Public Behaviour Change Research Articles

Media Convergence and Implication of Television Digitalization Creates a Change Audience Behavior

Media creates mass audiences and a strong influence as a social control that shapes media influence seen from the social conditions that occur. Technological developments that have triggered media convergence have given birth to new media which is increasingly difficult to place media as social control. The convergence of media and the implications of digitalization of television on changes in audience behavior are interesting parts to be researched. The research method used is a qualitative descriptive case study with the paradigm of developing media analysis from institutions to formats based on content and form and to audiences based on social constructs. The purpose of this study is to determine whether media convergence affects the mass media during the transition period as an implication of digitalization of television in Indonesia and changes in public behavior. The results show that digital technology has triggered media convergence to create new, easily accessible media. The slow migration of digitalisation caused by various factors and regulations encourages stakeholders to use the internet to create new media, the melting of mass media into a new platform that has a positive impact on changes in audience behavior in easy access to information.

Unprecedented environmental and energy impacts and challenges of COVID-19 pandemic

The rapid transmission tendency, severity, and wide geographical spread of newly emerged novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in different environmental matrices, including water, air, and soil, has posed severe health, environmental, energy, and economic challenges worldwide. Despite the severe health effects, unprecedented improvements in air quality in many countries due to emergency measures, and public behavior changes have been reported. SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in air and sewage samples in several studies across the globe. The use of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) could be a valuable method to monitor the outbreak of COVID-19, which requires fast and reliable methods for virus detection in sewage. However, water treatment companies face many pressures due to potential for aerosolization, PPE shortages, and changed usage patterns. In addition, the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the worldwide economy especially the energy sector, and its impact on our ecosystem required instant responses. This article discusses the recent developments and challenges faced in water, air, and energy resources, including renewables and non-renewables as the significant and interrelated components of the ecosystem. Furthermore, some recommendations have been directed, which may serve as a guideline to the scientists, legislators, and other stakeholders. A future roadmap has been proposed to overcome the tragic effects of COVID-19 and developing a sustainable environmental system to minimize the impact of such infectious outbreaks in the future.

The impact of social distancing and public behavior changes on COVID-19 transmission dynamics in the Republic of Korea

BackgroundIn the Republic of Korea (ROK), social distancing and public behavior changes mitigated COVID-19 spread. However, a second wave of the epidemic is expected in the fall if neither vaccine nor antiviral drugs become available. This study investigated the impact of non-pharmaceutical measures on short- and long-term outbreak dynamics.MethodsA mathematical model based on Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered model is developed considering isolated and behavior-changed groups. Using the least-squares fitting method, transmission and behavior change rates were estimated using cases reported from February 16 to April 20, 2020.FindingsThe estimated transmission rate of COVID-19 was 4·6180 and behavior change rate was 2·6044. The model predicted the number of new cases to continuously decrease, with less than one case expected after May 6, 2020. Concurrently, a 25% reduction in behavioral changes during the outbreak would increase the case count by 60,000, resulting in 4,000 cases at maximum, exceeding the medical system’s capacity. As behavioral restrictions are eased, local transmission will likely increase, with forecasted second wave peak in October 2020.InterpretationSocial distancing and public behavior changes have curbed the spread of COVID-19 in the ROK. Mathematical modeling demonstrates the importance of these measures in reducing and delaying outbreaks. Nevertheless, non-pharmaceutical interventions cannot eliminate the disease. In the future, vaccines and antiviral treatments combined with social distancing and public behavior changes will be paramount to ending COVID-19 epidemic.

Decrease in Ambient Fine Particulate Matter during COVID-19 Crisis and Corresponding Health Benefits in Seoul, Korea.

