Risk Perception and COVID-19

Factors influencing CDC- recommended preventative behaviors through the COVID-19 pandemic in college students

Objective: To understand how student perceptions of physical health and generalized concern about infection influenced engagement in COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Participants: 418 full-time undergraduate and graduate students attending a public university in South Carolina, USA. Methods: A self-administered survey was distributed during the 2020-2021 academic year. The health belief model, structural equation modeling, and regression methods were used to evaluate associations between students' perceived physical health and the use of CDC-recommended mitigation strategies. Results: Our findings suggest that an individual's perception of their own physical health impacted engagement in preventive behaviors by influencing concerns about disease severity (p = 0.01) and susceptibility (p = 0.03). However, perceived physical health was not associated with perceived benefits (p = 0.21), barriers (p = 0.57), or self-efficacy (p = 0.62) of mitigation strategies. Conclusions: Intrapersonal factors may play a strong role in the way a student undertakes disease control and prevention.

Cultural values, risk characteristics, and risk perceptions of controversial issues: How does cultural theory work?

Cultural theory and the psychometric paradigm are two frameworks proposed to explain risk perceptions, mostly used independently of each other. On the one hand, psychometric research identified key characteristics of hazards responsible for their level of perceived riskiness. On the other hand, cultural studies provided evidence that different worldviews lead to divergent perceptions of risk in a way supportive of individuals' cultural values. The purpose of this research was to combine both approaches into mediational models in which cultural values impact risk perceptions of controversial hazards through their influence on the characteristics associated with those hazards. Using data from an online survey completed by 629 French participants, findings indicated specific associations between cultural values and risk characteristics, both of them exhibiting effects on risk perceptions that depend largely on hazardous issues. More specifically, we found that people confer specific characteristics on hazards (common or dreadful, beneficial or costly, affecting few or many people), depending on whether they are hierarchists-individualists, egalitarians, or fatalists; in turn, such characteristics have an impact on the perceived riskiness of hazards such as cannabis, social movement, global warming, genetically modified organisms, nuclear power, public transportation, and coronavirus. Finally, this article discussed the interest of addressing the mechanisms that explain how cultural values shape individuals' perceptions of risk.

Factors affecting risk perception of COVID-19: differences by age and gender

Introduction

Addressing emerging infectious diseases is a major task in public health. This study investigated the factors influencing the perception of risk related to COVID-19.

Methods

This study analyzed data from the 2020 Social Survey conducted nationwide in South Korea, targeting 34,909 individuals aged 13 years and older. Using an ordered logit regression model, we examined the relationship between COVID-19 risk perception and its predictors across age groups (20-44 years, 45-64 years, 65 years and older) and gender groups. The predictors included in the analysis model were demographic factors, socioeconomic factors, health and quality of life factors, levels of social trust, and climate change factors.

Results

The results demonstrated that COVID-19 risk perception was higher among older individuals and women compared with men. In the young population group (20-44 years), mental stress was related to COVID-19 risk perception, but this was not observed in other population groups. In the older adult population group (65 years and older), education level was related to COVID-19 risk perception, whereas this was not observed in the young population group. In the male group, economic variables such as income and employment status were related to COVID-19 risk perception, whereas in women, family-related variables such as marital status and housing type were related. In most subgroup analyses, lower income levels or lower life satisfaction were associated with higher COVID-19 risk perception.

Discussion

The findings of this study suggest that health authorities need to tailor their responses to COVID-19 risk perception based on different populations and social groups. For the older adult population with a high-risk perception, it is necessary to provide reliable information to reduce anxiety caused by excessive risk perception. For the young population, proactive responses from health authorities regarding mental health are needed.

COVID-19 and Health-care Business Continuity in Africa: Perceptions of Risks and Vulnerabilities by Mid-level Management Staff in a Tertiary Care Hospital

OBJECTIVES

The novel SARS-CoV-2 outbreak disrupted businesses globally and created fears in the general public and among health-care professionals. Almost universally, considerations about the coronavirus pandemic and its effects became priority in the daily operations of businesses, leaving hitherto pressing concerns in the back stage. Early in the pandemic, the management of University of Benin Teaching Hospital set up a Business Continuity Team which undertook an evaluation of the perceptions of mid-level hospital managers about their departments' and units' risks and vulnerabilities in the face of the ongoing pandemic.

METHODS

A modified International Labour Organization (ILO) risk profile self-assessment tool which focused on "people," "processes," "profits," and "partnerships" was used to assess mid-level managers' perceptions of their respective departments' and units' risks and vulnerabilities, consequent on the COVID-19 pandemic. Responses were obtained from heads of departments and units using an online survey. Final scores were divided into terciles (three equal groups) in respect of perceived risks and adverse outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic. Scores in the lower tercile were grouped as low risk/vulnerability, the middle group of scores as medium risk/vulnerability, and scores in the upper tercile as high risk/vulnerability.

RESULTS

Responses were obtained from 35 (49.3%) of the 71 clinical and nonclinical departments and units in the hospital. Fifteen of these (42.9%) were clinical. Nineteen (54.2%) departments were assessed to be at high risk/vulnerability, 9 (47.4%) of which were clinical. Twelve (34.3%) departments were assessed to be at medium risk/vulnerability - 4 (33.3%) of them, clinical. No department was assessed to be at low risk. The highest risk ratings were in the domains of "profits" and "partnerships:" 54 (84.4%) mid-level managers assessed their departments and units to be at high risk of the negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic with respect to "profits" and 51 (79.7%) with respect to "partnerships."

CONCLUSION

Mid-level managers in clinical and nonclinical departments and units assessed their departments and units to be at medium and high risk of the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, using the ILO's modified tool. Our findings enabled the management of the hospital and the Business Continuity Team to address the specific areas of concerns that were highlighted, develop contingency plans, and frame risk communication during the pandemic, with a view to fostering increased sense of safety in the workforce. This approach to risk assessment is repeatable, and we recommended it to other hospitals in Africa.

Palestinian university students' perspectives on COVID-19 risk and remote learning during the pandemic: A qualitative photovoice study

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered major changes worldwide, with repercussions on mental health and education. The present study primarily aimed to retrospectively explore undergraduate students' risk perceptions of COVID-19 and their experiences with remote learning during the pandemic, with an emphasis on their high school years.

METHODS

This qualitative photovoice study was conducted between 30 March and 4 May 2023. The target population of this study was first- and second-year undergraduate students who had been in high school during the pandemic. Maximum variation, snowball, and convenience sampling methods were used to recruit students. They were asked to share photos and provide comments in written or voice messages explaining their experiences during the pandemic. Voice messages were manually transcribed verbatim. A manual content analysis of these comments was performed to derive the codes and themes relevant to the study objectives.

RESULTS

Forty-seven students initially agreed to participate and signed an informed consent form. However, the final sample included 16 students (nine men and seven women). The content analysis revealed four themes that were identified as the main factors contributing to high school students' risk perceptions of COVID-19. The first theme was psychosocial factors related to the pandemic, including emotions, isolation and stress. The second focused on the mechanisms used to cope with the pandemic. The third theme included beliefs and behaviours that either increased or decreased COVID-19 risk. The final theme addressed schools' responses to COVID-19, including factors such as maintaining connections with schools, preventive measures and the transition to remote learning.

CONCLUSION

This study highlighted the extensive impact of the pandemic on Palestinian high school students, demanding instantaneous adaptation to ensure their safety and well-being while maintaining the quality of education. Remote learning has become an important strategy with opportunities and challenges for high school students.

Indigenous Peoples' evaluation of health risks when facing mandatory evacuation for birth during the COVID-19 pandemic: an indigenous feminist analysis

BACKGROUND

Indigenous Peoples living on the land known as Canada are comprised of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people and because of the Government of Canada's mandatory evacuation policy, those living in rural and remote regions of Ontario are required to travel to urban, tertiary care centres to give birth. When evaluating the risk of travelling for birth, Indigenous Peoples understand, evaluate, and conceptualise health risks differently than Eurocentric biomedical models of health. Also, the global COVID-19 pandemic changed how people perceived risks to their health. Our research goal was to better understand how Indigenous parturients living in rural and remote communities conceptualised the risks associated with evacuation for birth before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

To achieve this goal, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 parturients who travelled for birth during the pandemic and with 5 family members of those who were evacuated for birth.

