J Korean Acad Nurs.  2022 Dec;52(6):554-563. 10.4040/jkan.22047.

Factors Influencing Preventive Behaviors for COVID-19 in Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study

• Choi JS
• Kim KM

• KMID: 2537528
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.22047

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to determine how undergraduate nursing students’ knowledge and health beliefs affected their COVID-19-related infection-prevention behaviors.
Methods
This study used a descriptive survey. A total of 188 undergraduate nursing students from two universities in South Korea participated in this study. The data were collected from June 2020 to August 2020. Factors influencing infection-prevention behaviors were identified using multiple regression analysis.
Results
The participants’ mean knowledge level regarding COVID-19 was 84.05 ± 11.78 out of 100. The average health belief score was 2.80 ± 0.32 points out of 5. COVID-19-related preventive health behaviors were correlated with experiences of searching for COVID-19 information (r = .22, p < .01), perceived severity (r = .24, p < .01), perceived benefits (r = .29, p < .01), cues to action (r = .30, p < .01), knowledge (r = .27, p < .01), and perceived barriers (r = - .19, p < .05). Factors that significantly affected COVID-19-related preventive health behaviors were the participants’ years of study, experiences regarding COVID-19 prevention education, perceived severity, perceived barriers, and cues to action.
Conclusion
COVID-19-related preventive health behaviors are promoted by increasing awareness about the disease and promoting COVID-19 education in nursing curriculums.

Keyword

COVID-19; Health Belief Model; Students; Nursing