EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH VACCINATION KNOWLEDGE AND PREVENTIVE BEHAVIOURS AMONG MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN UiTM CAWANGAN SELANGOR (2024)

Authors

Norazlina AhmadDepartment of Pharmaceutical Life Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Roshartina ZakariaFaculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA Selangor, Puncak Alam Campus, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Nurulhuda NohFaculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA Selangor, Puncak Alam Campus, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
Ezlina UsirDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Azwandi AhmadDepartment of Pharmaceutical Life Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Keywords:

Emotional Intelligence, Vaccination Knowledge, Preventive Behaviour, Undergraduate Student, COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Emotional intelligence (EI) is understanding, using, and managing emotions constructively. Increasing students' vaccination knowledge during the COVID-19 pandemic is vital, as it considerably influences individual preventive behaviour. Thus, this research aims to determine the relationship between EI level with vaccination knowledge and preventive behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic. A correlational research design was conducted among 387 UiTM Cawangan Selangor (UCS), Malaysia undergraduate students. Three valid and reliable questionnaires were used: the USM Emotional Quotient Inventory (USMEQ-i), Level of Vaccination Knowledge, and Behavioural Prevention Questionnaire. In the study, the majority of the respondents have a high level of EI (n = 285, 73.6%), followed by an average (n = 102, 26.4%) and none of the respondents has a low EI level A weak positive correlation was found between EI and vaccination knowledge in the medical fields of the study, r(182) = 0.159, p < 0.05. For vaccination knowledge and preventive behaviour, a weak positive correlation was found between those variables in both medical, r(182) = 0.182, p < 0.05 and non-medical, r(201) = 0.227, p < 0.05 fields of study. Therefore, EI acts as an essential element to increase the level of vaccination knowledge among medical but not non-medical students. Students with a high level of vaccination knowledge exhibit good preventive behaviour in both fields of study. Hence, this research might help to decrease COVID-19 transmission significantly.

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