Both domestic emissions and transported pollutants from neighboring countries affect the ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration of Seoul, Korea. Diverse measures to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), such as social distancing and increased telecommuting in Korea and the stringent lockdown measures of China, may reduce domestic emissions and levels of transported pollutants, respectively. In addition, wearing a particulate-filtering respirator may have decreased the absolute PM2.5 exposure level for individuals. Therefore, this study estimated the acute health benefits of PM2.5 reduction and changes in public behavior during the COVID-19 crisis in Seoul, Korea. To calculate the mortality burden attributable to PM2.5, we obtained residents’ registration data, mortality data, and air pollution monitoring data for Seoul from publicly available databases. Relative risks were derived from previous time-series studies. We used the attributable fraction to estimate the number of excessive deaths attributable to acute PM2.5 exposure during January to April, yearly, from 2016 to 2020, and the number of mortalities avoided from PM2.5 reduction and respirator use observed in 2020. The average PM2.5 concentration from January to April in 2020 (25.6 μg/m3) was the lowest in the last 5 years. At least −4.1 μg/m3 (95% CI: −7.2, −0.9) change in ambient PM2.5 in Seoul was observed in 2020 compared to the previous 4 years. Overall, 37.6 (95% CI: 32.6, 42.5) non-accidental; 7.0 (95% CI: 5.7, 8.4) cardiovascular; and 4.7 (95% CI: 3.4, 6.1) respiratory mortalities were avoided due to PM2.5 reduction in 2020. By considering the effects of particulate respirator, decreases of 102.5 (95% CI: 89.0, 115.9) non-accidental; 19.1 (95% CI: 15.6, 22.9) cardiovascular; and 12.9 (95% CI: 9.2, 16.5) respiratory mortalities were estimated. We estimated that 37 lives were saved due to the PM2.5 reduction related to COVID-19 in Seoul, Korea. The health benefit may be greater due to the popular use of particulate-filtering respirators during the COVID-19 crisis. Future studies with daily mortality data are needed to verify our study estimates.

Public Intent to Comply with COVID-19 Public Health Recommendations.

Stay-at-home orders have been an essential component of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) management in the United States. As states start lifting these mandates to reopen the economy, voluntary public compliance with public health recommendations may significantly influence the extent of resurgence in COVID-19 infection rates. Population-level risk from reopening may therefore be predicted from public intent to comply with public health recommendations. We are conducting a global, convergent design mixed-methods survey on public knowledge, perceptions, preferred health information sources, and understanding of and intent to comply with public health recommendations. With over 9,000 completed surveys from every US state and over 70 countries worldwide, to our knowledge this is the largest pandemic messaging study to date. Although the study is still ongoing, we have conducted an analysis of 5,005 US surveys completed from April 9-15, 2020 on public intent to comply with public health recommendations and offer insights on the COVID-19 pandemic-related risk of reopening. We found marked regional differences in intent to follow key public health recommendations. Regional efforts are urgently needed to influence public behavior changes to decrease the risk of reopening, particularly in higher-risk areas with low public intent to comply with preventive health recommendations. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2020;4(3):e160–e165.]

Public Behavior Change, Perceptions, Depression, and Anxiety in Relation to the COVID-19 Outbreak.

BackgroundCOVID-19 has spread rapidly and internationally, which has elicited public panic and psychological problems. Public protective behaviors and perception play crucial roles in controlling the spread of illness and psychological status.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional online survey in the hardest-hit Hubei province and other areas in China affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Questions about their basic information, the perception of the COVID-19 outbreak, recent preventive or avoidance behaviors, and self-reported mental health scales including the Patient Health Questionnaire and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale were included. Binary logistic regressions were used to investigate the association between personal variables/perceptions and psychological distress.ResultsA total of 6261 people were included in the analysis, with 3613 (57.7%) in Hubei province (1743 in Wuhan). The majority of people have adopted preventive and avoidance behaviors. People from Hubei, with contact history, and people who were infected or whose family members were infected had a much higher prevalence of depression and anxiety. Providing truthful and sufficient information, informing the public about the severity of the disease, and perceptions that the outbreak can be controlled by protective behaviors were associated with lower prevalence of depression and anxiety.ConclusionsAssessing the public response, perception, and psychological burden during the outbreak may help improve public health recommendations and deliver timely psychological intervention. Further research may focus on the psychological status of a specialized group to identify methods of delivery of better support based on public response and psychological demand.

