Preventive behaviours and perceptions regarding COVID-19 after its reclassification among Japanese medical university students
Keywords:
Preventive behavior, Perception, Reclassification, Medical studentAbstract
In Japan, COVID-19 was reclassified from Category 2 (equivalent to new influenza) to Category 5 (equivalent to seasonal influenza) under the Infection Disease Control Law in May 2023, and daily life has gradually returned to normal. This study aimed to clarify the changes in preventive behaviours and perceptions of COVID-19 among medical university students after its reclassification.
An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 188 university students. It comprised questions about attributes, infection-preventive behaviours, and perceptions of COVID-19 after its reclassification and one year before. Regarding infection-preventive behaviours, the participants were asked about the frequency of hand washing, alcohol disinfection, indoor and outdoor mask-wearing, temperature measurement, going out, and eating out. Regarding the perception of infection prevention, participants were asked about the importance of each infection-preventive behaviour and the risk of becoming infected with COVID-19.
The frequency of hand washing, alcohol disinfection, use of indoor and outdoor mask-wearing, as well as temperature measurement decreased, while that of going out and eating out increased. Perceptions of the importance of infection-preventive behaviours decreased, as did the risk of becoming infected with the virus. A significant correlation was observed between the declined infection-preventive behaviours and the decreased perception of infection prevention.
Preventive behaviours and perceptions of COVID-19 prevention among medical university students decreased after the reclassification. Since medical university students often come in contact with patients at risk of becoming seriously ill, it is necessary to consider methods for maintaining infection-preventive behaviours and a high perception regarding their importance.
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