Coverage of Health Information by Different Sources in Communities: Implication for COVID-19 Epidemic Response

Bach Xuan Tran, Anh Kim Dang, Phong Khanh Thai, Huong Thi Le, Xuan Thanh Thi Le, Toan Thanh Thi Do, Tu Huu Nguyen, Hai Quang Pham, Hai Thanh Phan, Giang Thu Vu, Dung Tri Phung, Son Hong Nghiem, Thu Ha Nguyen, Trung Dinh Tran, Khanh Nam Do, Dat Van Truong, Giap Van Vu, Carl A. Latkin, Roger C.M. Ho and Cyrus S.H. Ho
Additional contact information
Bach Xuan Tran: Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Anh Kim Dang: Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Phong Khanh Thai: Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
Huong Thi Le: Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Xuan Thanh Thi Le: Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Toan Thanh Thi Do: Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Tu Huu Nguyen: Vietnam Young Physicians’ Association, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Hai Quang Pham: Institute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam
Hai Thanh Phan: Institute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam
Giang Thu Vu: Center of Excellence in Evidence-Based Medicine, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh 700000,Vietnam
Dung Tri Phung: School of Medicine, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
Son Hong Nghiem: Centre for Applied Health Economics (CAHE), Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
Thu Ha Nguyen: Department of Pharmacy, Dai Nam University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Trung Dinh Tran: Demography and Medical statistics, Faculty of Public Health, Danang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam
Khanh Nam Do: Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Dat Van Truong: Department of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh 700000, Vietnam
Giap Van Vu: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Carl A. Latkin: Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Roger C.M. Ho: Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
Cyrus S.H. Ho: Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, Singapore

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-12

Abstract: Health personnel and community workers are at the front line of the COVID-19 emergency response and need to be equipped with adequate knowledge related to epidemics for an effective response. This study aimed to identify the coverage of COVID-19 health information via different sources accessed by health workers and community workers in Vietnam. A cross-sectional study using a web-based survey was carried out from January to February 2020 in Vietnam. Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) was used for recruiting participants. We utilized the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to examine the construct validity of the questionnaire. A higher percentage of participants knew about “Clinical and pathogen characteristics of COVID-19”, compared to “Regulations and policies related to COVID-19”. The percentage of participants accessing the information on “Guidelines and policies on prevention and control of COVID-19” was the lowest, especially among medical students. “Mass media and peer-educators” channels had a higher score of accessing COVID-19 information, compared to “Organizations/ agencies/ associations” sources. Participants consumed most of their COVID-19 information via “Internet, online newspapers, social networks”. Our findings indicate an urgency to re-design training programs and communication activities for a more effective dissemination of information related to the COVID-19 epidemic or epidemics in general.

Keywords: COVID-19; health communication; social networks; Vietnam (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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