RESULTS

Participants conceptualised evacuation for birth as riskier during the COVID-19 pandemic and identified how the pandemic exacerbated existing risks of travelling for birth. In fact, Indigenous parturients noted the increased risk of contracting COVID-19 when travelling to urban centres for perinatal care, the impact of public health restrictions on increased isolation from family and community, the emotional impact of fear during the pandemic, and the decreased availability of quality healthcare.

CONCLUSIONS

Using Indigenous Feminist Methodology and Indigenous Feminist Theory, we critically analysed how mandatory evacuation for birth functions as a colonial tool and how conceptualizations of risk empowered Indigenous Peoples to make decisions that reduced risks to their health during the pandemic. With the results of this study, policy makers and governments can better understand how Indigenous Peoples conceptualise risks related to evacuation for birth before and during the pandemic, and prioritise further consultation with Indigenous Peoples to collaborate in the delivery of the health and care they need and desire.

Psychological mediators between risk perception and psychological wellbeing in emergency healthcare workers

Healthcare workers are subjected to numerous work-related stress factors, which have negative consequences on their physical and mental health, making them a vulnerable group. The recent pandemic caused by the new coronavirus created a high demand for attention from healthcare workers, which put their mental health at risk. This study aimed to test a mediation model in which resilience and the satisfaction of psychological needs play a mediating role in risk perception, the attitude toward the management carried out by the administration, emotional intelligence on psychological wellbeing, and depressive symptoms of frontline professionals. The sample consisted of 405 healthcare professionals aged between 22 and 65 years, belonging to critical care units in southern Spain. Linear correlation and mediation analyses were performed. The results showed that psychological wellbeing had positive correlations with resilience and negative correlations with the discrepancy in the satisfaction of psychological needs. Depressive symptoms had negative correlations with resilience and positive correlations with the satisfaction of psychological needs. To explore these results further, a mediation analysis was conducted, and a large set of significant indirect effects was found.

Performance of indicators used in regular risk assessments for COVID-19 in association with contextual factors

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to summarize the results of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk assessments and to examine the associations between risk levels and various indicators, including COVID-19 incidence, risk perception, community mobility, and government policy.

METHODS

The results of the risk assessment and the indicators utilized were summarized. From November 2021 to May 2022, the COVID-19 risk level was evaluated on a weekly basis, and its correlation with these indicators was analyzed. Data were obtained from press releases by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, regular surveys conducted by Hankook Research, and information available on the Google and Oxford websites.

RESULTS

Weekly risk assessments were conducted for 30 weeks, using different indices depending on the phases. Correlation analysis revealed the strongest positive correlation between risk level and risk perception (r=0.841). The risk level from "1-week lead" demonstrated a strong positive correlation with the time-varying reproduction number (Rt). Similarly, the risk level from "week lagged value" showed a strong positive correlation with the number of severe cases in the hospital.

CONCLUSION

At the time of risk assessment, the Rt precedes the risk level, while severe cases in hospitals follow. Therefore, the assessed risk level functioned as an early warning system. Risk perception demonstrated the strongest correlation with the risk level, suggesting consistency throughout the assessment period. Contextual indicators (e.g., risk perception) that consider time lags and implementation scales, could improve the evaluation of future risk assessment results, particularly when there are challenges in reflecting specific situations in coordinated emergency response.

Modelling associations between mortality salience, environmental concerns, and climate change risk perception in the context of the pandemic

The pandemic and climate change are mortality salience triggers. Environmental issues, attitudes, and climate change risk perceptions were hypothesised to impact how individuals perceived the threat of COVID-19 and climate change during the pandemic. The study explored: 1.) the associations between seeing a link between COVID-19 and climate change and environmental concerns; 2.) the associations between mortality salience and environmental concerns; 3.) the associations between feeling less worried during the pandemic and environmental concerns; and 4.) what these associations tell us about the relationship between mortality salience, the perceived link between COVID-19 and climate change, and feeling less worried during the pandemic. A sample of 665 respondents was achieved from an online survey in 2021. The results of the multiple regression analysis and structural equation modelling showed that environmental issues, attitudes and perceptions, time spent in nature, and climate change risk perception played a role in the extent to which individuals perceived COVID-19 as an indicator of climate change threats, whether mortality salience was made conscious, and whether there was distancing of concern about climate change and social issues during the pandemic. The study makes an important contribution to understanding psychological processes that are activated during disasters that trigger mortality salience, and how this is impacted by the human-nature nexus, and climate change risk perception.

Risk Perception and Maternal Prenatal Depressive Symptoms in the Early Stage of COVID-19 Pandemic in China: Role of Negative Emotions and Family Sense of Coherence

BACKGROUND

Prenatal depression is associated with adverse health outcomes for both mothers and their children. The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has presented new risks and challenges for expectant mothers. The aims of the study were to investigate the underlying mechanism between COVID-19 risk perception of Chinese pregnant women and their prenatal depressive symptoms and potential protective factors such as family sense of coherence (FSOC).

METHOD

A total of 181 Chinese pregnant women (Mage = 31.40 years, SD = 3.67, ranged from 23 to 43) participated in an online survey from April 22 to May 16, 2020. Risk perception and negative emotions (fear and anxiety) related with COVID-19, FSOC, and prenatal depressive symptoms were assessed.

RESULTS

The experience of maternal COVID-19 related negative emotion fully mediated the positive relationship between COVID-19 risk perception and prenatal depressive symptoms of pregnant women (β = 0.12, 95% CI [0.06, 0.19]). When confronting COVID-19 related fear and anxiety, expectant mothers from higher coherent families experienced a significantly lower level of prenatal depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Contextual negative emotional experience was demonstrated to explain how risk perception impacts depressive symptoms during severe public health crisis for pregnant women. FSOC may be a psychological resource protecting pregnant women from experiencing adverse psychological outcomes during COVID-19 pandemic.

Risk perception and interpersonal discussion on risk: A systematic literature review

Risk perception research has long been attentive to the fact that risk is a social construction. Nevertheless, this fact has not been integrated into empirical research in any systematic manner. Empirical studies that do focus on the social construction of risk often do so from very different positions and with different objectives in mind. Interpersonal discussion, while considered an important medium of social construction, is rarely given consideration. This systematic literature review aims to provide a coherent foundation for empirical studies of interpersonal discussion on risk. Specifically, it summarizes existing research into the reciprocal relationship between interpersonal discussion on risk and individual-level risk perception. The systematic literature review adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 843 unique articles were identified, of which 60 are included in the review. A majority of the articles in the corpus found a positive association between interpersonal discussion on risk and risk perception. This association, however, lacks robustness, especially in terms of the direction of causality. Three theoretical interpretations of the relationship are found in the corpus: (1) interpersonal discussion as a conduit for risk information, (2) risk perception as shared social schemata, and (3) interpersonal discussion on risk as a facilitator of similarity between network members. Implications for future research are discussed. This literature review concludes with six guiding principles for future research into the interpersonal discussion-risk perception relationship.

The effect of risk of contracting and fear of COVID-19 on burnout and job satisfaction in Polish teachers

BACKGROUND

Fear of COVID-19 and its related complications can negatively affect well-being and contribute to less effective daily and professional functioning. Based on Maslach's burnout concept, this study aimed to verify the relationship between risk of contracting and fear of COVID-19, occupational burnout and job satisfaction in Polish teachers during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE

Three hundred fifty-two teachers, aged between 22 and 68, participated in this study. In the studied sample, 252 people worked remotely, 41 in-person and 59 were hybrid workers. The Risk of Contracting COVID-19 Scale, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Brief Job Satisfaction Scale were used.

