Evaluating health literacy and pandemic concerns in saudi healthcare students and implications for future preparedness: a cross-sectional analysis
Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted healthcare systems and the training of healthcare professionals globally. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and health literacy among 322 nursing and medical students in Saudi Arabia. Participants,...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06326-w |
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| author | Fatchima Laouali Moussa Mahaman Laouali Moussa Ali Kerari Hussain Ahmed Sufyani Saleh Abdulkarim Khallaf Ahmad Abdullah Albarqi Yahia Ahmad Oqdi Hamad Samran Alharbi Ayman Mohammed Alhubayshi Zafarul Hasan |
| author_facet | Fatchima Laouali Moussa Mahaman Laouali Moussa Ali Kerari Hussain Ahmed Sufyani Saleh Abdulkarim Khallaf Ahmad Abdullah Albarqi Yahia Ahmad Oqdi Hamad Samran Alharbi Ayman Mohammed Alhubayshi Zafarul Hasan |
| author_sort | Fatchima Laouali Moussa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted healthcare systems and the training of healthcare professionals globally. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and health literacy among 322 nursing and medical students in Saudi Arabia. Participants, selected through stratified random sampling, completed the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCoV-19 S) and the short-form Health Literacy (HLS-SF12) questionnaires. The results revealed that age, gender, academic year, and health literacy levels significantly influenced fear scores. Higher health literacy was associated with lower levels of fear, emphasizing the importance of education in alleviating pandemic-related anxiety. Key predictors of fear included personal COVID-19 experiences, perceived likelihood of infection, and symptom severity, while knowledge of prevention served as a protective factor. These findings can inform interventions aimed at enhancing health literacy and mental well-being among healthcare students, equipping them for future public health challenges. The study highlights the necessity for targeted education and communication strategies to effectively reduce fear during pandemics. Future research should examine additional factors influencing fear and evaluate the effectiveness of educational interventions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-571eee43bf014b3e9642d746561cb7da |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-571eee43bf014b3e9642d746561cb7da2025-08-20T03:37:22ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-011511910.1038/s41598-025-06326-wEvaluating health literacy and pandemic concerns in saudi healthcare students and implications for future preparedness: a cross-sectional analysisFatchima Laouali Moussa0Mahaman Laouali Moussa1Ali Kerari2Hussain Ahmed Sufyani3Saleh Abdulkarim Khallaf4Ahmad Abdullah Albarqi5Yahia Ahmad Oqdi6Hamad Samran Alharbi7Ayman Mohammed Alhubayshi8Zafarul Hasan9Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, College of Nursing, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman UniversityCollege of Nursing, King Saud UniversityCollege of Nursing, King Saud UniversityNursing administration, Ministry of HealthNursing administration, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Medical City, Madinah Health ClusterNursing administration, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Medical City, Madinah Health ClusterNursing administration, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Medical City, Madinah Health ClusterNursing administration, Hinakiah General Hospital, Madinah Health ClusterNursing administration, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Medical City, Madinah Health ClusterCollege of Nursing, King Saud UniversityAbstract The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted healthcare systems and the training of healthcare professionals globally. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and health literacy among 322 nursing and medical students in Saudi Arabia. Participants, selected through stratified random sampling, completed the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCoV-19 S) and the short-form Health Literacy (HLS-SF12) questionnaires. The results revealed that age, gender, academic year, and health literacy levels significantly influenced fear scores. Higher health literacy was associated with lower levels of fear, emphasizing the importance of education in alleviating pandemic-related anxiety. Key predictors of fear included personal COVID-19 experiences, perceived likelihood of infection, and symptom severity, while knowledge of prevention served as a protective factor. These findings can inform interventions aimed at enhancing health literacy and mental well-being among healthcare students, equipping them for future public health challenges. The study highlights the necessity for targeted education and communication strategies to effectively reduce fear during pandemics. Future research should examine additional factors influencing fear and evaluate the effectiveness of educational interventions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06326-wCOVID-19Healthcare studentsFear indexHealth literacySaudi Arabia |
| spellingShingle | Fatchima Laouali Moussa Mahaman Laouali Moussa Ali Kerari Hussain Ahmed Sufyani Saleh Abdulkarim Khallaf Ahmad Abdullah Albarqi Yahia Ahmad Oqdi Hamad Samran Alharbi Ayman Mohammed Alhubayshi Zafarul Hasan Evaluating health literacy and pandemic concerns in saudi healthcare students and implications for future preparedness: a cross-sectional analysis Scientific Reports COVID-19 Healthcare students Fear index Health literacy Saudi Arabia |
| title | Evaluating health literacy and pandemic concerns in saudi healthcare students and implications for future preparedness: a cross-sectional analysis |
| title_full | Evaluating health literacy and pandemic concerns in saudi healthcare students and implications for future preparedness: a cross-sectional analysis |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating health literacy and pandemic concerns in saudi healthcare students and implications for future preparedness: a cross-sectional analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating health literacy and pandemic concerns in saudi healthcare students and implications for future preparedness: a cross-sectional analysis |
| title_short | Evaluating health literacy and pandemic concerns in saudi healthcare students and implications for future preparedness: a cross-sectional analysis |
| title_sort | evaluating health literacy and pandemic concerns in saudi healthcare students and implications for future preparedness a cross sectional analysis |
| topic | COVID-19 Healthcare students Fear index Health literacy Saudi Arabia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06326-w |
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