The Relationship Between COVID-19 Disease Knowledge Level and Sociodemographic Characteristics and Fear of COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has adversely affected human life in many ways. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the level of knowledge of COVID-19 disease, sociodemographic characteristics and fear of COVID-19. Material and Methods: This study is a crosssectional research conducted on the web. 498 participants were included in the analysis after the sample with incomplete data entry and disrupting the normal distribution was removed. Data collection tools were sent to the participants via an online questionnaire link. Statistical data were evaluated with independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, correlation and regression analysis by using SPSS 24 package program. Results: The mean age of the 498 participants included in the analysis in the study was 29.52 (minimum=18, maximum=72), and it was determined that 59.6% were women and 50% were associate degree graduates. The fear of COVID-19 is higher in women, those over 65, those with chronic diseases and those who perceive COVID-19 disease as a life threatening . It has been determined that there is a statistically significant, positive and weak relationship between individuals' fear of COVID-19 and gender, number of children, and a negative and strong relationship between COVID-19 disease threatens life and gender. When the regression analysis results are examined; when the significance of the variables used in the model was examined, it was found that the age and gender of COVID-19 disease was statistically significant for life threatening (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was found that the level of knowledge and fear of COVID-19 were not correlated, and that sociodemographic characteristics were related to the fear of COVID-19.