RESULTS

Risk of contracting COVID-19 was positively related to fear of COVID-19 and emotional exhaustion. Moreover, fear of COVID-19 was negatively related to personal accomplishment and positively related to emotional exhaustion. Lastly, all three dimensions of occupational burnout were significantly related to job satisfaction. There was no direct relationship between fear of COVID-19 and job satisfaction. This relation was mediated by two scales of occupational burnout: personal accomplishment and emotional exhaustion. All three subscales of occupational burnout were significant predictors of job satisfaction, explaining 53% of its variance.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study showed a relationship between the risk perception of COVID-19, occupational burnout and job satisfaction in Polish teachers during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results obtained in the study may contribute to the understanding of the effects of the pandemic for the professional group of educators.

The Prevalence of Depression among the Global Public in the Context of the COVID-19 Epidemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

We aimed to analyze the prevalence of depression among the global public during COVID-19, identify its influencing factors in order to provide reference, and help safeguard public mental health.

Methods

A comprehensive literature on global public depression in various countries during the COVID-19 pandemic was obtained through electronic searches of PubMed, Web of Science, and other databases, combined with literature tracing from Dec 2019 to Mar 2023. Then a meta-analysis was conducted using the random effects model by Stata 16.0. The heterogeneity was evaluated by I2 . Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and meta-regression analysis were used to explore the sources of heterogeneity and the factors influencing public depression. Egger's test was used to test publication bias.

Results

Overall, 68 articles with 234,678 samples were included in the study. Analysis revealed that the overall prevalence of depression among the population during COVID-19 was 32.0% (95% CI: 29.0%-35.0%). Of these, marital status (OR=0.65, 95% CI: 0.47-0.87), presence of infected cases (OR=2.45, 95% CI: 1.82-3.30), and fear of being infected by the virus (OR=9.31, 95% CI: 6.03-14.37) were the main factors influencing people's depression and the main source of heterogeneity.

Conclusion

The prevalence of depression among the global public is at a high level during COVID-19. The prevalence of depression among people unmarried, divorced, or widowed, surrounded by infected cases, contact infection cases, and worried about being were higher than others.

'You can't really separate these risks, our environment, our animals and us': Australian children's perceptions of the risks of the climate crisis

Perceptions of the risks associated with the climate crisis are shaped by a range of social and political contexts and information sources. While some have expressed concerns about the impact of the spread of climate misinformation through social media platforms on young people, others have shown that the youth climate movement has played a key role in countering misinformation. Despite this, there has been very limited research with children about how they conceptualize the risks associated with the climate crisis, how they receive climate information, and how they understand and apply this to their own and others' lives. The following qualitative study used photo-elicitation techniques and in-depth interviews with Australian children to address this gap. A total of n = 28 children (12-16 years) participated, with four themes constructed from the data using a reflexive approach to thematic analysis. Children were concerned about how the climate crisis would continue to harm their futures and the health of planet and people. They recognized that some groups and countries would experience more risks associated with the climate crisis as compared to others. While they received information from a range of different sources (school, family, social media), they mostly used social media to seek out climate information. They recognized that social media sites could be a source of climate misinformation, and argued that a range of strategies were needed to identify and counter false information about the climate crisis. Children's perspectives must be harnessed to improve information about climate risks and action.

Coping during COVID-19: how attitudinal, efficacy, and personality differences drive adherence to protective measures

INTRODUCTION

COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on people's lives since its initial outbreak and global spread in 2020. While the U.S. government and public health officials have recommended best practices such as social distancing, wearing a mask, and avoiding large public gatherings, these orders have been met with varying levels of acceptance from the public. Given the disparate compliance, this study builds on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) to explore individual differences and personal motivation factors in order to better understand what may influence one's likelihood to adhere to COVID-19 protective measures.

METHODS

A U.S. national survey (N = 2,049) was conducted April-May 2020, roughly one month after stay-at-home orders were issued in some states. Participants were asked to report their likelihood of taking individual and community protective measures. Multivariate hierarchical linear regressions were run to analyze the extent to which participants' concerns about COVID-19's impact, individual and collective self-efficacy, coping behaviors, and personality traits influenced the dependent variables.

RESULTS

Findings showed that COVID-19-related health concerns, collective efficacy, and proactive coping strategies were positively related to participants' likelihood of taking protective measures. Those with greater concerns about their general well-being and the economy, adverse coping strategies like denial and joking, as well as sensation-seeking personalities, were less likely to take protective measures.

CONCLUSION

The discussion considers how individual differences fit into broader global efforts to stem COVID-19. Practical implications for public health messaging are that communication may focus on facilitating efficacy in order to boost compliance with protective measures.

Coping and risk perception during the COVID-19 pandemic in type 2 diabetes: Does it influence metabolic control?

Diabetes and poor glycemic control are significant predictors of severity and death in the COVID-19 disease. The perception of this risk in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) could modify coping styles, leading to behaviors associated with better self-care and metabolic control. Theoretically, active coping is associated with better glycemic control in patients with T2D. Nonetheless, information during extreme risk like the COVID-19 pandemic is still limited. Our objective was to evaluate the association between coping styles and risk perception in the COVID-19 pandemic and the change in metabolic parameters. This is a prospective study that included individuals with T2D treated in a tertiary care center during the COVID-19 outbreak who returned to follow-up one year later. We assessed coping styles and risk perception with the Extreme Risk Coping Scale and the risk perception questionnaire. Clinical characteristics and metabolic parameters were registered in both visits. Groups were compared using Kruskal Wallis tests, and changes in metabolic parameters were assessed with Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Our sample included 177 participants at baseline, and 118 concluded the study. Passive coping was more frequent in women. Low-risk perception was associated with higher age, lower psychiatric comorbidities, and lower frequency of psychiatric treatment compared with other risk perception groups. Patients with active coping plus high-risk perception did not have a change in metabolic parameters at follow-up, whereas patients with other coping styles and lower risk perception had an increase in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides. There were no differences by coping group or by risk perception in glycemic control.

The flashbulb-like nature of memory for the first COVID-19 case and the impact of the emergency. A cross-national survey

Flashbulb memories (FBMs) refer to vivid and long-lasting autobiographical memories for the circumstances in which people learned of a shocking and consequential public event. A cross-national study across eleven countries aimed to investigate FBM formation following the first COVID-19 case news in each country and test the effect of pandemic-related variables on FBM. Participants had detailed memories of the date and others present when they heard the news, and had partially detailed memories of the place, activity, and news source. China had the highest FBM specificity. All countries considered the COVID-19 emergency as highly significant at both the individual and global level. The Classification and Regression Tree Analysis revealed that FBM specificity might be influenced by participants' age, subjective severity (assessment of COVID-19 impact in each country and relative to others), residing in an area with stringent COVID-19 protection measures, and expecting the pandemic effects. Hierarchical regression models demonstrated that age and subjective severity negatively predicted FBM specificity, whereas sex, pandemic impact expectedness, and rehearsal showed positive associations in the total sample. Subjective severity negatively affected FBM specificity in Turkey, whereas pandemic impact expectedness positively influenced FBM specificity in China and negatively in Denmark.

The Nigerian youth knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) towards the national drive against the Spread of COVID-19: An online cross-sectional Survey

Background

The global impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)has led to the need to prioritise public health campaign by all stakeholders among diverse population groups. This study investigated the dispositions of Nigerian adolescents towards the prevention of the spread of COVID-19.

Methods

The young adolescents (n=1,529) included in this study, were between the ages of 15 and 26 years from Afe Babalola University. Students were contacted through their various colleges and residential hostels to complete the questionnaire via a shared link. All students included, voluntarily participated in this cross-sectional study by completing the adapted COVID-19 knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) questionnaire. The collected data were analysed to show the level of knowledge, attitude and preventative practices and also to test for significant association between gender and variables for the study. The study was conducted between March 23-April 25, 2021.

Results

The outcome of the findings showed that students with families with 5-10 members showed significant association with knowledge accuracy on COVID-19 (χ 2 = 6.077, p = 0.044). There was a significant association between gender and the need to report the suspected case of COVID-19 infection to the health authorities (χ 2 = 14.075, p = 0.001) with more females likely to report a suspected case. More females (59.2%) were significantly (χ 2 = 8.904, p = 0.012) involved in the practice of social distancing or home quarantine as a preventive measure.

