Abstract
As the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues, engaging the public in adherence to precautionary measures for preventing COVID-19 spread or infection becomes difficult. The present study aims to extend our understanding of how illness perceptions, coping, and self-efficacy affect adherence to precautionary measures among the public. An online survey was administered between April and June 2020 to a sample of 514 Hong Kong citizens. Variables considered were illness perceptions toward COVID-19, problem-solving, avoidance-based coping, self-efficacy, as well as adherence to precautionary measures including physical distancing, limiting unnecessary travelling, and washing hands regularly with soap and water. Adjusted structural equation model showed that illness perceptions toward COVID-19 had significant direct effect on their adherence to precautionary measures (unstandardized β = 0.50, [95% CI, 0.28, 0.80], p = 0.001), and indirect effects through avoidance-based coping (β = −0.10 [95% CI, −0.26, −0.01], p = 0.016) and self-efficacy (β = −0.10, [95% CI, −0.18, −0.01], p = 0.025). These results imply that apart from emphasizing the health hazards of a novel infectious disease, an effective public health intervention and crisis communication should address avoidance-based coping and self-efficacy of the public in adherence to precautionary measures for COVID-19.
Highlights
The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak began in China on December 2019, with more than 20 million confirmed cases and 735,000 deaths worldwide as of 11 August 2020.In view of the absence of vaccines or effective treatments, current global efforts are largely focused on containing the virus spread by implementing different precautionary measures, including improved hygiene, physical distancing, wearing facemasks, comprehensive contact tracing, and quarantining, as well as border controls
Around one-third of the sample reported that they had been staying at home and that their finances became worse since the imposed social isolation measures, and only one participant reported that he/she was infected by COVID-19
This study examined the role of illness perceptions, coping, and self-efficacy on adherence to precautionary measures for COVID-19 among Hong Kong citizens one month after the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
Summary
The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak began in China on December 2019, with more than 20 million confirmed cases and 735,000 deaths worldwide as of 11 August 2020.In view of the absence of vaccines or effective treatments, current global efforts are largely focused on containing the virus spread by implementing different precautionary measures, including improved hygiene, physical distancing, wearing facemasks, comprehensive contact tracing, and quarantining, as well as border controls. Public Health 2020, 17, 6540; doi:10.3390/ijerph17186540 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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