This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
A new preprint design is coming!
We have improved readability, clarity, accessibility, and opportunities for engagement.
Research article
Ryosuke Fujii
Fujita Health University
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1730-2059
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: Public perceptions and personal characteristics are heterogeneous between countries and subgroups, which may have different impacts on health-protective behaviors during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. To assess whether self-reported perceptions of COVID-19 and personal characteristics are associated with protective behaviors among general adults and to compare patterns in six different countries.
Methods: We conducted this study based on a cross-sectional online survey between 15 and 23 April 2020 across six countries (China, Italy, Japan, Korea, UK, and US). A total of 5,945 adults aged 18 years or older was eligible for our analysis. Logistic regression model was used to examine the associations between personal characteristics, public perception for COVID-19, and three recommended behaviors (wearing a mask, handwashing, and avoiding social gatherings).
Results: In most countries, the participants who perceived the preventive behaviors as being extremely effective to curtail the pandemic were more likely to take each preventive behavior. The associations between personal characteristics, living environment, psychological status, and preventive behaviors varied across different countries. Individuals who changed their behavior because of recommendations from doctors/public health officials were more likely to take preventive behaviors in many countries.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that higher perceived effectiveness may be a common factor to encourage preventive behaviors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These results may provide a better understanding of the homogeneity and heterogeneity of factors related to preventive behaviors and improve public health policies in various countries and groups.
Keywords
COVID-19, public perception, preventive behavior, public health
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
- Questionnaire.pdf
Additional files Additional file 1. The online self-administered questionnaire for this six-country survey. This questionnaire was used to assess individual perceptions of COVID-19, and their behavioral change.
- supplement2.xlsx
Loading...
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
History
CURRENT STATUS: Posted
Version 1
Posted 19 Nov, 2020
No community comments so far
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Learn more about our company.
A new preprint design is coming!
We have improved readability, clarity, accessibility, and opportunities for engagement.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Research article
Ryosuke Fujii
Fujita Health University
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1730-2059
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
History
CURRENT STATUS: Posted
Version 1
Posted 19 Nov, 2020
No community comments so far
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: Public perceptions and personal characteristics are heterogeneous between countries and subgroups, which may have different impacts on health-protective behaviors during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. To assess whether self-reported perceptions of COVID-19 and personal characteristics are associated with protective behaviors among general adults and to compare patterns in six different countries.
Methods: We conducted this study based on a cross-sectional online survey between 15 and 23 April 2020 across six countries (China, Italy, Japan, Korea, UK, and US). A total of 5,945 adults aged 18 years or older was eligible for our analysis. Logistic regression model was used to examine the associations between personal characteristics, public perception for COVID-19, and three recommended behaviors (wearing a mask, handwashing, and avoiding social gatherings).
Results: In most countries, the participants who perceived the preventive behaviors as being extremely effective to curtail the pandemic were more likely to take each preventive behavior. The associations between personal characteristics, living environment, psychological status, and preventive behaviors varied across different countries. Individuals who changed their behavior because of recommendations from doctors/public health officials were more likely to take preventive behaviors in many countries.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that higher perceived effectiveness may be a common factor to encourage preventive behaviors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These results may provide a better understanding of the homogeneity and heterogeneity of factors related to preventive behaviors and improve public health policies in various countries and groups.
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
- Questionnaire.pdf
Additional files Additional file 1. The online self-administered questionnaire for this six-country survey. This questionnaire was used to assess individual perceptions of COVID-19, and their behavioral change.
- supplement2.xlsx
Loading...