Conclusions

This study showed evidence of high prevalence of knowledge related to COVID-19 in majority of the study participants. This is a pointer to the efficacy and success of present public health campaigns in Nigeria.

A classification system for characterizing the integrity and quality of evidence in risk studies

Risk management requires a balance between knowledge and values. Knowledge consists of justified beliefs and evidence, with evidence including data, assumptions, and models. While quality and integrity of evidence are valued in the sciences, risk science involves uncertainty, which suggests that evidence can be incomplete or imperfect. The use of inappropriate evidence can invalidate risk studies and contribute to misinformation and poor risk management decisions. Additionally, the interpretation of quality and integrity of evidence may vary by the risk study mission, decision-maker values, and stakeholder needs. While risk science has developed standards for risk studies, there remains a lack of clarity for how to demonstrate quality and integrity of evidence, recognizing that evidence can be presented in many formats (e.g., data, ideas, and theories), be leveraged at various stages of a risk study (e.g., hypotheses, analyses, and communication), and involve differing expectations across stakeholders. This study develops and presents a classification system to evaluate quality and integrity of evidence that is based on current risk science guidance, best practices from non-risk disciplines, and lessons learned from recent risk events. The classification system is demonstrated on a cyber-security application. This study will be of interest to risk researchers, risk professionals, and data analysts.

Facilitators and barriers to the adoption of mHealth apps for COVID-19 contact tracing: a systematic review of the literature

Background

Despite the enormous potential of mobile health (mHealth) apps for COVID-19 contact tracing, the adoption rate in most countries remains low. Thus, the objective of the current study is to identify facilitators and barriers of mHealth apps adoption for COVID-19 contact tracing based on existing studies.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of mHealth studies before December 2021 that evaluate facilitators and barriers associated with the adoption of mHealth apps for COVID-19 contact tracing. We assessed the risk of bias for all included studies using the Cochrane tool. We based our narrative synthesis on the facilitators-barriers to the adoption of mHealth framework comprising seven key factors.

Results

A total of 27 articles were reviewed from 16 countries representing high income countries (France, German, Italy, United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Singapore, Belgium, Republic Ireland, Netherland, Poland, and Japan), middle-income countries (Fiji), and low-middle income countries (India). We identified the main facilitators of mHealth adoption: perceived risks to COVID-19, trust, perceived benefit, social norm, and technology readiness. The main barriers of mHealth adoption were data privacy/security concerns. Among sociodemographic factors, females, lower education, lower-income, and older individual are barriers to adoption in low-middle income countries, while most of those factors were not significantly associated with adoption in a high-income country.

Conclusion

The findings imply that resolving data privacy/security issues while developing trust, perceived benefits, social norms, and technology preparedness could be effective strategies for increasing adoption intentions and app use among the general public. In low-middle-income countries, addressing digital divide is critical to the app's adoption.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=249500, identifier RD42021249500 (PROSPERO).

Serious About Getting Old?: Variability of Individual Old Age Risk Management in Czechia

The global trend of transferring responsibility for dignified aging from the state to individuals is conducive to a variability of alternative attitudes and strategies. Despite having important implications for both the state and individuals, the variability of old age risk management has not been fully appreciated by social policy. Social policy cannot adapt to every individual, but it can reflect various categories of citizens and their patterns of old age risk management. In this article, we navigate the plethora of individual choices by identifying patterns of strategic behavior in old age risk management in society. Based on our data from the original 2018 survey, representative for the Czech population, we identify four distinctive strategies: risk taking, risk avoiding, risk neglecting, and risk preventing. We conclude by discussing how the data gathered and analyzed through our research may help social policy actors better understand sources of variability and design more effective policy interventions.

COVID-19 risk perception and negative emotional symptoms: Mediating role of self-control and moderating role of life history strategy

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a significant public health crisis, posing threats to physical health and mental well-being. This study, grounded in the Risk-Resilience Model, sought to elucidate how COVID-19 risk perception impacts negative emotional symptoms. Specifically, we examined the mediating role of self-control and the moderating role of life history strategies. We conducted a two-wave longitudinal survey in October 2020 (N = 334) and November 2020 (N = 249), targeting residents across 14 provinces (24 cities) in China. After controlling for sex and age, the results supported the moderated mediation model, illustrating that (1) self-control mediated the relationship between COVID-19 risk perception and negative emotional symptoms, (2) life history strategy moderated the first segment of the mediation process, and (3) life history strategies also moderated the mediating effect of self-control on the link between COVID-19 risk perception and negative emotional symptoms. Furthermore, compared to a fast life history strategy, a slow life history strategy mitigated the effect of COVID-19 risk perception on self-control, thereby reducing negative emotional symptoms. This study sheds light on how COVID-19 risk perception affects negative emotional symptoms and identifies potential targets (i.e., self-control and life history strategy) for addressing emotional distress during pandemics.

The impact of confirmed cases of COVID-19 on residents' traditional Chinese medicine health literacy: A survey from Gansu Province of China

Since the outbreak of the new crown epidemic in China in early 2020, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has continued to increase, and the Chinese government's policy of "static management" in the first round of the epidemic may affect the health behavior adjustment of Chinese residents. Using survey data on the TCM health literacy of 4016 residents in China (Gansu Province), a causal inference approach was used to explore the impact of the emergence of confirmed cases of COVID-19 on residents' TCM health literacy. We found that the emergence of confirmed cases can increase by 3.5%-7.0% in residents' TCM health literacy. Among them, the TCM health literacy of uneducated residents has not improved significantly, and the residents with secondary education have increased significantly by 8%. For those with higher education, the number of residents increased significantly by 6%. At the same time, the emergence of confirmed cases will increase the residents' practical TCM health literacy and decrease theoretical TCM health literacy. Through heterogeneity analysis, we explored the impact mechanism of confirmed cases on residents' TCM health literacy. We believe that the emergence of confirmed cases will make residents more inclined to participate in TCM-free clinics, theme activities, and other ways to acquire TCM knowledge.

Intersection of Perceived COVID-19 Risk, Preparedness, and Preventive Health Behaviors: Latent Class Segmentation Analysis

Background

COVID-19 risk perception is a factor that influences the pandemic spread. Understanding the potential behavioral responses to COVID-19, including preparedness and adoption of preventive measures, can inform interventions to curtail its spread.

Objective

We assessed self-perceived and latent class analysis (LCA)-based risks of COVID-19 and their associations with preparedness, misconception, information gap, and preventive practices among residents of a densely populated city in Nigeria.

Methods

We used data from a cross-sectional survey conducted among residents (N=140) of Onitsha, Nigeria, in March 2020, before the government-mandated lockdown. Using an iterative expectation-maximization algorithm, we applied LCA to systematically segment participants into the most likely distinct risk clusters. Furthermore, we used bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models to determine the associations among knowledge, attitude, preventive practice, perceived preparedness, misconception, COVID-19 information gap, and self-perceived and LCA-based COVID-19 risks.

Results

Most participants (85/140, 60.7%) had good knowledge and did not perceive themselves as at risk of contracting COVID-19. Three-quarters of the participants (102/137, 74.6%; P<.001) experienced COVID-19-related information gaps, while 62.9% (88/140; P=.04) of the participants had some misconceptions about the disease. Conversely, most participants (93/140, 66.4%; P<.001) indicated that they were prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of the participants (94/138, 68.1%; P<.001) self-perceived that they were not at risk of contracting COVID-19 compared to 31.9% (44/138) who professed to be at risk of contracting COVID-19. Using the LCA, we identified 3 distinct risk clusters (P<.001), namely, prudent or low-risk takers, skeptics or high-risk takers, and carefree or very high-risk takers with prevalence rates (probabilities of cluster membership that represent the prevalence rate [γc]) of 47.5% (95% CI 40%-55%), 16.2% (95% CI 11.4%-20.9%), and 36.4% (95% CI 28.8%-43.9%), respectively. We recorded a significantly negative agreement between self-perceived risk and LCA-based segmentation of COVID-19 risk (κ=-0.218, SD 0.067; P=.01). Knowledge, attitude, and perceived need for COVID-19 information were significant predictors of COVID-19 preventive practices among the Onitsha city residents.