Coronavirus (COVID‐19) in the United Kingdom: A personality‐based perspective on concerns and intention to self‐isolate

ObjectivesPublic behaviour change is necessary to contain the spread of coronavirus (COVID‐19). Based on the reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST) framework, this study presents an examination of individual differences in some relevant psychological factors.DesignCross‐sectional psychometric.MethodsUK respondents (N = 202) completed a personality questionnaire (RST‐PQ), measures of illness attitudes, concerns about the impact of coronavirus on health services and socio‐economic infrastructures, personal safety, and likelihood of voluntary self‐isolation.ResultsRespondents most concerned were older, had negative illness attitudes, and scored higher on reward reactivity (RR), indicating the motivation to take positive approach action despite prevailing worry/anxiety. Personal safety concerns were highest in those with negative illness attitudes and higher fight–flight–freeze system (FFFS, reflecting fear/avoidance) scores. Results suggest people are experiencing psychological conflict: between the urge to stay safe (FFFF‐related) and the desire to maintain a normal, pleasurable (RR‐related) life. Ways of ameliorating conflict may include maladaptive behaviours (panic buying), reflecting reward‐related displacement activity. Intended self‐isolation related to FFFS, but also low behavioural inhibition system (related to anxiety) scores. Older people reported themselves less likely to self‐isolate.ConclusionsInterventions need to consider individual differences in psychological factors in behaviour change, and we discuss relevant literature to inform policy makers and communicators. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST) personality systems can influence perception of persuasive health messages.However, there is limited evidence for their direct effects on health concerns and behaviours, and none relating to specific infectious diseases. What does this study add? Reward reactivity (RR) is associated with concern about impact of coronavirus on the NHS and other social infrastructures, indicating the motivation to take positive‐approach action despite worry/anxiety.Personal safety concerns are related to fight–flight–freeze system traits (FFFS, reflecting fear/avoidance).Intended self‐isolation related to FFFS, but also low behavioural inhibition system (related to anxiety) scores.Older people reported themselves less likely to self‐isolate.Results suggest psychological conflict: between the urge to stay safe (FFFF‐related) and the desire to maintain a normal, pleasurable life (RR‐related).Ways of ameliorating conflict may include maladaptive behaviours (panic buying), reflecting reward‐related displacement activity

‘Old habits die hard’: discourses of urban filth in Swachh Bharat Mission and The Ugly Indian

ABSTRACTPopular framings of the contemporary urban Indian waste crisis focus on the crucial need for public behavior change. This article provides an exploratory study of the ideology and work of two social media campaigns – Swachh Bharat (Clean India) Mission and The Ugly Indian, a social media group – which emphasize the need for inculcating ‘modern’ civic behaviors of not littering, and volunteering to clean up public spaces, and examines the following questions: What types of urban imaginaries are invoked in the discussions of urban filth? Do these discussions betray structural (class-based) biases in the aesthetic ideologies they imagine and invoke? Do these discussions reify the public-private dichotomy that has puzzled scholars concerned with hygiene in urban India? Discourses deployed in these campaigns reproduce colonial and post-colonial narratives of hygiene as a ‘cultural problem’ premised on an idea of a pre-modern urban subject who needs to be disciplined. By focusing on behavior change, these campaigns privilege an understanding of waste as an aesthetic problem rather than as a much more complicated infrastructural one. As these campaigns focus on highlighting and celebrating the volunteer labor of the privileged, they may also obfuscate the economically necessary labors of the marginalized.

The Role of Sociodemographic and Psychological Variables on Risk Perception of the Flu.

Influenza is a source of mortality and morbidity, and vigilance of health authorities for flu viruses is high. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted that the first lines of defense against infectious diseases are behavioral, and risk perception affects behavioral measures. This study investigated risk perception of influenza and the role of sociodemographic and psychological variables on perceived risk. Participants were 442 adults. The research was conducted using three measures: an adjustment of the “Risk Perception of Infectious Disease Questionnaire,” the “General Self-Efficacy Scale,” and the short form of the “Italian Personality Inventory.” The results showed that age, education, self-efficacy, and personality influenced risk perception. The evidence that sociodemographic and psychological factors contribute to risk perception of a disease shows the need to take into account these variables in the planning of informative campaigns, with the aim to achieve favorable changes in public behavior. These issues might have implications for the ameliorating health communication efforts and successful response to new influenza outbreaks.

