COVID-19 Preventive behaviors based on social cognitive integrative model among medical students

Objective : The COVID-19 outbreak in Iran prompted the investigation of preventive behaviors in vulnerable and key groups. This descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study aimed to determine COVID-19 prevention behaviors among medical students using an integrated social cognition model and identified influencing factors. Results : The results of the study of 650 medical students with a mean age of 24.37±3.78 years showed that the total score of the integrated social cognition model was at a medium level (85.44±8.70). The constructs of attitude (16.14±2.66), subjective norms (5.33±1.30), perceived behavioral control (8.18±1.76), action self-efficacy (8.60±1.66), maintenance self-efficacy (12.29±2.25), intention (8.05±1.55), action planning (8.00±1.62), coping planning (8.08±1.62), and COVID‐19 preventive behaviors (10.78±1.99) were at a medium level. There was a good correlation between the constructs of the integrated model (r = 0.42-0.64, p<0.001). Students who were older, unmarried, had a mother or father with a university education, were nondormitory, were native, at the basic science level obtained higher scores for the model constructs (p<0.001). These findings should be considered to improve health education interventions and encourage COVID-19 preventive behaviors in students.