COMPARISON OF INFECTION RATES, QUARANTINE PERIODS, AND FEAR IN UNDERGRADUATE PHYSIOTHERAPY STUDENTS WHO HAD FACE-TO-FACE AND ONLINE EDUCATION DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A SINGLE-CENTER, CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Purpose: The objective of the present study was to compare the rates of COVID-19 infection and quarantine periods, and fear in undergraduate physiotherapy students who continued their educations as online or face-to-face. Methods: Three hundred and one students who continued their education as online (n= 144, for 1st and 4th degrees), or face-to-face under strict special precautions (n= 157, for 2nd and 3rd grades) during the 2020-2021 fall term were included. Demographic characteristics, COVID-19 infection diagnosis and quarantine due to contact were questioned via a structured online form. COVID-19 related fear was assessed by using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale. Results: No statistical differences were detected regarding demographical characteristics and COVID-19 infection rates between the groups (p> 0.05). The online education group had higher quarantine rates due to contact with an infected person (p= 0.040), while the face-to-face group reported higher COVID-19 related fear (p= 0.001). Conclusion: The physiotherapy students who had a face-to-face education under special precautions had more COVID-19 related fear, however less quarantine rate, and similar infection rates in comparison to online educated counterparts.