Knowledge, Behaviors, and Perceptions of Risk of COVID-19 Among Brazilian Nursing Students

Background The COVID-19 pandemic presented important challenges for the education of nursing students to provide health care with competence, quality, and safety. Objectives The purpose was to analyze knowledge, behavior, and perception of risk regarding COVID-19 and associated factors. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2637 Brazilian undergraduate nursing students using a self-reported online survey. Results Students' knowledge about COVID-19 in general was considered inadequate. Students had limited knowledge about preventive measures in the hospital environment and recommendations for aerosol precautions. More than 90% of graduates adopted recommended prevention measures, and 86.1% perceived themselves to be at a greater risk of acquired SARS-CoV-2 during clinical practice. Conclusions The results show the need to rethink undergraduate nursing education regarding the prevention and control of infectious diseases, including the most appropriate strategies for COVID-19 prevention measures.