Association between Information Dissemination and Compliance with Preventive Measures during the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic in Hong Kong Working Population: Cross-Sectional Survey

Clement Cheuk-Wai Ng, Eliza Lai-Yi Wong, Kin-Fai Ho, Annie Wai-Ling Cheung, Samuel Yeung-Shan Wong and Eng-Kiong Yeoh
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Clement Cheuk-Wai Ng: Centre for Health Systems and Policy Research, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Eliza Lai-Yi Wong: Centre for Health Systems and Policy Research, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Kin-Fai Ho: JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Annie Wai-Ling Cheung: Centre for Health Systems and Policy Research, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Samuel Yeung-Shan Wong: JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Eng-Kiong Yeoh: Centre for Health Systems and Policy Research, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

Challenges, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Background: To fight the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, it is important for the population to keep abreast of COVID-19 updates and comply with the suggested preventive measures. Understanding the influence of popular dissemination channels under the surge of an ‘infodemic’ is crucial, as the population may receive conflicting information from various sources. Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between information source usage and COVID-19-preventive measures compliance. Methods: An online cross-sectional study was conducted in February 2020. Four COVID-19-preventive strategies, including ‘hand hygiene’, ‘mask wearing’, ‘household hygiene’, and ‘social distancing’, were studied with respect to their usage from three common health information sources and three dissemination channels. Logistic regressions were modelled to study the odds ratio of the preventive behavior compliance in terms of information source usage. Results: A total of 1048 respondents completed the survey and the sample demonstrated high compliance in hand hygiene (81.4%) and mask wearing (93.5%), but lower compliance in household hygiene (22.4%) and social distancing (65.7%). Females and chronic diseases patients were found more likely to adopt COVID-19-preventive measures. Participants recorded highest usage in social media (80.1%) among information sources and respondents with frequent social media use had improved compliances in the preventive behaviors studied. Conclusions: The study presented evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of social media in disseminating information related to complying COVID-19-preventive behaviors. The impact of social media in spreading COVID-19 information should be recognized, despite the concerns regarding misinformation. With disciplined use, social media may help to halt the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases by encouraging community participation.

Keywords: COVID-19; pandemic; infodemic; information dissemination; social media; health behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A00 C00 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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