Table 2.

Knowledge Assessment Summary, Unweighted and Weighted by Confidence in Response (n = 5,948)

QuestionCorrectaMissing Knowledge Response and Confidence Weight (N)bUnweightedcItem LevelWeighteddItem Level
Treatments for the symptoms of COVID-19 are available without a prescription.eT190.44 (0.43, 0.45)0.41 (0.40, 0.43)
Most hospitalized patients with COVID-19 should be treated in an ICU.eF250.64 (0.62, 0.65)0.65 (0.63, 0.66)
The CDC recommends using corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).F1760.56 (0.54, 0.57)0.57 (0.55, 0.60)
COVID-19 is the first coronavirus to cause disease in humans.F270.92 (0.91, 0.92)0.95 (0.94, 0.95)
Patients with shortness of breath, fever, and cough should call the emergency department before arrival.eT210.87 (0.86, 0.88)0.89 (0.88, 0.90)
Patients whose first (early) symptoms are severe are more likely to die from COVID-19 than those whose first (early) symptoms are less severe.F470.75 (0.74, 0.76)0.77 (0.75, 0.79)
Children ages 5 and under are at higher risk of death from COVID-19.eF330.85 (0.84, 0.86)0.88 (0.87, 0.89)
In someone who has not received the measles vaccine, measles is more contagious than COVID-19.T620.40 (0.39, 0.41)0.43 (0.41, 0.45)
The incubation period for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is up to 21 days.F390.48 (0.47, 0.49)0.47 (0.46, 0.49)
Healthy people should wear facemasks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.eF200.83 (0.82, 0.84)0.85 (0.84, 0.86)
A vaccine for COVID-19 should be available within approximately 3 months.eF260.87 (0.86, 0.88)0.91 (0.90, 0.92)
CDC recommends the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers with greater than 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol.T340.91 (0.91, 0.92)0.93 (0.92, 0.94)
Currently, the CDC recommends that everyone with COVID-19 symptoms should get tested.F280.51 (0.49, 0.52)0.53 (0.51, 0.54)
Everyone who tests positive for COVID-19 should be treated with hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) or chloroquine.eF390.91 (0.91, 0.92)0.94 (0.93, 0.95)
COVID-19 testing is not recommended for individuals with no symptoms, even if they were exposed to someone with confirmed COVID-19 within the past 2 weeks.eT200.68 (0.67, 0.69)0.71 (0.69, 0.73)
Total Score (15-Item)6160.71 (0.70, 0.71)0.75 (0.74, 0.75)
Total Score (8-Item)6160.76 (0.76, 0.76)0.79 (0.79, 0.80)
  • CDC = Centers for Disease Prevention and Control; ICU = intensive care unit; F = false; T = true.

  • a Correct response according to information publicly available from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control website as of the date the survey was distributed (03/25/2020).

  • b Simple imputation was used for confidence items where respondents answered the knowledge component, but skipped the corresponding confidence component (n = 170 imputed confidence level values). After imputing confidence levels, any item missing a knowledge response was also missing a confidence level, and vice versa.

  • c The statistical model used to calculate unweighted predicted probabilities of correct responses (and corresponding 95% confidence limits) excluded n = 616 missing knowledge response questions. Note that n = 616 reflects the number of response items, not the number of patient respondents. All n = 5,948 patient respondents were included in the analysis.

  • d The statistical model used to calculate weighted predicted probabilities of correct responses (and corresponding 95% confidence limits) while accounting for the corresponding confidence in the response excluded n = 616 missing knowledge response questions and n = 616 missing weight values. Note that n = 616 reflects the number of items, not the number of patient respondents. All n = 5,948 patient respondents were included in the analysis.

  • e Item belongs to selected 8-item subset.