Relationship Between Knowledge, Preventive Practices and Fear from COVID-19 among Middle Aged and Older Adults: During the Novel Coronavirus Outbreak

Background: New virus infections outbreaks among people are always a public health problem. For the COVID-19, it may have physical, psychological, and social consequences that affect on individuals. One of these psychological consequences is fear. Older adults, especially with chronic health conditions are extremely vulnerable to COVID-19. So, individuals must have good COVID-19 knowledge and preventive practices to combat this fear and prevent the spread of infection. Aim: Determine the relationship between knowledge, preventive practices, and fear from COVID-19 among middle aged and older adults: during the novel coronavirus outbreak. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional correlational research design was used in this study. Setting: The study was carried out at Temai Elamdid health insurance outpatient clinics that affiliated to the Egyptian Ministry of Health. Subjects: A convenience sample of 185 patients attending the previous study setting. Tools: Four tools were used in this study; demographic and clinical data structured interview schedule, COVID-19 knowledge structured interview schedule, COVID-19 preventive practices structured interview schedule and fear from COVID-19 scale. Results: It was noticed that more than two fifth of middle aged adults and more than one third of older adults had satisfactory COVID-19 preventive practices, Furthermore, more than one third of middle aged adults and one third of older adults had good COVID-19 knowledge with statistically significant difference was found between two groups. Also, Significant relation was found between both COVID-19 knowledge and preventive practices and fear from COVID-19 among the study subjects (P=0.000). In the same direction, there was statistically significant difference between middle aged adults and older adults regarding COVID-19 knowledge and preventive practices and higher level of COVID-19 fear (P=0.000). Conclusion: Older adults had a significant lower score of COVID-19 knowledge and preventive practices and higher level of COVID-19 fear than middle aged adults as strong negative correlation between fear from COVID-19 and either COVID-19 knowledge & preventive practices was found. Recommendations: Educational programs should be developed and implemented by nurses in different care settings to increase their awareness about COVID-19.