Health Literacy Regarding Infectious Disease Predicts COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors: A Pathway Analysis

Wang, Hui; Cheong, Pak Leng; Wu, Jianwei; Van, Iat Kio

doi:10.1177/10105395211013923

Cited by 13 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 22 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Health literacy is the knowledge and competence required to understand and process health information, and it influences individuals to make proper health decisions [ 16 ]. In fact, better health literacy, which we defined as information comprehension ability, was associated with more preventive behaviors in our study, which is consistent with previous studies [ 37 , 38 ]. The most important health information includes knowledge about COVID-19, skills for preventive behaviors, and government policies [ 38 , 39 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…In fact, better health literacy, which we defined as information comprehension ability, was associated with more preventive behaviors in our study, which is consistent with previous studies [ 37 , 38 ]. The most important health information includes knowledge about COVID-19, skills for preventive behaviors, and government policies [ 38 , 39 ]. There is a lot of information about COVID-19 released by the media, which includes false information.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The Determinants of Adherence to Public Health and Social Measures Against COVID-19 Among the General Population in South Korea: National Survey Study

Hong¹,

Lee²,

Lee³

et al. 2023

JMIR Public Health Surveill

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has created devastating health, social, economic, and political effects that will have long-lasting impacts. Public health efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 are the priority of national policies for responding to the pandemic globally. Public health and social measures (PHSMs) have been shown to be effective when used alone or in combination with other measures, reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19. However, there is insufficient evidence on the status of compliance with PHSMs in the general population for the prevention of COVID-19 in public areas, including Korea. Objective The aim of this study was to assess levels of compliance with the recommended PHSMs against SARS-CoV-2 infection and their predictors among the general population by using national data. Methods This study was a secondary data analysis of the National Survey of Infectious Disease Preventive Behaviors in Community, which was conducted by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) between October 12 and October 30, 2020. The primary study was cross-sectional, using stratified sampling via an adjusted proportional allocation method to select representative samples and ensure the stability of samples. The data were collected through phone interviews conducted by trained enumerators using a structured questionnaire. PHSM adherence was measured using a 10-item comprehensive infectious disease prevention behavior (CIDPB) scale, and each sociocognitive factor, including perceived susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection, perceived severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection, perceived confidence in performing preventive behaviors related to COVID-19, information comprehension ability, and trust in information from the KDCA, was measured. A total of 4003 participants were included in the final analysis. Tobit regression and a decision tree analysis were performed to identify the predictors of preventive measures and the target groups for intervention. Results We discovered that women scored 1.34 points higher on the CIDPB scale than men (P<.001). Compared to the group aged 19 to 29 years, those aged 50 to 59 years and those older than 60 years scored 1.89 and 2.48 points higher on the CIDPB scale (P<.001), respectively. The perceived severity of infection, confidence in preventive behaviors, information comprehension ability, and trust in information from the KDCA were significant positive determinants of CIDPBs (P<.001). The perceived susceptibility to infection showed a significant negative relationship with CIDPBs (P<.001). Conclusions Female sex, older age, lower income, and sociocognitive factors were found to be significant determinants of adhering to PHSMs. The findings suggest the need for tailored interventions for target groups; specifically, the age group that was the most active at work indicated the highest potential to spread infection. Adequate public health education and health communication for promoting adherence to PHSMs should be emphasized, and behavior change strategies for those with low perceived confidence in performing PHSMs should be prioritized.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

The Determinants of Adherence to Public Health and Social Measures Against COVID-19 Among the General Population in South Korea: National Survey Study

Hong¹,

Lee²,

Lee³

et al. 2023

JMIR Public Health Surveill

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Wang et al proposed a conceptual model in which preventive behaviors during the pandemic depend on infectious disease-specific HL, which is, in turn, modeled by such factors as situational predictors, including the accessibility of health information resources and support from the employee’s companies, as well as personal predictors including such features as age, gender, marital status, education and occupation [ 44 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Roles of Health and e-Health Literacy, Conspiracy Beliefs and Political Sympathy in the Adherence to Preventive Measures Recommended during the Pandemic

