INTRODUCTION:

A novel corona virus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. Corona viruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.

Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known corona viruses all circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans².

On 31^st December 2019, the first reported case of Covid-19 outbreak was found in Wuhan, China. The first case outside of China was reported in Thailand on 13^th January 2020, since then, this ongoing outbreak has now spread to more than 50 other countries. Covid-19 outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by WHO on 30^th January 2020. The outbreak quickly spread around the world. Covid-19 is a disease caused by SARS-COV-2 that can trigger a respiratory tract infection. It spreads the same way other corona viruses do, mainly through person-to- person contact. Infections range from mild to deadly. SARS-COV-2 is one of seven types of virus, including the one that cause severe diseases like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The other corona viruses cause most of the colds that affect us during the year but are not a serious threat for healthy people ³.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Self-Instructional Module on Knowledge regarding Covid-19 among Adolescents at Selected Colleges, Salem.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To assess the pre test and post test level of knowledge on Covid-19 among adolescents.

2. To compare the pre test and post test knowledge on Covid-19 among adolescents.

3. To evaluate the effectiveness of self -instructional module on Covid-19 among adolescents.

4. To associate the knowledge regarding covid-19 among adolescence with their selected demographic variables.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS:

Assess: It refers to the statistical measurement on knowledge of Covid-19.

Effectiveness:

It refers to the statistically significant improvement in knowledge among students regarding Covid-19.

Self-Instructional Module:

It refers to systematically developed instructional material designed for Covid-19, to provide information about definition, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and complications of Covid-19.

Knowledge:

Knowledge is defined as information that was acquired through learning or experience.

Covid-19:

Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-COV-2 virus. It is the largest category for an RNA virus.

ASSUMPTIONS:

· There will be some knowledge regarding Covid-19 among adolescents.

· Level of knowledge varies from individual to individual.

· Self-instructional module on knowledge regarding Covid-19 will improve knowledge among adolescents.

HYPOTHESIS:

H₁ There is a significant difference between pre test and post test scores on knowledge regarding Covid-19 among adolescents at p ≤ 0.05 level.

H₂ There is a significant association between pretest and post test scores on knowledge regarding Covid-19 among adolescents with their selected demographic variables at p ≤ 0.05 level.

DELIMITATION:

The study was limited to,

1. Students willing to participate in this study.

2. Only first year nursing students included in this study.

3. Only selected college of nursing students is used for this study.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE RELATED TO KNOWLEDGE OF COVID-19:

A study was conducted to assess the knowledge and perception of covid-19 among Health Care Workers (HCW), institute of pharmaceutical sciences, Warangal, Telangana, India. The study was conducted by cross sectional design with a sample of 529 samples. Among 529 participants, a total of 453 HCW’s completed the survey (response rate: 85.6%) 51.6% (n=234) were male, 32.1%(n=147) were aged 25-34 years, and most were doctors (n=137, 30.2%) and medical students (n=134, 29.6%). Most participant (n=276, 61.0%) used social media to obtain information on covid-19. Significant proportion of HCW’s had poor knowledge of its transmission (n=276, 61.0%) and symptoms onset (n=288, 63.6%) and showed positive perception of covid-19.⁴

A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the knowledge and awareness among nursing students regarding the covid-19. Was used non-probability snowball sampling method the sample size was 407. Predesigned and pretested questionnaire was used in this study. Questions were related to knowledge and awareness about current covid19. The data was tabulated and analyzed statistically. A total of 407 nursing students participated in this study. Overall 75.58±3.21 participants showed good knowledge and awareness about covid-19. Around 87.47% respondents were aware about high-risk age group for covid-19.

83.54% participants were aware about concept of hand hygiene and 83.37% were well aware of PPE for suspected or confirmed covid-19 cases. The study participants showed adequate basic knowledge and awareness of covid-19. There is a strong need to implement periodic educational interventions and training programs on infection control practices and other updates of covid-19 across all health care professions including nursing students.

India has 1.7 nurses per 1000 population, which is 43% less than the world health organization norm (3 nurses per 1000 population). This includes nurses, midwives, woman Health visitors and auxiliary nurse midwives, over all India has 3.07 million registered nursing personnel. Nursing students are the future health providers, bad quality training and teaching will definitely affect the outcome.⁵

A study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of students regarding the covid-19 pandemic, Rajasthan, India. The study was conducted to assess the knowledge level of the participants was assessed using a scoring system, and Chi-squared test and t-test were performed to detect significant (p≤0.05) differences among various groups.

Result revealed that more than 70 percent of students had good knowledge of covid-19 symptoms, mode of transmission and preventive measures, and 66 percent knew about treatment approaches. Social media (83%) and TV (77%) were their primary sources of information. Most students showed a willingness to follow social distancing and lockdown guidelines; however, only 27 percent perceived the risk of infection. Nearly all students reported compliance with government health advisories.⁶

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

The research methodology is the master plan specifying the methods and procedure for collecting and analysing the needed information in a research study.

Research approach:

Quantitative approach.

Research design:

Pre-experimental research design

Research variable:

Dependent variable:

In this study dependent variables are knowledge on knowledge among first year B.Sc. Nursing students.