Conclusions

The clustering patterns highlight the impact of modifiable risk behaviors on COVID-19 preventive practices, which can provide strong empirical support for health prevention policies. Consequently, clusters with individuals at high risk of contracting COVID-19 would benefit from multicomponent interventions delivered in diverse settings to improve the population-based response to the pandemic.

Anti-stigma narratives and emotional comfort against health crisis: a context analysis of UGC short videos from patients with COVID-19 infections

Patients narratives are being recorded increasingly frequently and spontaneously in short user produced content (UGC) films, which may have an impact on the vlogger's health as well as the public's comprehension of the relevant health concerns. This paper addressed three research questions regarding the population characteristics of UGC video publishers, the narrative theme of the videos, and the emotional orientation of the commenters. This study aimed to deepen our understanding of COVID-19 patients' narrative intentions and emotional needs through the theoretical frameworks of theory of planned behavior (TPB) and negative dominance theory (NDT). We collected 335 videos from 28 COVID-19 patients and 572,052 comments as samples on Douyin platform, the largest short-video website in China. Using Latent Semantic Analysis, we analyzed the descriptive information of the video blogs, the narrative textual information of the videos, and the emotional orientation of the comments. Our findings revealled seven categories of narrative themes, with 52.1% of video comments exhibiting a positive emotional orientation. Within a framework integrating TPB and NDT theories, we analyzed the behavioral intentions of vloggers and viewers during COVID-19 epidemic, and interpreted the persistent posting of videos and the active posting of comments as positive actions that counteracted the multiple effects of negative messages. This study contributes to the understanding of individual narratives in macro-risk communication, both theoretically and empirically, and offers policy recommendations in relevant fields.

Mpox risk perception and associated factors among Chinese young men who have sex with men: Results from a large cross-sectional survey

The mpox outbreak since 2022 had attacked the community of men who have sex with men (MSM) heavily. This large cross-sectional study investigated the levels and associated factors of mpox risk perception among young MSM (YMSM) aged 18-29 years in six provincial regions of China in September 2022. The participants were recruited via facility-based sampling. Mpox risk perception was measured by perceived susceptibility and perceived severity of mpox. Geodetector was used to measure stratified heterogeneity of mpox risk perception. Univariate and multivariable linear regressions were used to examine the factors associated with mpox risk perception. A total of 2493 participants were included with a mean age of 24.6 years. The proportion of perceiving a susceptibility of mpox under different scenarios ranged 3.7%-17.0% and that of perceiving a severity of mpox ranged 81.6%-83.2%. Stratified heterogeneity of perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and overall perceived risk of mpox were observed in several characteristics such as study sites, monthly income, risk behaviors, and psychosocial factors. Multivariable regression showed the level of mpox risk perception was positively associated with having in-person gathering activities (ba  = 0.457, 95% CI: 0.208, 0.705), history of HIV infection (ba  = 0.431, 95% CI: 0.028, 0.834), depressive symptoms (ba  = 0.069, 95% CI: 0.049, 0.090), and self-stigma to MSM identity (ba  = 0.047, 95% CI: 0.024, 0.071). The Chinese YMSM showed a high level of perceived severity of mpox but a low level of perceived susceptibility. It is warranted to strengthen targeted risk communication of mpox, develop comprehensive and unstigmatized health messages, and provide mental health support for YMSM.

Risk perception in the era of COVID-19 and related factors among nurses: A cross-sectional study

AIM

Our study aimed at investigating the risk perception of nurses and related factors in the era of COVID-19 period.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Four hundred and forty-two participants completed an online questionnaire relating to their risk perception on public health emergencies. Data were collected between 25 November 2020 and 1 December 2020. Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test and Ordinal logistic regression analysis were used to examine factors impacting on risk perception.

RESULTS

65.2% of nurses' risk perception of COVID-19 was the moderate level even below the moderate level in the postperiod of COVID-19. Kruskal-Wallis test results indicated significant differences in gender, age, education status, working years, professional title, postlevel, COVID-19 contact experience, marital status and health status (p < 0.05). Ordinal logistic regression showed that gender, education status, professional title, work department, COVID-19 contact experience, character, health status and nursing work environment are associated with risk perception (p < 0.05). No Patient or Public Contribution.

Predicting COVID-19 exposure risk perception using machine learning

BACKGROUND

Self-perceived exposure risk determines the likelihood of COVID-19 preventive measure compliance to a large extent and is among the most important predictors of mental health problems. Therefore, there is a need to systematically identify important predictors of such risks. This study aims to provide insight into forecasting and understanding risk perceptions and help to adjust interventions that target various social groups in different pandemic phases.

METHODS

This study was based on survey data collected from 5001 Norwegians in 2020 and 2021. Interpretable machine learning algorithms were used to predict perceived exposure risks. To detect the most important predictors, the models with best performance were chosen based on predictive errors and explained variances. Shapley additive values were used to examine individual heterogeneities, interpret feature impact and check interactions between the key predictors.

RESULTS

Gradient boosting machine exhibited the best model performance in this study (2020: RMSE=.93, MAE=.74, RSQ=.22; 2021: RMSE=.99, MAE=.77, RSQ=.12). The most influential predictors of perceived exposure risk were compliance with interventions, work-life conflict, age and gender. In 2020, work and occupation played a dominant role in predicting perceived risks whereas, in 2021, living and behavioural factors were among the most important predictors. Findings show large individual heterogeneities in feature importance based on people's sociodemographic backgrounds, work and living situations.

CONCLUSION

The findings provide insight into forecasting risk groups and contribute to the early detection of vulnerable people during the pandemic. This is useful for policymakers and stakeholders in developing timely interventions targeting different social groups. Future policies and interventions should be adapted to the needs of people with various life situations.

Media exposure, threat processing, and mitigation behaviors in Gulf Coast residents facing the co-occurring threats of COVID-19 and hurricanes

The 2020 hurricane season threatened millions of Americans concurrently grappling with COVID-19. Processes guiding individual-level mitigation for these conceptually distinct threats, one novel and chronic (COVID-19), the other familiar and episodic (hurricanes), are unknown. Theories of health protective behaviors suggest that inputs from external stimuli (e.g., traditional and social media) lead to threat processing, including perceived efficacy (self- and response) and perceived threat (susceptibility and severity), guiding mitigation behavior. We surveyed a representative sample of Florida and Texas residents (N = 1846) between April 14, 2020 and April 27, 2020; many had previous hurricane exposure; all were previously assessed between September 8, 2017 and September 11, 2017. Using preregistered analyses, two generalized structural equation models tested direct and indirect effects of media exposure (traditional media, social media) on self-reported (1) COVID-19 mitigation (handwashing, mask-wearing, social distancing) and (2) hurricane mitigation (preparation behaviors), as mediated through perceived efficacy (self- and response) and perceived threat (susceptibility and severity). Self-efficacy and response efficacy were associated with social distancing (p = .002), handwashing, mask-wearing, and hurricane preparation (ps < 0.001). Perceived susceptibility was positively associated with social distancing (p = 0.017) and hurricane preparation (p < 0.001). Perceived severity was positively associated with social distancing (p < 0.001). Traditional media exhibited indirect effects on COVID-19 mitigation through increased response efficacy (ps < 0.05), and to a lesser extent self-efficacy (p < 0.05), and on hurricane preparation through increased self-efficacy and response efficacy and perceived susceptibility (ps < 0.05). Social media did not exhibit indirect effects on COVID-19 or hurricane mitigation. Communications targeting efficacy and susceptibility may encourage mitigation behavior; research should explore how social media campaigns can more effectively target threat processing, guiding protective actions.

