COVID-19 survey publication

COVID-19 awareness among Vietnamese adults: a hospital-based survey.
Vo KT, Ngo HCT, Goto A, Koriyama C, Suzuki K.
Ho Chi Minh City Medical Association Journal of Current Medicine. 2020; November: 94-99.
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has become a major public health concern around the worldwide.
Objectives: This study aimed at assessing the overall awareness of prevention of COVID-19 using media and social network system (SNS) among Vietnamese adults visiting People’s Hospital 115.
Materials and method: We had conducted a questionnaire-based survey during between 1/5/2020 and 15/5/2020 at People's Hospital 115. A Vietnamese language questionnaire of 20 questions was distributed to visitors to the Hospital's outpatient department. The questionnaire was developed by the Aichi Medical University in collaboration with Fukushima Medical University and Kagoshima University, and included items on sociodemographic background, health status, preventive behaviors, information sources. Participants aged 18 years old and older. We excluded those with emergency status including suspected COVID-19 cases.
Results: Among 517 respondents (response rate 98.7%), 95% participants reported that they had searched for COVID-19 information; 97% felt anxiety and 94% wanted to take a laboratory test when having cold-like symptoms. As for preventive actions, respondents were predominantly engaged in gargling (64.8%), hand washing (72.4%) and wearing a face mask (89.5%) as well as avoiding activities including big events (76.7%), eating out (61,7%), business trips (66.7%), and private trips (85.8%). Most respondents obtained COVID-19 information through popular media (96%) and SNS (90%), and expressed their trust in media (97%) and SNS (84%) especially when the information come from government and health authorities.
Conclusion: There was a high level of awareness of COVID-19 through information obtained from recognized sources. These information helped people take measures to prevent infection at the individual and community levels.