• Edibe Pirincci, Muhammed Arca, Mehmet Ali Sen, Erhan Atici, Suleyman Varsak, Ezgi Yarasir, Osman Kurt, Ayse Ferdane Oguzoncul, and Suleyman Erhan Deveci.
• Department of Public Health, Firat UniversityFaculty of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey.
• Work. 2021 Jan 1; 69 (4): 1143-1152.

BackgroundWhile the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic creates fear and anxiety on the students' academic achievement, the risk of an infectious disease may negatively affect education by reducing the concentration ability of students. Thus, it is essential to evaluate the knowledge, behaviors, anxiety levels, and hygiene status of students.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the knowledge, behavior change, anxiety, and hygiene status of university students about COVID-19.MethodsThe investigation was conducted with students of three vocational schools of health services located in different provinces of Turkey (n = 1055). Data collected by an online survey consisted of knowledge questions about COVID-19, items about behavior change, the hygiene behavior scale (HBS), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) scale.ResultsThe knowledge scores of women were significantly higher than the scores of men. Of the students, 59.6%showed positive hygiene behaviors, and 31.5%had anxiety. Female students' total HDC scale score was significantly lower than that of men, and the total HDC scale score of those who received hand hygiene education was significantly lower than that of participants who did not receive training, which shows a positive hygiene behavior. The total GAD-7 scale score of women was significantly higher than that of men. More than half of the students showed positive hygiene behaviors, and about a third had anxiety.ConclusionsBased on the study's results, psychological support and training should be provided to students.

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