Perceived Risk of COVID-19 and Anxiety in Syrian Refugees in Turkey

Pandemics are amongst the most destructive disasters to have afflicted humankind through history. These disasters entail a disproportionate effect on refugee populations, who are already in a state of high vulnerability. This study aims to assess the perception of risk of COVID-19 in the refugee populations in Turkey, in addition to evaluating anxiety levels during the pandemic. The participants of this study were refugees enrolled in a local nonprofit organization in Istanbul. They were asked to complete questionnaires which asked about COVID-19 and any self-protection measures. The questionnaire also incorporated the General Anxiety Disorder-7 screening test. In this young, male and mostly unemployed population, knowing someone who experienced COVID-19 was associated with a greater likelihood of compliance with hygiene and physical distancing measures. Anxiety levels were above 29%, and the highest scores were in the age group between 25 and 55 years. We argue that comprehensive public health measures against COVID-19 should include focused interventions for refugee populations that take the extra vulnerability (health, financial, and other) into account.

How nursing students' risk perception affected their professional commitment during the COVID-19 pandemic: the mediating effects of negative emotions and moderating effects of psychological capital

Nurses play a pivotal role in the delivery of medical services. Professional commitment is crucial for nursing professionals' long-term, healthy, and sustainable development. However, nursing students' professional commitment levels are currently unsatisfactory in China, especially given that the COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to the profession. Therefore, studies investigating the professional commitment levels of nursing students and the underlying influencing factors are urgently required. This study explored how nursing students' risk perceptions, negative emotions, and psychological capital affected their professional commitment during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted among nursing students using risk perception, professional commitment, negative emotions, and psychological capital scales. An analysis of 1142 Chinese nursing students suggested that nursing students' risk perception positively impacted professional commitment and that negative emotions mediated this association. Importantly, psychological capital moderates the mediating effect of negative emotions and can buffer the negative emotions caused by risk perception. This study demonstrated that effective intervention strategies should be implemented in multiple dimensions such as education, individual, public and society to improve the professional commitment of nursing students.

Lived experiences of risk among pregnant women in Baybay City, Leyte during the COVID-19 pandemic: A phenomenological study

Giving birth is risky by nature, and this makes pregnant women one of the most vulnerable individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. For pregnant women in Baybay City, Leyte, conceiving a child during a COVID-19 pandemic means: living with constant anxiety and worry, living with the fear of the unknown, and being the most vulnerable people in a medical emergency. These fears and worries revolved around hospital settings, financial difficulties, isolation, labor, and delivery while their feeling of vulnerability meant contracting the virus easily and having to undergo stricter protocols. Meanwhile, they had varied perceptions of COVID-19 risk. These were classified as positive or negative. Informants with positive perceptions were those that viewed COVID-19 as not personally risky but rather showed a hopeful view of its risk. They view its risk as something not too dangerous because of the vaccines available and that its symptoms are simple to cure. On the other hand, informants with negative perceptions view COVID-19 risks as something that will have a bad effect on them. They link pregnancy to susceptibility to COVID-19 and foresee premature birth, negative effects on the fetus development, and child-related death as negative results of COVID-19. Pregnant women also perceived COVID-19 risk deliberatively, affectively, and experientially. This indicates that they take the most deliberate approach to managing COVID-19 risk. Informants demonstrated affective reactions like worry and fear as they estimate the risks COVID-19 may pose to them. These factors together form their experiential risk perception of COVID-19 as an encounter with danger.

The perception of risk in contracting and spreading COVID-19 amongst individuals, households and vulnerable groups in England: a longitudinal qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Social distancing restrictions to manage the COVID-19 pandemic were put in place from March 2020 in the United Kingdom (UK), with those classed as "highly clinically vulnerable" advised to shield entirely and remain at home. However, personal risk perception has been shown to comprise of various elements beyond those outlined in the national pandemic guidance. It is unclear whether those deemed COVID-19 vulnerable identified as high-risk to COVID-19 and thus complied with the relevant advice. The aim of this research is to explore the perception of risk in catching and spreading COVID-19, amongst individuals from individual households, and vulnerable groups in a region of the UK.

METHODS

Two individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted, four-weeks apart, with adults living in households in the Liverpool City Region. At the follow-up interview, participants were given the option of using photo-elicitation to guide the discussion. Reflexive thematic analysis was employed to conceptualise themes. The qualitative analysis was underpinned with symbolic interactionism.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven participants (13:14 males:females, and 20 with a vulnerable risk factor to COVID-19) completed a baseline interview, and 15 of these completed a follow-up interview four-weeks later. Following thematic analysis, two overarching themes were conceptualised, with subthemes discussed: theme 1) Confusion and trust in the risk prevention guidance; and theme 2) Navigating risk: compliance and non-compliance with public health guidance.

CONCLUSION

Participants developed their own understanding of COVID-19 risk perception through personal experience and comparison with others around them, irrespective of vulnerability status. COVID-19 guidance was not complied with as intended by the government, and at times even rejected due to lack of trust. The format in which future pandemic guidance is conveyed must be carefully considered, and take into account individuals' experiences that may lead to non-compliance. The findings from our study can inform future public health policy and interventions for COVID-19 and future pandemics.

Vulnerabilities and risk perceptions of contracting COVID-19 among Nepali migrant workers

Social, economic, and demographic characteristics influence public disaster risk perception, including the risk of COVID-19. Migrant workers are one the most vulnerable groups to disasters. More than four million Nepali migrant workers are employed abroad, and millions are working in cities and towns in the country. This study analyzes how the social, economic, and demographic conditions of returning Nepali migrant workers determine their risk perceptions of COVID-19. An online national survey was administered from May 10 to July 30, 2020, targeting returning Nepali migrant workers nationwide. A total of 782 responses from migrant workers were recorded, covering 67 of 74 districts. Using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression models, the results show that migrant workers in blue-collar jobs, female, older than 29 years, with pre-existing health conditions, from low-income families, and from larger families are more likely to perceive higher risks of COVID-19. The migrant workers who believe in non-pharmaceutical COVID-19 control measures, including awareness campaigns and stay-at-home orders, have higher risk perceptions of the virus than other groups. The research contributes to identifying the program and policy priority areas to address the needs and COVID-19 vulnerabilities of returning Nepali migrant workers during and after the pandemic.

Association between COVID-19 infection rates by region and implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions: a cross-sectional study in Japan

BACKGROUND

During a pandemic, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) play an important role in protecting oneself and others from infection. There are large regional differences in COVID-19 infection rates in Japan. We hypothesized that the local infection incidence may affect adherence to individual NPIs.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted online among full-time workers in Japan in December 2020. The questionnaire asked the respondents to identify their habits regarding seven common NPIs (wearing masks, washing hands after the bathroom, disinfecting hands when entering indoors, gargling when returning home, ventilating the room, disinfecting or washing hands after touching frequently touched surfaces, carrying alcohol sanitizers when outdoors).

RESULTS

A total of 27 036 participants were analyzed. Compared with the region with the lowest infection rate, five of the seven NPIs showed statistically significant trends across regional infection levels, the two exceptions being wearing masks and washing hands after the bathroom. Multivariate adjustment did not change these trends.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that NPIs were more prevalent in regions with higher incidence rates of COVID-19 in Japanese workers. The findings suggest that the implementation of NPIs was influenced not only by personal attributes but also by contextual effects of the local infection level.

How Do COVID-19 Risk, Life-Safety Risk, Job Insecurity, and Work-Family Conflict Affect Miner Performance? Health-Anxiety and Job-Anxiety Perspectives

The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has created challenging working conditions in coal-production activities. In addition to the massive loss of resources for miners, it has had a devastating impact on these individuals' mental health. Based on the conservation of resources (COR) theory and a resource-loss perspective, this study examined the impact of COVID-19 risk, life-safety risk, perceived job insecurity, and work-family conflict on miners' job performance. Moreover, this study investigated the mediating role of job anxiety (JA) and health anxiety (HA). The study data were collected through online structured questionnaires disseminated to 629 employees working in a coal mine in China. The data analysis and hypothesis generation were conducted using the structural equation modeling (partial least squares) method. The results demonstrated that the perception of COVID-19 risk, life-safety risk, job insecurity, and work-family conflict negatively and significantly impacted miners' job performance. In addition, JA and HA negatively mediated the relationships between the perception of COVID-19 risk, life-safety risk, perceived job insecurity, work-family conflict, and job performance. The findings of this study can give coal-mining companies and their staff useful insights into how to minimize the pandemic's effects on their operations.

