Sources of information among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: The use of relevant sources of information and a high level of knowledge about risky behavior and ways of COVID-19 transmission are crucial for disease prevention and its spread. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess sources of information among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 373 students of the Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade. The anonymous questionnaire consisted of 3 parts: socio-demographic characteristics, information sources and the attitude towards available information about COVID-19. Questionnaire was available online during January 2021. Results: At the beginning of the pandemic, one third of the students were informed several times a day (37.5%), latter it would drop to being informed several times a week (33.8%) (p < 0.05). Television and official websites were stated as the main information sources during the pandemic. Students of IV - VI year of medical school significantly more often informed themselves from official websites in contrast to I - III year students (75.5% vs 61.6%, p = 0.014). More than 2/3 of the students stated that the information about the coronavirus is accurate and up-to-date, but only a third were satisfied with the information during the pandemic. Conclusion: A large number of arteriolosclerotic CSVD patients complain of different types of headaches. The results of this study should emphasize the importance of mass and social media to public health policymakers as the most common sources of public information, which can reduce the spread of inaccurate information that can affect people's behavior towards a pandemic. This study also accentuated the need to make the younger student population aware of the importance of using relevant and reliable sources of information.