Independent variables:

The independent variable of the study is self-instructional module on Covid-19.

Setting of the study:

In this study setting at Sri Gokulam College of Nursing, Salem.

Population: It is the aggregate of cases that conform to designated criteria and are also accessible as subjects for a study. In this study the population is First year B. Sc(N) students.

Sample:

A part or subset of population selected to participate in research study. In this study Sample is nursing students.

Sample size: The study sample consists of 58 B.Sc (N) students.

Sample technique:

A non-probability convenience sampling technique is used in this study.

Inclusion criteria:

1. B. Sc (N) first year students who were willing to participate in the study.

2. Students who were available during the period of data collection

Description of the tool:

Tool consists of two parts as demographic variables and structured questionnaire to assess the knowledge regarding Covid-19.:

Section A: Demographic Data:

Structured questionnaires were used to collect demographic data. Dissection consists of demographic variables such as age, gender, religion, sources of information, medium of instruction in school.

Section B: structured questionnaire to assess the knowledge regarding Covid-19:

It consists of 33 questions and the knowledge where categorization based on the scores obtained, the correct answer gives 1 score, wrong answer were given zero score.

Data analysis: After collecting the data the results were tabulated.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS:

Table -1 Distribution of first year B.Sc. Nursing students according to their demographic variables n= 58

S. No

Demographic variables

Frequency (f)

Percentage (%)

Age in years

a) 17-18

b) 19-21

53%

47%

Gender

a) Male

b) Female

21%

79%

Religion

a) Hindu

b) Muslim

c) Christian

d) Others

79%

17%

Sources of information

a) Mass media

b) Health profession

c) Books

59%

41%

Medium of instruction in school

a) Tamil

b) English

c) Others

14%

86%

Figure 1 - Pre and post-test knowledge score regarding Covid-19 among first year B.Sc. Nursing students n=58

DISCUSSION:

This descriptive study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of self-instructional module on knowledge regarding covid – 19 among first year nursing students at selected colleges of nursing, Salem. A sample of about 58 students were selected, questionnaire was given and filled by them. The findings of the study indicated the post-test score were 53(91%) had adequate knowledge regarding Covid-19 was effective among first year B.Sc. Nursing students.

CONCLUSION:

The study concluded that majority of the students were had adequate level of knowledge on covid- 19. In pre-test there is no significant association found between the knowledge of students and their selected demographic variables such as age, gender, religion, source of information and medium of instruction in school. In post-test there is significant association found between the knowledge of students with their demographic variable like gender.

NURSING IMPLICATION:

The findings of the study have implication in various area of nursing profession that is nursing practice, nursing education, nursing administration and nursing research.

Nursing Practice:

The content of self-instructional module will help the first-year nursing students for reinforcing their knowledge regarding Covid-19.

Nursing Education:

· The nurse educators can use this self-instructional module to teach the students about Covid-19.

· In service education program should be conducted for students to help them to gain knowledge regarding Covid-19.

Nursing Administration:

The nurse administration can organize and conduct various continuing education program and in service education program regarding Covid-19.

Nursing Research:

The findings of the study can help to improve the scientific body of professional knowledge upon which further research can be conducted.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

· A similar Study can be conducted with large group.

· A similar Study can be conducted with control group.

· A similar Study can be carried out by different teaching strategies.

· The self-instructional module should be reviewed from time to time in order to include current knowledge regarding Covid-19.

REFERENCES:

1. Anjali Devi Sharma. A descriptive study to assess the knowledge of Coronavirus among nursing students, Sirmaur, Himachal Prades. 2020. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20205317

2. Vikrant Kulthe. A study to assess the basic knowledge about Coronavirus (COVID-19) among undergraduate nursing students in selected educational institution in India. International Journal of Current Research. 2020; 12(9): 13612-13616; DOI: https://doi.org/10.24941/ijcr.39691.09.2020

3. Fairoza Amira Binti Hamza et.al, Corona Tracker: World-wide COVID-19 Outbreak Data Analysis and Prediction. 2020. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.20.255695

4. Hamdan Mohammad Albaqawi et.al, Nursing Student’s Perceptions, Knowledge, and Preventive Behaviors Toward COVID-19: A Multi-University Study; Front. Public Health. 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.573390

5. Jagajeet Prasad Singh et al. Assessing the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of students regarding the Covid – 19 Pandamic, Jouranal of Health Management. 2020; 22(2): 281- 290,

6. K.P. Joshi et. al. Knowledge and awareness among nursing students regarding the COVID-19: A cross-sectional study; Int Community Med Public Health. 2020 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20202536

Received on 18.03.2024 Modified on 13.04.2024

A and V Pub J. of Nursing and Medical Res. 2024; 3(2):71-75.

DOI: 10.52711/jnmr.2024.16

Demographic variables	Pre-test			Post test
Demographic variables	df	χ²	Table value	df	χ²	Table value
Age in years	1	0.068	3.841	1	2.458	3.841
Gender	1	1.66	3.841	1	5.152*	3.841
Religion	2	2.868	5.991	2	2.08	5.991
Source of information	3	3.484	7.815	3	0.0036	7.815
Medium of school	2	3.286	5.991	2	0.993	5.991