Evaluation of the association between fear of COVID-19 and pregnancy distress

Background

Mental health problems experienced during pregnancy negatively affect both maternal and fetal wellbeing.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and pregnancy distress in healthy pregnant women living in Turkey.

Methods

A descriptive, relational/cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing 363 pregnant women in person. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), and the Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale (TPDS).

Results

The mean FCV-19S score was 19.03±5.65 and the mean TPDS score was 19.97±7.97. According to the TPDS cut-off score, 19.0% of the participants were at risk of pregnancy distress. There was a significant positive correlation between FCV-19S and TPDS scores (r = 0.263, p<0.05). According to the regression analysis, age (β= -0.217), years of education (β= -0.272), and number of births (β= 0.502) were associated with fear of COVID-19, and fear of COVID-19 was associated with TPDS scores (β= 0.369) (p<0.05).

Conclusion

The pregnant women in this study had moderate fear of COVID-19. Compared to the literature data, the prevalence of pregnancy distress was slightly higher than pre-COVID-19 reports but quite low compared to other studies conducted during the pandemic.

Travel behaviour changes and risk perception during COVID-19: A case study of Malaysia

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted travel behaviours due to the need for movement restrictions. The restrictions adversely affected various aspects of health and the economy. This study aimed to investigate factors affecting trip frequency during the recovery period of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. An online national cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect data in conjunction with different movement restriction policies. The questionnaire includes socio-demographics, experience with COVID-19, risk perception of COVID-19, and trip frequency on several activities during the pandemic. Mann Whitney U was conducted to determine whether there were statistically significant differences between the socio-demographic factors for the respondents in the first and second surveys. Results show no significant difference in socio-demographic factors except for the level of education. The results indicate that the respondents from both surveys were comparable. Next, Spearman correlation analyses were conducted to find significant correlations between trip frequencies toward socio-demographics, experience with COVID-19 and risk perception. There was a correlation between the frequency of travel and risk perception for both surveys. Regression analyses were performed based on the findings to investigate trip frequency determinants during the pandemic. Perceived risk, gender, and occupation influenced the trip frequencies for both surveys. By understanding the influence of risk perception on the frequency of travel, the government can identify the appropriate policy during a pandemic or health emergency to avoid impeding normal travel behaviour. Thus, people's mental and psychological well-being are not negatively affected.

Relationship between eHealth, Perceived Risk, and Phobia of COVID-19 among Chinese University Students in Korea and China

Objective. To examine the relationship between eHealth literacy, perceived risk, and COVID-19 phobia among Chinese university students studying in Korea (the international group) and China mainland (the mainland group). Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using an online questionnaire. With 1,107 student samples, structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed to examine the relationship between eHealth, perceived risk, and COVID-19 phobia among the two groups. Results. These Chinese university students had a COVID-19-related eHealth literacy of 30.23 (SD 6.65), with scores of the mainland group higher than those of the international group. The international group students (56.47 ± 17.64) reported a higher level of COVID-19 phobia than the mainland group students (48.89 ± 17.76). The findings indicated that use frequency and information trust were higher when students possessed a higher level of COVID-19 eHealth literacy. Information trust would not have a significantly positive relationship with COVID-19 phobia, while higher levels of information use and perceived risk were positively associated with COVID-19 phobia. Conclusion. eHealth literacy, information factors, and perceived risk were associated with Chinese university students’ phobia status. There may be substantial feasibility and practicality in conducting relevant interventions that consider the university students’ psychological status and risk perception based on eHealth literacy and information factors.

Risk Perception of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Influencing Factors and Implications for Environmental Health Crises

BACKGROUND

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and climate change are two simultaneously occurring large scale environmental health crises. This provides an opportunity to compare the risk perception of both crises in the population. In particular, whether experiencing the acute pandemic sensitizes people to the risks of ongoing climate change.

METHODS

Panel participants answered a web-based questionnaire. The risk perception of SARS-CoV-2 and influencing factors were assessed. Differences of risk perception dimensions regarding SARS-CoV-2 and climate change were analyzed as well as associations between dimensions.

RESULTS

The results show that an economic impact by the pandemic is associated with more dimensions of SARS-CoV-2 risk perception than an experienced health impact. Moreover, dimensions of risk perception of the pandemic and climate change are perceived differently. Furthermore, the affective dimension of pandemic risk perception is significantly associated with all dimensions of climate change risk perception.

CONCLUSIONS

Emotional-based coping with the risks of SARS-CoV-2 is associated with risk perception of climate change as well as various factors that shape the individuals' risk perception. It is currently necessary and will be increasingly necessary in the future to solve coexisting crises, not selectively, but in a common context within the framework of a social-ecological and economic transformation.

Understanding the Mental Health Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Railway Workers: Risks and Protective Factors

OBJECTIVE

Railway workers have provided an essential service throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explored the effects of COVID-19 on the mental well-being of railway workers (N = 906) in the United Kingdom during the third lockdown period.

METHOD

The online survey included measures of COVID-19-related risk factors (perceived risk, stress, burnout, trauma) and protective factors (resilience coping, team resilience, general help seeking) associated with mental well-being. Responses were analyzed using multiple regression and content analysis.

RESULTS

COVID-19-related risk factors negatively predicted well-being. Higher scores on adaptive resilience, intentions to seek help, and team resilience significantly predicted higher mental well-being scores. Mental health decline throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns for the future were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Building a resilient railway workforce requires attention to staff mental well-being and to ensuring that support systems are robust and accessible.

Risk Perception, Perceived Government Coping Validity, and Individual Response in the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic in China

As a major crisis event, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the global economy, threatened the lives of the public, and caused varying degrees of impact on the public. Previous studies have shown that risk perception and government response had different impacts on the public, but they revealed more about the independent impact of risk perception and government response on the public. This study will comprehensively consider the impacts of these two factors on the behavior of the public in the early stage of the epidemic. We analyzed data from an online survey in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in China and categorized individual behaviors into three dimensions: entertainment and travel, work, and the stockpile of supplies. In addition, we defined the risk perception variables by two dimensions: knowledge of the epidemic itself and knowledge of the consequences of the epidemic. At the same time, we used an exploratory factor analysis to construct the variable of perceived government coping validity and then adopted the ordinal logit model for analysis. The results showed that in terms of entertainment and travel, people would not be affected even if they fully understood the epidemic itself; once they were aware of the negative social consequences of the epidemic, people would suspend entertainment and travel to prevent the spread of the virus. As for work or employment, people would not stop working or employment even if they realized the infectivity and harmfulness of the disease and its social consequences. Furthermore, fear of COVID-19 and the perception of uncontrolled COVID-19 significantly positively affected people's material stockpiling behavior. These results indicate that different risk perceptions had different effects on individual responses, and individual behaviors reflected different coping logics. In addition, the government's effective response to the epidemic would significantly reduce the negative impacts of the epidemic on the three dimensions of people's responses. These conclusions have certain policy implications for preventing and responding to outbreaks in other countries.

Development and psychometric properties of health care workers' concerns in infectious outbreaks scale

Introduction

Healthcare workers are a crucial workforce; from a moral perspective, understanding their concerns and how to support them is crucial and makes it possible for health services to keep functioning. This study aimed to develop and validate Health Care Workers' Concerns in Infectious Outbreaks Scale (HCWCIOS).

Methods

This exploratory sequential mix-method study was employed to design and validate the HCWCIOS. The initial tool was designed after searching similar studies and performing a qualitative phase under the semi-structured approach. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to evaluate the face and content validity. The content validity ratio, content validity index, and item-level content validity index were also calculated. Exploratory factor analysis was employed to evaluate the construct validity. Using a convenient sampling method, 354 Iranian healthcare workers participated in the study. Computing Cronbach's alpha coefficient estimated the internal consistency for HCWCIOS and its subscales. Furthermore assessed was test-retest reliability.

Results

The preliminary scale was designed with 57 items. By eliminating nine items in the content validity phase and 12 items during factor analysis, the final 36-item scale was developed on six factors: inadequate preparedness, lack of knowledge, risk perception, affected social relations, work pressure, and absenteeism. These six factors accounted for 46.507% of the total variance. The whole scale's Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.912, and the intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.88.

