Background: Older adults are more vulnerable to COVID-19 disease due to their reduced
immunity and comorbidity. Awareness of dealing with extremely infectious respiratory diseases
plays an important role in limiting the spread of the infection. Aim of the study: Is to investigate
the effect of applying health preventive program toward COVID-19 on knowledge, perceptions and
practice among older adults in Damanhur city. Subjects & method: 120 older adult from social and
silver club affiliated in Damanhur city. Research design: A quasi experimental Tool I: Older
adults' health status and, socio – demographic characteristics, Tool II: Knowledge questionnaire
about COVID-19 among older adults, & Tool III: perceptions of the older adults about COVID-19.
In addition to, Tool IV: practices of the participants related to COVID-19. Data were analyzed
using percentages & ANOVA with repeated measures, Friedman test and Student t-test. Results:
Statistically significant improvement of COVID-19 Knowledge, Perceptions, and Practices
immediately after the program implementation and the improvement still apparent across all the
studied subjects regardless of their demographic characteristics and clinical data. Conclusion: It
was concluded that older adult's knowledge, perceptions, and
practice toward COVID-19 was
greatly enhanced by applying the health preventive program.
Additionally, improve the older
people's perception of their own vulnerability to COVID-19 and
the effectiveness continuation for
COVID-19 related application of preventive measures. Recommendation: Development of health
preventive programs targeting older adults, designing guidelines by healthcare authorities to
improve access for education and health services.