Development and Validation of a New Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Questionnaire on COVID-19 Pandemic Control and Prevention in Malaysia

Abstract

The acceptance of COVID-19 control and preventive measures by the Malaysian public is crucial as Malaysia moves toward a safer endemic phase. Our study aimed to develop and validate a new tool to measure the knowledge, attitude, and practice of COVID-19 control and preventive measures among adults in Terengganu, Malaysia. A questionnaire was developed through theoretical research and expert consultations. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 670 staff and students of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Terengganu recruited by convenient sampling.  Validity and reliability were analysed. The validity of the knowledge domain was determined through Item Response Theory (IRT) analysis which revealed 26 items derived from six categories: etiology, symptoms, mode of transmission, risk factor for infection, and high-risk group. The construct validity of the attitude domain was determined through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) revealed 34 items that lead to seven factors: fear, responsibility, movement restriction, information, quarantine, screening, medium for information. Construct validity of the practice domain revealed 16 items that loaded to three factors: hand washing, movement restriction and mask-wearing. Among the key findings of this study was high level of knowledge of respondents regarding specific situations and activities and respondents agreed that the most effective way to receive information was via television casting. The questionnaire was shown to have satisfying psychometric properties and can be used as a tool in future research in public knowledge, attitude and practice to control and prevent COVID-19.