Conclusion

A 36-item HCWCIOS has good psychometric properties and is suitable for measuring healthcare workers' concerns during a pandemic.

Passengers' self-protective intentions while using ride-hailing services during the COVID-19 pandemic

In the transport context, there has been limited research examining passengers' health-protective behaviour while travelling during a health-related crisis such as COVID-19. This study develops a conceptual model aiming to explore determinants associated with passengers' self-protective intentions using the context of ride-hailing services in Vietnam. Ride-hailing services are popular in countries where public transport is underdeveloped. The conceptual model is based on perceived risk and self-efficacy as the main predictor of self-protective intentions when using ride-hailing services. In addition, the proposed conceptual model explores the direct and indirect impact of subjective knowledge and the perceived effectiveness of preventive measures on self-protective intentions. The proposed conceptual model was tested on a large sample of ride-hailing users in Vietnam (n = 527). The structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis results indicate that self-efficacy has the highest total impact on self-protective behaviour, followed by subject knowledge and perceived effectiveness of preventive measures. Self-efficacy also plays a fully mediating role in the linkage between the perceived effectiveness of preventive measures implemented by ride-hailing organisations and the intention to engage in self-protective behaviour. The results of this study expand the current understanding of ride-hailing passengers' health-protective behaviour and contribute to the transport and public health literature.

COVID-19-related risk perception, anxiety and protective behaviours among Nigerian adults: a cross-sectional study

Background

Pandemics such as the current COVID-19 pandemic are often associated with heightened fear and significant adjustments in health behaviours.

Aim

This study aimed to assess perceived risk, anxiety and protective behaviours of the general public during the early phase of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Nigeria.

Methods

An online cross-sectional study among 1197 respondents aged 18 years and above between 27 April to 16 May 2020.

Result

More than half (61.9%) of the respondents had high risk perception towards COVID-19, and high anxiety level was found in 37.2%. Male gender, being a Christian, having more than 12 years of formal education and high risk perception were positively associated with observance of more than one protective measure against COVID-19. The predictors of COVID-19-related anxiety were high risk perception and being a Muslim.

Conclusions

This study showed that risk perception has an influence on both anxiety and observance of protective behaviours. Being a novel experience, this research has implications to support current and future responses to a pandemic experience.

Dining comfort in elderly care facility dining rooms and influencing factors before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed dining modes in elderly care facilities. This study explores the relationship between the dining environment of four elderly care facilities and the sensitivity of the elderly residents to it before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

The study examined differences in subjective comfort levels by measuring the facilities' physical environment, analysing dining behavior, and surveying the elderly residents. And the study examined how the interaction between the physical environment factors, demographic factors, and dining mode affected the residents' evaluation of their dining comfort.

Results

(1) The physical environmental parameters of the four dining rooms differed between the pre- and post-epidemic periods, as shown by increased Sound Pressure Level (SPL), humidity, and temperature levels. (2) The residents' evaluations of physical environment comfort also changed after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The subjective comfort levels of the 'dining with baffle' and 'dining across a seat' modes decreased, though the level of the former was slightly higher than that of the latter. The elderly had stronger SPL tolerance in the dining with baffle mode and dining across a seat mode, and their subjective comfort levels for thermal environment and air quality were higher in the dining across a seat mode. (3) When dining time, crowd density, and communication frequency were kept equal, the subjective comfort level of the elderly in the dining with baffle mode and dining across a seat mode was lower than that in the 'normal' dining mode, when the level in the dining with baffle mode was lower than that in the dining across a seat mode. (4) Differences were observed in subjective comfort levels according to age, education level, and residence duration across the dining modes.

Discussion

The need for changes in dining modes during the COVID-19 isolation period require dining rooms in elderly care facilities to design their physical environments in a way that improves dining comfort for the elderly.

Effects of negative emotions and information perceived value on residents' risk perception during the COVID-19 pandemic: An empirical survey from China

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread rapidly and heavily hit the globe, and the mutation and transmission speed of the coronavirus have accelerated so that the world is still in danger. Thus, this study aims to investigate the participants' risk perception and explore the associations of risk perception of COVID-19 with negative emotions, information value perception and other related dimensions.

Methods

A cross-sectional, population-based online survey was conducted from April 4 to 15, 2020, in China. A total of 3,552 participants were included in this study. A descriptive measure of demographic information was used in this study. Multiple regression models and moderating effect analysis were used to estimate the effect of potential associations of risk perceptions.

Results

Those who showed negative emotions (depressed, helplessness, loneliness) and perceived video information in social media to be useful were positively correlated with risk perception, whereas individuals who perceived experts' advice to be useful, shared risk information with friends and thought that their community made adequate emergency preparation reported lower risk perception. The moderating effect of information perceived value (β = 0.020, p < 0.001) on the relationship between negative emotion and perception of risk was significant.

Conclusions

Individual differences in risk cognition during the COVID-19 pandemic were observed in subgroups of age level. Furthermore, the role of negative emotional states, the perceived usefulness of risk information and the sense of security also contributed to improving the public's risk perception. It is crucial for authorities to focus on residents' negative emotions and to clarify misinformation in accessible and effective ways in a timely manner.

Racial Disparities in the Perceived Risk of COVID-19 and in Getting Needed Medical Care

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected minorities in population rates of infection, hospitalization, and mortality. However, little is known about the broader racial disparities in fears and perceptions about the pandemic and getting treated.

OBJECTIVE

To examine disparities in perceived risks of COVID-19 and getting medical care.

METHODS

Using the nationally representative Stanford University School of Medicine Coronavirus Attitudes and Behaviors Survey fielded in May of 2020, we examine racial and ethnic disparities in eight measures on the perceived risks of COVID-19. We use regression analysis to risk adjust perceptions controlling for 10 socioeconomic, demographic, and health variables.

RESULTS

Black respondents were 15 percentage points more likely than White respondents to believe the pandemic would not end by Summer 2020 (92% vs 77%, p < .01), and were 19 percentage points more likely than any other race to feel a need to protect their family from COVID-19 (81% vs 62%, p < .01). Latinx respondents were 10 percentage points more fearful than White respondents of catching COVID-19 in public places (55% vs 45%, p < 0.01). Black respondents were 20 percentage points more likely than White respondents to think they would need medical care if infected (71% vs 51%, p < .01), and 18 percentage points more likely to think they would need to be hospitalized (59% vs 41%, p < .01). The proportion of Black respondents believing that the hospital would not have enough capacity to treat them if infected with COVID-19 was 12 percentage points higher than White respondents (41% vs 29%, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Disparities in the COVID-19-related perceived risks and mistrust in healthcare across racial and ethnic groups existed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. As we enter into a post-COVID New Normal, new policies must ensure that the causes of this widespread fear and distrust in the healthcare system are understood and reversed.

Exploring People's Perception of COVID-19 Risk: A Case Study of Greater Jakarta, Indonesia

This study aims to understand people's perceptions of COVID-19 risk in Greater Jakarta, Indonesia. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indonesian government enacted a health protocol campaign and highlighted the community as an important unit of protocol compliance. We hypothesized that people's perception of the likelihood of being infected with COVID-19 is associated with health protocol compliance at the community level and their perception of community resilience. As the number of infected persons drastically increased, the "family cluster" also became a significant issue in the pandemic response, especially in Indonesia. In this study, we explored both community and family aspects that influence people's perceptions. We conducted an online survey in March 2021 with 370 respondents residing in the Greater Jakarta area. The respondents were classified into four age groups (20s, 30s, 40s, and 50-and-over), with gender-balanced samples allocated to each group. We used a questionnaire to measure the perception of COVID-19 risk along with the Conjoint Community Resiliency Assessment Measure (CCRAM). Multiple regression analysis revealed that family factors have a much larger influence on the individual perception of the likelihood of contracting COVID-19 than community factors. The results suggest that the link between family-level efforts against COVID-19 and individual-level perceptions cannot be separated in response to the pandemic.