According to the latest WHO statement on the global burden of COVID-19; there have been 192,284,207 confirmed cases, including 4,136,518 deaths with a total of 3,568,861,733 vaccine doses have been administered. Similarly, in Pakistan alone there have been 998,609 confirmed cases with 22,928 deaths with a total of 23,125,182 vaccine doses have been administered [1].

There had been a dramatic loss of human life worldwide and it presents challenges to public health, food systems, and the world of work. The drastic effects on the socio-economical condition of the people occur mostly due to unemployment and an increase in poverty.

As Pakistan was going through the deadly third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic during the study period, assessing the self-perception and belief of the Pakistani population regarding necessary safety measures and their response towards them helped in better understanding the psychology of the people. This way we were able to better understand the methods to counsel them on the national safety of the general population while restricting the spread of the disease [2]. Around the world, many educational programs and such activities for mental well-being via different communication platforms for general populations and health professionals have been conducted [3] but these kinds of activities have been largely lacking in Pakistan and have been severely neglected due to mental health being a taboo in Pakistan. In contrast to this, the Chinese Association for Mental Health has published 11 books related to mental well-being and self-safety against COVID-19 by February 8, 2020 [4]. Most of the Pakistani population remained in denial until they were affected by a close one’s death or morbidity. Even after it, acceptance in low socio-economic groups was highly absent which added to the disease burden. People on daily wages and in poverty could not survive the lockdown and the help from the government could not suffice their needs.

It took at least a couple of weeks if not months to conduct household surveys based on the compact segment or grid-based geographical information system [5]. Since the 1980s, phone-based surveys have been widely conducted but due to the change in the trend of communication and technology; taking the example of the Gallup Poll Social Series which in the year 2017 was not successful receiving only 7% responses through phones [6]. Keeping these limitations in mind and the objective that we wanted to reach the maximum amount of people in a minimum amount of time and also be able to introduce our intervention and effectively change their self-perception, attitudes, and hopefully their beliefs for that purpose rapid online surveys are reasonably easy to conduct and get completed fast compared to other conventional methods. This method also demands minimal human resources, can reach a vast majority of respondents and allows for continuous monitoring through Google Docs, and helps in anonymizing the participants [7]. Thus, considering its benefits it can be considered a powerful tool to survey. This was a discrepancy found as compared to other studies conducted in Pakistan where a higher concentration of literacy is Punjab this might be due to the fact that the majority (85.6%) of the responses were from Sindh, another discrepancy was that the majority (60.89%) had at least bachelor level of education when we look at the literacy trends in Pakistan based on each province [8].

In any case, in a time of quick communication innovations, misinterpretations regarding the disease get increased and spread at a pace speedier than the genuine truths through social media. Practically 90% public requested ordinary data updates with respect to methods of sickness transmission, planning on new meds for the infection, prudent steps to be maintained in concentration while voyaging, ways different nations are taking care of the pandemic, regions more influenced by the infection, and related subtleties [9].

This rapid survey was designed to observe and determine knowledge, attitude, and perceptions of COVID-19 among the educated general public in Pakistan and then regardless of any discrepancies intervene and educate them regarding the virus itself and all its associating factors and in the process try to improve their mental health as well. The main purpose of the study was to understand the baseline perception and beliefs of educated people and how awareness videos and workshops would help.

We conducted an interventional study through an awareness video assessing the knowledge, beliefs, and perceptions of people regarding COVID-19. The study design of our research is interventional. The participant was selected from throughout Pakistan, especially Pakistan. The study was for 6 months. The general population from age between more than 18 years and less than 65 years is selected for study. The sample size is 600 participants. Ethical consideration was taken from the Institutes of Research Board. All participants were well informed prior to intervention that all the data which are collected will only be used for study and will be kept anonymous. Names and personal information of participants will not be compromised or reproduced by any means. Protocol # 00034/20. The inclusion criteria based on which participants were included in the study is.

The exclusion criteria based on which the participant was excluded from the research are.

The sampling technique is convenient.

The process of data collection is based on the number of different pre- and post-intervention questionnaires, most of which were closed-ended questions while some of them were open-ended questions that ask general information from participants like for example how many hours they work and study from home. Then the questions were transferred to online Google forms and were distributed through convenience sampling techniques online through WhatsApp, E-mail, Facebook, etc. Individuals were invited to fill out the questionnaire throughout Pakistan. The survey form had a detailed description regarding the intent of the study, the anonymization of data, data protection as well as ethical approval and consent form. It also explicitly explained that the participation was completely voluntary and had no financial benefits attached to it. The participants had the option of leaving at any time without submitting the form. The participants were required to disclose that they could read and understand the English language those who cannot be eliminated from the study. Also, the subsequent inquiry posed to the people whether they knew about COVID-19 or 2019-nCoV or COVID illness in 2019. The individuals who addressed “no” to this inquiry were additionally rejected from the study. The procedure for data collection was that first through a pre-intervention questionnaire we assess the knowledge of the general population followed by intervention in intervention each participant was given complete and authenticated information about COVID-19 followed by a post-intervention questionnaire. The tools, which we will use in intervention to teach the participants consist of a video (video link: https://youtu.be/aIOmC8K21tk).

