Knowledge and attitudes about influenza and the common cold in Syria post COVID-19: A qualitative study

• Published in: Annals of medicine and surgery 2022-08, Vol.80, p.104166-104166, Article 104166
• Main Authors: Swed, Sarya, Alibrahim, Hidar, Alzabibi, Mhd Amin, Shibani, Mosa, Hasoon, Mostafa, Bohsas, Haidara, Raslan, Hasan, Alholiby, Sham, Channiss, Lilas, Alsakka, Shahm Azzam, Alkassab, Rana, Barou, Salwa Abdulrahman, Kelzia, Aya, Al-Abboud, Hala, Naal, Fatima, Jarrous, Aya Mtanos, Jawish, Nagham, Suliman, Schasa Monaf, Dashan, Sedra, Esmaeel, Weaam, Shebli, Baraa, Ezzedean, Weaam, Kashkash, Fateh, Khouri, Abdullah, Sawaf, Bisher, Kakaje, Ameer, Kearney, Ruby M., Ghozy, Sherief
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Common cold; COVID-19; Cross-sectional Study; Influenza; Knowledge; Syria
• ISSN: 2049-0801; 2049-0801
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104166

The common cold and the influenza are common infections that are frequent in the community. In this study, we estimate the level of knowledge regarding those diseases among the Syrian population in the COVID era as it is important to have this knowledge for future health planning and policies. A qualitative study was conducted from November to December in 2021. A structured self-administered questionnaire was distributed as Google Forms on social media platforms and hard copies of the questionnaire to patients, their companions, or workers in public hospitals. Chi-square test and Mann Whitney test were used to study the associations between categorical groups. This study included 13013 participants, 7856 (60.4%) were females, 78.4% were younger than 31 years old, only 3518 (27%) knew that the common cold and the influenza were caused by viruses, 6146 (47.2%) reported that runny nose was the most annoying symptom, 75.6% of the participants believed that antibiotics could kill viruses, and 7674 (58.9%) had fears from symptoms of common cold and influenza because of covid-19. Females were statistically significantly more knowledgeable and had more fears from the infection compared with males. This study showed a low level of knowledge among the Syrian population. The view of influenza and common cold have changed after COVID as they are now taken more seriously. Many efforts should be made to spread awareness, effective management, and reducing antibiotic misinformation. •The public in Syria mostly cannot distinguish between common cold and influenza.•They still believe that antibiotics is the treatment of choice for them.•COVID-19 has made people more aware and self-conscious of having flu-like symptoms as they can be from having COVID.