COVID-19 Pandemic: Perception, Attitude, and Practices of University Students From Health Sector Faculties.

METHODS Study design: A cross-sectional survey study was utilized in which data were collected following the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E Surveys (CHERRIES) guidelines during the period from March to July2021.

Study settings and participants The study conducted through an electronic anonymous online survey distributed among students from three health sector faculties (Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing) in six Egyptian universities (Cairo, Suez Canal, Tanta, Daria, Aswan, Kufr Elsheikh).

The self-administered online questionnaire was hosted in google form and the link was distributed through official university platforms and informal student groups on social media like Facebook and WhatsApp pages. Representatives of students were also engaged in distributing the questionnaire's link directly to their colleagues from each faculty. A non-randomized convenient sample of 1900 university medical students was included in the study.

Data collection The study questionnaire was developed based on the COVID-19 Rapid Quantitative Assessment Tool as part of the Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Action Plan Guidance COVID-19 preparedness and response developed by the China International Famine Relief Commission publication, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO) [14]. Most of the questions were in the form of "yes and no" questions except for a few questions with the third "I don't know" option, a five-point rating scale question.

After the tool was developed, the application was tested by the EYI (Egyptian Youth Initiative) executive team at the National Population Council (NPC)/UNICEF to verify, confirm and skip patterns and follow them to guarantee the accuracy of data collection. To ensure the validity and accuracy of the data collected, the investigators settle detailed instructions regarding study objectives for all student counselors who distributed the questionnaire to the subjects in advance. The survey tool automatically verifies that all questions must be filled before submission and cannot be submitted twice.