Preventive Behaviors and Information Sources during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study in Japan

Manae Uchibori, Cyrus Ghaznavi, Michio Murakami, Akifumi Eguchi, Hiroyuki Kunishima, Satoshi Kaneko, Keiko Maruyama-Sakurai, Hiroaki Miyata and Shuhei Nomura ()
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Manae Uchibori: Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
Cyrus Ghaznavi: Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
Michio Murakami: Division of Scientific Information and Public Policy, Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, 2-8 Yamadaoka, Suita City 565-0871, Japan
Akifumi Eguchi: Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
Hiroyuki Kunishima: Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki 216-8511, Japan
Satoshi Kaneko: Department of Ecoepidemiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
Keiko Maruyama-Sakurai: Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
Hiroaki Miyata: Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
Shuhei Nomura: Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 21, 1-16

Abstract: Background: individual preventive behaviors are one of the key measures needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This study sought to identify the factors associated with the adoption of COVID-19 preventive measures, focusing specifically on information sources. Methods: we conducted a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of 30,053 Japanese adults in February 2021. The survey asked about socioeconomic, health-related, and psychological characteristics, attitudes toward immunization, and the use of information sources regarding COVID-19. We have constructed multivariable logistic regression to estimate the factors associated with the adoption of three preventive measures: 3Cs avoidance, hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene. Results: socioeconomic variables, psychological variables, and the use of information sources are significantly associated with the adoption of preventive measures. The more information sources one uses, the more likely one is to adopt preventive measures. Trust in healthcare professionals is positively associated with adopting preventive measures. On the other hand, negative correlations between trust in social media and preventive behaviors were observed. Conclusions: encouraging access to multiple information sources, utilizing communication channels, and modifying messaging according to target groups are essential to promote COVID-19 preventive measures.

Keywords: preventive behaviors; COVID-19; information sources; social media (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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