Perception of testing for COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic in Slovakia with emphasis on population age groups.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the perception of the respondents in selected areas of testing for COVID-19 during the first waves of this disease with an emphasis on the age categories. METHODS: The research sample consisted of 806 Slovak respondents and the collection of data took place in February 2021. The study examined six areas, of which five focused on the perception of testing and one area focused on examining the risk of population behaviour. All areas were examined in the first as well as in the last testing for COVID-19. In terms of age, we focused on 4 age categories up to 24 years, 25-44 years, 45-59 years, and over 60 years. Data were obtained by online survey, using descriptive analysis and nonparametric analysis of differences. RESULTS: The results of the analysis show that age is a socioeconomic characteristic that is of great importance for the creation and implementation of epidemiological processes and programmes and therefore epidemiologists should pay increased attention to it when creating prevention programmes. Younger people perceived testing more positively than older ones, even though the course of the disease caused by COVID-19 is much more severe in older people. The difference in the perception of testing between age categories was confirmed in the first as well as in the last test study. Respondents perceived the last test more negatively and thus they showed slightly riskier behaviour compared to the first test. CONCLUSIONS: We perceive testing as an efficient way in the fight against pandemics generally, but we point out that testing should be well accomplished in a managerial way, otherwise testing can have a negative impact on society's confidence.