Duplaga

2022

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Adherence to preventive measures is of the utmost importance for limiting the spreading of the coronavirus. Many predictors of adopting preventive behaviors have been analyzed in different countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives: The study’s main aim was to assess the roles of health (HL) and e-health literacy (eHL), conspiracy beliefs, political sympathy, and religious practices in the adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures after adjusting for sociodemographic factors. The analysis was based on the data obtained from a survey conducted among 2410 adult Internet users in Poland in October 2020. The survey was performed with a computer-assisted web-based interviewing technique. Survey data were analyzed through uni- and multivariable linear regression models. The multivariable regression model revealed that after adjusting for sociodemographic variables, the preventive measures score (PMS) was significantly associated with HL (B = 0.04, p < 0.001), eHL (B = 0.03, p < 0.001) and the COVID-19-related conspiracy beliefs score (C19CBS) (B = −0.24, p < 0.001). There was also a significant statistical relationship between PMS and political sympathies and religious practices. HL and eHL are key factors eligible for modification through appropriate interventions and showing positive effects in compliance with preventive measures. Conspiracy beliefs, political sympathy and religious beliefs are independently associated with the adherence.

show abstract

“…Similarly, adolescents with higher comprehensive health literacy who were asked to respond to the pandemic situation were more likely to be knowledgeable, more likely to wash their hands, less likely to socialize with friends, and more likely to report higher health-related quality of life [8]. Higher levels of infectious disease-specific health literacy or COVID-19-related health literacy are associated with greater implementation of COVID-19 preventive behaviors [9,10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors and Health Literacy, Information Evaluation, and Decision-making Skills in Japanese Adults: Cross-sectional Survey Study

Nakayama¹,

Yonekura²,

Danya³

et al. 2022

JMIR Form Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Health literacy is important for the prevention of COVID-19 transmission. Research in Japan shows that health literacy is related to skills in evaluating information and decision-making (skills that are not necessarily limited to information about health). Such basic skills are important, particularly when individuals encounter new health issues for which there is insufficient evidence. Objective We aimed to determine the extent to which COVID-19 preventive behaviors were associated with health literacy and skills in evaluating information and making decisions. Methods A web-based questionnaire survey was conducted using a Japanese internet research company. The measures comprised 8 items on COVID-19 preventive behaviors, health literacy items (European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire), 5 items on information evaluation, and 4 items on decision-making process. Pearson correlations between these variables were calculated. Multivariable analyses were also conducted using the COVID-19 preventive behavior score as a dependent variable. Results A total of 3914 valid responses were received.COVID-19 preventive behaviors were significantly correlated with health literacy (r=0.23), information evaluation (r=0.24), and decision-making process (r=0.30). Standardized regression coefficients (health literacy: β=.11; information evaluation: β=.13; decision-making: β=.18) showed that decision-making process contributed the most. Conclusions Although comprehensive health literacy is necessary for COVID-19 preventive behaviors, the skills to evaluate a wide range of information and to make appropriate decisions are no less important. Opportunities for people to acquire these skills should be available at all times.

show abstract

Health Literacy Regarding Infectious Disease Predicts COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors: A Pathway Analysis

Cited by 13 publications

References 22 publications

The Determinants of Adherence to Public Health and Social Measures Against COVID-19 Among the General Population in South Korea: National Survey Study

The Determinants of Adherence to Public Health and Social Measures Against COVID-19 Among the General Population in South Korea: National Survey Study

The Roles of Health and e-Health Literacy, Conspiracy Beliefs and Political Sympathy in the Adherence to Preventive Measures Recommended during the Pandemic

COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors and Health Literacy, Information Evaluation, and Decision-making Skills in Japanese Adults: Cross-sectional Survey Study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About