An analysis of the self-perception, attitude, and knowledge of COVID-19 was carried out through our survey among the convenience-sampled general population of Pakistan. It took us approximately 1 month to obtain 600 responses to knowledge, attitude, activities, perception, and behavior-based pre- and post-intervention proforma containing (No=n) questions. According to our results, most of the participants came to know about the disease COVID-19 through social media and news channels in Pakistan. Albeit these stages are a characteristic source of admittance to the data and information throughout the planet, it is as yet not the most dependable alternative to browse. Counterfeit news is frequently connected with so many stages as Facebook. For instance, there had been a lot of falsehood about the hydroxychloroquine to be utilized as an expected treatment for the COVID-19, which caused a lack of that medication for the individuals who really required them [10]. The demographics of the participants, like age, sex, and ethnicity, indicated that most active participation was seen from female adults (between 20 and 29) from the province of Sindh. The distribution of participants among household income showed the people came from mediocre but well-educated families. This was a discrepancy found as compared to other studies conducted in Pakistan where a higher concentration of literacy is in Punjab as most responses were from Sindh [8]. Since the majority of the respondents had at least a bachelor’s this means that they carefully evaluated and answered the questions based on pertinent information. Similarities were observed in another study like this in China [11].

Regarding the survey findings, the participants are observing social distancing and hand washing quite frequently. The general public appeared to have a compliant attitude toward the precautions to be taken for COVID-19 [12]. The participants all over the region believe that typical surgical masks are most effective in protecting them from the COVID infection, and they overestimated the protective ability of a cloth mask over an N95 mask. The same problem was encountered in Egypt where it was reported that people knew that mask does protect them from coronavirus but they didn’t know which type of mask [13]. Thermal scanners are likewise being utilized at the supermarkets and banks, which are open in Pakistan during the pandemic, and not very many individuals reacted that it very well may be a successful means of examining for COVID-19–positive patients. Likely because of this insight, it would seem that even informed individuals do not place their confidence in the adequacy of thermal scanners. Nonetheless, it has been accounted for in the medical literature that warm scanners have been utilized as a compelling procedure at hospitals [14] and airports [15] and have been proven effective for screening for COVID-19.

The results interestingly show that the perception of people equally supports both notions, i.e., COVID-19 being a natural pandemic or a possible bioweapon or a divine punishment. Our study has given similar results to another study, which showed a correlation between global infections artificially created by world powers to damage the global economy [16].

In our collected responses, the majority of participants thought that everyone is susceptible to the novel coronavirus disease, while nearly the same number of participants responded that older people are more likely to get it. A Chinese study also provided similar information [17]. The COVID-19 infection may be symptomatic or asymptomatic in many people; however, according to the result of our survey, the participants have recognized fever, cough, and shortness of breath as three primary symptoms of the infected person. The knowledge of our participants is in line with those presented by other epidemiological studies [17,18].

The most crucial thing in a contagious disease is to be cautious of its mode of transmission and valid measures for its prevention. The participants in our survey have largely responded that social gatherings and intimacy such as handshakes are the leading cause of the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the key to preventing and containing it is also in practicing social distancing and frequent hand washing. These responses show that the knowledge of the participants is up-to-date and in accordance with the guidelines of WHO [19,20]. In order to better understand the knowledge, perception, and attitude of the Pakistani population towards the COVID-19 pandemic response of a similar population like India should also be taken into account [21]. Furthermore, another example of limiting the spread of the COVID-19 virus would be the Chinese population. They limited the spread by shutting down entire cities, limiting traffic to only ambulances throughout their country. They were confident in their preventive measures and were able to effectively lower the mortality rate [17].

The extent of asymptomatic patients in the event of COVID-19 is high and a significant component of this sickness. It is assessed that roughly 60% of all contaminations with gentle indications or asymptotic cases may pass the infection to other people [22]. With the expanding number of COVID-19 cases all around the world, various nations including Pakistan have embraced careful steps, i.e., social removal, successive hand washing, and wearing masks to forestall the spread of the virus. Wearing a facemask is a viable actual intercession against illness transmission [23]. The utilization of facemasks has gotten broad in developed and underdeveloped nations including Asia. A large portion of individuals are utilizing surgical masks to diminish the danger of getting COVID-19 contamination [24]. The public impression of well-being hazard assumes a fundamental part in the appropriation of government measures to forestall the spread of COVID-19, and these actions and activities had a direct impact on the ways of life and demeanor of individuals [25].

The biggest limitation of our study was that it was conducted during the 3rd wave of the pandemic March 2021 when a vast majority was already aware of the virus and its accompanying data. The investigation was restricted to just those people who had the option to peruse and compose the English language. Another limit of this examination was that the majority of the reactions we got were from instructed part of society who approaches the web, and the remainder of the general population was subsequently barred. Unfortunately, the examination might not have precisely addressed every one of the extents of our Pakistani society; nonetheless, it might mirror an overall outline of the practices present in the general public.

As a result of the restricted portrayal of the members, more examinations like this are recommended to explore different regions identified with COVID-19 in Pakistan, for example, the monetary weight and accessibility of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in the inhabitants of low financial status. Our examination was restricted to individuals who comprehend the English language.

The biggest flaw in our intervention was that we introduce a general intervention for each of the participants due to our limitation when we should have actually developed subject-specific interventions based on the responses of each respondent which would have helped in better educating the masses.

Notwithstanding, some new examinations have shown comparable outcomes as those of our investigation. In one examination, it was shown that there is an undeniable level of information in regard to the infection among the members. Yet, a few myths are likewise pervasive among people in general [26,27].

Our study and the subsequent intervention have thus concluded that Pakistani residents of moderate socioeconomic status, particularly female students with bachelor degrees, mostly are single and are somewhat affected by the lockdown, have appropriate practices and optimistic approaches during the pandemic in terms of the of response to COVID infection and the intervention has further improved and cleared any confusion or prevailing doubts among them. The intervention being most successful for ages 20–29 years old and least for the elder age group. Those who were single took more advantage compared to the married ones.

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) Jinnah Medical and Dental College (JMDC) Protocol Number #: 00034/20.

All authors contributed equally to the manuscript.

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.