Researchers study college students’ actions in pandemic setting

APRIL 27, 2020 — A team of UTSA researchers is teaming up with San Antonio College in a new study investigating the attitudes and behaviors of college students amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Thankam S. Sunil, Xiaohe Xu and Eric C. Shattuck from the Institute for Health Disparities Research in UTSA’s College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Lisa K. Zottarelli from San Antonio College have started a new research study that focuses on college student knowledge, attitudes and behaviors related to COVID-19.

The group is working with students by looking at their use of nonpharmaceutical interventions, such as frequent hand washing, case isolation and social distancing, as well as their intention to vaccinate once a vaccine is available. Sunil adds that they also are asking about other knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors during the pandemic.

“It is important that we have a better understanding of college students’ responses to public health emergencies,” Sunil said. “The findings will be used to better understand college student behavioral response and vaccination intent during this public health crisis.”

The project has the potential to make a significant contribution to public health and the sociology of disasters, Zottarelli said.

“This is the second acute respiratory pandemic we have studied. College students can be at significant risk during infectious respiratory disease outbreaks, due to living and working conditions, and this can have a negative impact on their academic performance,” Zottarelli said.

This study will allow a better understanding of how students protect themselves before the availability of a vaccine and how the public health response can be improved during infectious respiratory disease outbreaks.

Understanding students’ vaccine intent can also help with vaccination planning once a vaccine does become available, Sunil added.

Sunil and Zottarelli previously worked together on a similar study that was published in the journals Texas Journal of Public Health (2009), Vaccine (2011) and Preventive Medicine (2012) and which focused on the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic.

⇒ Learn more about the Institute for Health Disparities Research at UTSA.

“The purpose of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic project was to determine factors related to college student [nonpharmaceutical interventions] to avoid getting the flu,” Sunil said. “It was an online survey conducted at two universities in Texas. We found that more than 80% of students adopted at least one type of NPI. Public health threat perception was associated with the five NPIs measured. Perceived susceptibility to the virus, having gotten the seasonal flu vaccination in the previous year and flu symptom knowledge were associated with the use of four of the five NPIs.” Zottarelli said.

The current research project, which began in late March is expected to last eight weeks. As of mid-April the project has 2,700 students who have participated in its survey.

“This is a difficult time for students, since they are adjusting to so many challenges,” Zottarelli said. “We are grateful for their participation in our study.”

— Valerie Bustamante