Vanessa Bullón-Vela

Dr. Vanessa Bullón-Vela


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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23 September 2024 in Infectious Disease Reports
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
NVNoelia Vera-Punzano
Noelia Vera-Punzano
VBVanessa Bullón-Vela
Vanessa Bullón-Vela
CMCarme Miret
Carme Miret
JPJessica Pardos
Jessica Pardos
MCManuel García Cenoz
Manuel García Cenoz
IMIván Martínez-Baz
Iván Martínez-Baz
This study aims to describe the long-term changes in the knowledge of, and attitudes towards, COVID-19 and its preventive measures in northern Spain. A telephonic survey was performed among household contacts of COVID-19 cases in Catalonia and Navarre between May 2022 and December 2023. Knowledge and attitudes were assessed through 12 questions using a Likert scale, and responses were grouped as correct or incorrect. The change from baseline to the 6-month follow-up was evaluated with the absolute difference (AD) using the proportion of correct answers. At baseline, 299 subjects were contacted, of whom 63.2% (189) completed the 6-month follow-up. Correct knowledge of transmission (>85%) and the use of preventive measures (>92%) were observed at baseline and maintained over time. The attitudes towards face mask use remained adequate over the course of six months (>79%). However, attitudes regarding the use of face masks indoors (AD = −16.4%; p < 0.001) and those who thought that COVID-19 had a negative impact on their lives (AD = −16.5%; p < 0.001) decreased after 6 months. In the post-acute phase of the pandemic, household contacts maintained the correct level of knowledge towards COVID-19, while some attitudes decreased. These results should serve as a guide for health policy makers in decision-making in case of a new increase in the incidence of SARS-CoV-2.