Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to COVID-19 in patients undergoing antineoplastic treatment: a cross-sectional study
Abstract
Objective: to analyze the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of patients undergoing antineoplastic treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic and relate them to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Method: a cross-sectional study with patients from a public hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Data collection was carried out between August and December 2020, and included three instruments for collecting sociodemographic and clinical data, and a questionnaire to measure knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: of the 134 patients, the mean age was 58 years; 57.5% were women, 59% had not completed high school; 53.2% had a family income of less than three minimum wages; and 51% had IV disease of disease. The mean number of correct answers in knowledge was 59%, and more errors were observed among patients with lower levels of education and income. In attitudes, 78.4% believed that COVID-19 would be controlled and 89.6% that they would find adequate treatment if they became infected. In practices, 75% practiced social distancing and 96.3% used masks. Conclusion: the lower number of years of education and low family income were associated with a lower level of knowledge. The need to seek strategies to formulate specific health education policies for this population is reaffirmed.
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References
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