirus infection | 105 (39%) |
| 10. Azithromycin has been used along with hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of the coronavirus infection cases | 207 (76%) |
| 11. Oseltamivir has not been used in the management of coronavirus infection cases | 134 (49%) |
| 12. Protein calorie malnutrition impairs host immunity (particularly the T-cell system) resulting in increased opportunistic infections | 114 (42%) |
| 13. Patients should eat food that contains Vitamin C and D to boost their immunity | 236 (87%) |
| 14. Eating food like mushrooms and garlic is beneficial for the immune system | 156 (57%) |
| 15. Exercise causes antibodies and white blood cells to circulate in the body more rapidly detecting infections at an early stage | 143 (53%) |
| 16. The brief rise in body temperature during and right after exercise increases bacterial growth, which will lower the body’s ability to fight the infection | 164 (60%) |
| 17. Not smoking and decreasing stress help support the immune system | 252 (93%) |
| 18. Sunlight activates T-helper cells hence boosts immunity | 130 (48%) |
| 19. You need to keep a distance of at least 3 m (10 feet) when counselling patients during a pandemic | 105 (39%) |
| 20. The highest risk patients of contracting coronavirus are the elderly (>65), immune-compromised and children under the age of 9 years | 61 (22%) |