COVID-19 related risk perception and altruistic response amongst undergraduates on reopening of educational institutes Authors Bushra Rabbani Department of Medicine, Baqai Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8074-5023 Faisal Ahmed Department of Family Medicine, Baqai Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan Ammarah Saeed Department of Medicine, Fazaia Medical College, Islamabad, Pakistan Syed Muhammad Zulfiqar Hyder Naqvi Department of Community Medicine, Baqai Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5150-6149 Mariam Tariq Department of Medicine, Hazrat Bari Imam Sarkar Medical and Dental College, Islamabad, Pakistan Mehrunnisa Umar Department of Medicine, Fazaia Ruth Pfau medical College, Karachi, Pakistan DOI: https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.5633 Abstract Objective: To determine the coronavirus disease-2019-related risk perception and altruistic response among undergraduate medical students post-lockdown. Method: The analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from October 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021, at the Baqai Medical University, Karachi, and comprised undergraduates aged 16 and above, studying in medical, dental, physiotherapy, pharmacy and Information technology departments. Data was collected using a structured and standardised online questionnaire. Positive responses led to a perceived risk score ranging 0-9, with a higher score indicating a greater perception of risk. The score was corelated with demographic variables. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. Results: Of the 743 subjects, 472(63.5%) were females. The overall mean age of the sample was 21.34±1.8 years. The mean risk perception score was 3.8±2.5, and it was significantly associated with disease exposure (p<0.001). Altruism had a strong association with the perceived risk score (p<0.001), indicating lower risk perception. Conclusion: The risk perception among the students was low, pointing towards a need of psychological assistance program for the students. Key Words: COVID-19, Risk, Perception, Students, Academics, Institutes. Downloads Full Text Article Published 2023-02-15 How to Cite Bushra Rabbani, Faisal Ahmed, Ammarah Saeed, Syed Muhammad Zulfiqar Hyder Naqvi, Mariam Tariq, & Mehrunnisa Umar. (2023). COVID-19 related risk perception and altruistic response amongst undergraduates on reopening of educational institutes. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 73(2), 284–293. https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.5633 More Citation Formats ACM ACS APA ABNT Chicago Harvard IEEE MLA Turabian Vancouver Download Citation Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS) BibTeX Issue Vol. 73 No. 2 (2023): February Section Research Article