Investigating the Level of Awareness and Preventive Behaviors Among Patients Hospitalized in Khorramshahr and Abadan Hospitals for Coronavirus Disease 2019

Background: The spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is considered a global health crisis, and adherence to preventive behaviors by the general public is a principal way to break the chain of transmission and overcome this crisis. Objectives: The presents study was conducted to investigate the level of awareness and preventive behaviors among patients hospitalized in Khorramshahr and Abadan hospitals for COVID-19. Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 250 patients hospitalized in Abadan and Khorramshahr hospitals participated after providing informed consent. A self-administered awareness and preventive behaviors questionnaire was used as the data collection tool. Scores were categorized into three levels: Good (above 24), moderate (13 - 24), and poor (below 13). The reliability and validity of the questionnaire were also assessed. Data were analyzed using statistical tests through SPSS version 22. Results: The results demonstrated that the participants’ mean awareness score was 34.00 ± 3.81, and their mean preventive behavior score was 27.41 ± 9.15. The level of awareness and preventive behavior was significantly higher in participants from Khorramshahr Hospital than those from Abadan Hospital. Regarding education level, individuals with university degrees exhibited higher levels of preventive behaviors. Additionally, awareness scores decreased with decreasing age, while preventive behavior scores increased with increasing age (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The present study indicated that participating patients had favorable levels of awareness and preventive behaviors against COVID-19. Nevertheless, additional educational interventions and programs through media and social networks are still required.