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Abstract
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Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and preventive behaviors of students at a medical
school regarding COVID-19.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected through an online questionnaire between 19 August and
14 September 2020. Complete adherence was defined as reporting four core preventive practices: frequent
handwashing, social distancing, indoor mask use, and avoidance of crowded places. Modified Poisson regression
with a log link and robust variance was used to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% confidence
intervals (CIs) for factors associated with complete adherence.
Results: A total of 211 medical students were included. The mean age was 21.8±1.8 years, 55.5% were female, and
50.5% were in preclinical grades. The median COVID-19 knowledge score was 8 out of 9 (IQR, 7-9), and 31.3%
reported the World Health Organization as their primary source of information. Overall, 85.7% were willing to
receive an effective COVID-19 vaccine, 90.4% reported that COVID-19 was more severe than seasonal influenza,
62.7% believed that adequate precautions could prevent infection. Complete adherence to all four core preventive
practices was reported by 153 of 210 participants (72.9%). Personal history of COVID-19 (aPR=1.30, 95% CI 1.01-
1.66; p=0.040) and feeling more anxious and tense than usual (aPR=1.28, 95% CI 1.06-1.55; p=0.010) were
associated with a higher prevalence of complete adherence. Participants willing to receive an effective vaccine also
had a higher knowledge score in the unadjusted comparison (median 8 vs 7; p=0.026).
Conclusion: Medical students demonstrated high COVID-19 knowledge, generally cautious attitudes toward COVID19, and high adherence to recommended preventive practices during the early phase of the pandemic. Future
preparedness strategies for medical students should address both accurate knowledge and emotional responses to
support effective behavioral responses during emerging public health emergencies.
Corresponding author: Ayşe Gül Yücesan, Istanbul Medipol University, Department of Public Health
e-mail: ayse.yucesan@medipol.edu.tr
Conflict of interest: There is no conflict of interest between companies and others.
Ethical approve: The study was approved by the Acibadem University Medical Research Ethics Committee
(Approval No. 2020-15/23). Electronic informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to participation.
Received: 23.05.2026 Accepted 21.07.2026