Chikungunya Awareness and Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Nursing Students at the University of Palermo, Italy: A Cross-Sectional Study of Associated Sociodemographic Factors.
6 affiliations
- 1Territorial Health Care and Social Agency of Lodi, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale di Lodi, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
- 2Hospital Management, Local Health Unit of Trapani, Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale di Trapani, 91100 Trapani, Italy.
- 3Villa Sofia-Cervello United Hospitals, 90146 Palermo, Italy.
- 4Integrated Medical Activities Department, University Hospital "P. Giaccone" Hospital, 90133 Palermo, Italy.
- 5Department of Health Promotion, Maternal-Infant, Internal Medicine and Specialization of Excellence 'G. D'Alessandro', University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.
- 6General Management, Local Health Unit of Palermo, Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale di Palermo, 90141 Palermo, Italy.
Abstract
Introduction
Chikungunya is an emerging mosquito-borne viral disease that has become a growing public health concern worldwide. Despite documented autochthonous outbreaks in Italy and the increasing spread of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes across Europe, little is known about awareness of chikungunya among future healthcare professionals. This study aimed to assess awareness of chikungunya and evaluate related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) among nursing students at the University of Palermo, Italy.Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2026 among undergraduate nursing students enrolled at the University of Palermo. Data were collected through an anonymous self-administered online questionnaire investigating sociodemographic characteristics, awareness of chikungunya, sources of information, and KAP related to the disease. Associations between awareness and participant characteristics were assessed using chi-square tests and prevalence ratio analyses.Results
A total of 894 students participated (mean age: 22.33 ± 4.53 years; 72.3% female). Overall, only 22 students (2.46%) reported having previously heard of chikungunya. In a multivariable exploratory analysis, third-year students had a higher prevalence of previous awareness compared with first-year students (PR = 3.38; 95% CI: 1.10-10.36), whereas no statistically significant association was observed for age (PR = 1.07; 95% CI: 1.00-1.15). Mass media represented the main source of information (63.6%), followed by university lectures (22.7%). Among participants who reported previous awareness, responses suggested relatively good recognition of major clinical manifestations, although important gaps were observed regarding vector recognition and transmission pathways. Attitudes toward prevention were predominantly positive, and most participants reported adopting recommended mosquito-control practices.Conclusions
Awareness of chikungunya among nursing students was extremely low. Strengthening educational interventions on emerging vector-borne diseases within nursing curricula may improve preparedness, risk communication, and future public health responses.
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BibTeX
@article{santangelo2026chikungunya,
title = {{Chikungunya Awareness and Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Nursing Students at the University of Palermo, Italy: A Cross-Sectional Study of Associated Sociodemographic Factors.}},
author = {Omar Enzo Santangelo and Sandro Provenzano and Luana Maria Amato and Simona Fanuli and Anna Sole Pizzamiglio and Carlotta Vella and Giuseppina Pesco and Giuseppe D'Anna and Alberto Firenze and Antonio Terranova},
journal = {Epidemiologia (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/epidemiologia7050141},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42930329},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Chikungunya Awareness and Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Nursing Students at the University of Palermo, Italy: A Cross-Sectional Study of Associated Sociodemographic Factors.
AU - Omar Enzo Santangelo
AU - Sandro Provenzano
AU - Luana Maria Amato
AU - Simona Fanuli
AU - Anna Sole Pizzamiglio
AU - Carlotta Vella
AU - Giuseppina Pesco
AU - Giuseppe D'Anna
AU - Alberto Firenze
AU - Antonio Terranova
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/09
JO - Epidemiologia (Basel, Switzerland)
DO - 10.3390/epidemiologia7050141
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42930329
AB - Introduction Chikungunya is an emerging mosquito-borne viral disease that has become a growing public health concern worldwide. Despite documented autochthonous outbreaks in Italy and the increasing spread of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes across Europe, little is known about awareness of chikungunya among future healthcare professionals. This study aimed to assess awareness of chikungunya and evaluate related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) among nursing students at the University of Palermo, Italy.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2026 among undergraduate nursing students enrolled at the University of Palermo. Data were collected through an anonymous self-administered online questionnaire investigating sociodemographic characteristics, awareness of chikungunya, sources of information, and KAP related to the disease. Associations between awareness and participant characteristics were assessed using chi-square tests and prevalence ratio analyses.Results A total of 894 students participated (mean age: 22.33 ± 4.53 years; 72.3% female). Overall, only 22 students (2.46%) reported having previously heard of chikungunya. In a multivariable exploratory analysis, third-year students had a higher prevalence of previous awareness compared with first-year students (PR = 3.38; 95% CI: 1.10-10.36), whereas no statistically significant association was observed for age (PR = 1.07; 95% CI: 1.00-1.15). Mass media represented the main source of information (63.6%), followed by university lectures (22.7%). Among participants who reported previous awareness, responses suggested relatively good recognition of major clinical manifestations, although important gaps were observed regarding vector recognition and transmission pathways. Attitudes toward prevention were predominantly positive, and most participants reported adopting recommended mosquito-control practices.Conclusions Awareness of chikungunya among nursing students was extremely low. Strengthening educational interventions on emerging vector-borne diseases within nursing curricula may improve preparedness, risk communication, and future public health responses.
SN - 2673-3986
ER -