Abstract
The aim of this study to determine the knowledge and behavior of preservice schoolteachers regarding respiratory infections and COVID-19 measures, as well as their vaccination confidence and impacting factors. For this purpose, a descriptive study was conducted with 306 college students in their senior year at 11 universities. The Kruskal–Wallis χ2 , Mann–Whitney U test, and regression were employed. Among the participants, 41.5% correctly identified the areas that were missed in handwashing, while 12.7% stated that vaccinations were the most effective way of protecting the community from infections. The participants’ mean score was 56.03 ± 12.78 on the Vaccination Confidence Scale. The vaccination confidence of the preservice teachers who would be advising students’ parents to have their child vaccinated was 8.15 units greater (β = 8.150; p < .001). The vaccination confidence score of those who did not want to get the coronavirus vaccine was 7.943 units greater (β = 7.943). In conclusion, the knowledge of the participants about preventing infectious respiratory diseases is unsatisfactory. Vaccination confidence is low.
Cite this article as: Şener, N., Gür, K., & Başar, M. (2024). The knowledge and behavior of preservice schoolteachers regarding respiratory infections and coronavirus disease 2019 measures, vaccination confidence, and impacting factors. HAYEF: Journal of Education, 21(3), 224-231.