Nudging – A promising tool for sustainable consumption behaviour?

Success of strategies for solving problems of climate change, resource efficiency and environmental impacts increasingly depend on whether changes in public behaviour can and will supplement the technical solutions available to date. A renewed perspective on existing policy tools and potential strategies for behaviour change are entering public debate that have implications for behaviour of individuals, but that also raise critical questions about the role of the government in the society and transition to sustainability.The guiding question is whether it is possible to help individuals make better decisions for themselves and society at large by overcoming limitations of human cognitive capacity and behavioural biases? In order to answer these questions, this article 1) analyses existing academic knowledge on nudging and choice architecture; 2) investigates lessons about effectiveness of applied nudging tools and approaches in consumption domains of energy use in the home, food and mobility; 3) discusses opportunities and limitations for devising more successful nudges in the three consumption domains; and 4) outlines critical issues concerning the legitimacy of nudging.The article shows that lately applications of behavioural sciences and behavioural economics, such as nudge, have been helping policy makers in different countries and sectors to more systematically integrate behavioural insights into policy design and implementation. However, the size of the effects of policy interventions and the actual outcomes of interventions in different contexts are very diverse. Results from one experiment cannot be indiscriminately generalised to a different context or to a wider population. The problem is the complexity of human behaviour and the diversity of factors that influence it. Despite that, nudging is a useful strategy for inducing changes in context-specific behaviour. Nudge tools are seen as a complement to the traditional policy instruments rather than as a substitute for laws and regulations and economic tools. The article is based on the project funded by the Swedish EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) that resulted in a report “Nudging. Advancing Swedish policy making with academic insights and practical experiences of changing behaviour” (Mont et al., 2014), which served as an input to the Swedish EPA' recommendations to the Swedish Government on policy measures for sustainable consumption (Naturvårdsverket, 2014).

Whether a large disaster could change public concern and risk perception: a case study of the 7/21 extraordinary rainstorm disaster in Beijing in 2012

Improving social concerns relating to floods and the perception of the public to risk can reduce the risk of urban flood disasters. This study investigates whether social concern regarding disaster is greatly increased by an extraordinary rainstorm, and whether such disasters change the public’s risk perception and stimulate them to take effective disaster prevention measures. An extraordinary rainstorm disaster—known the 7/21 disaster—occurred in Beijing, China, on July 21, 2012. This resulted in 79 deaths and a direct economic loss of 11.64 billion RMB (approximately 1.80 billion USD). Using this disaster as an example, this paper analyzes Beijing’s daily precipitation data in the 2012 and 2013 flood seasons and measures the degree of social concern before and after the disaster and the relationship between the degree of social concern and the precipitation intensity. The results indicate that the rainstorm rapidly increased the degree of social concern from 0.12 to 0.77; however, concern had stabilized by 2013 and was basically consistent with the precipitation amounts. A random sample of 181 people participated in a questionnaire survey. The results indicate that the level of public risk perception significantly increased post-disaster, with the degree of public concern regarding rainstorm risk and the number of people who implemented disaster prevention and preparedness measures being doubled. Moreover, approximately 75 % of the disaster prevention behavior involved observing early warning information and going out less, i.e., reducing exposure. But, this response was only a temporary adjustment phenomenon, lasting approximately 1 month: Entry-Transition on July 21 and Exit-Transition on August 30. Moreover, public behavior changes are limited to the year in which a disaster occurs: In the flood season of 2013, 62 % of the population did not appear to be affected by the 2012 precipitation results. Therefore, the majority of the public will not establish long-term risk prevention awareness as a result of an extraordinary disaster. Strengthening public awareness of disaster risk requires a long-term effort.

Elder Women’s Socio-Economic Problems And Their Impact: A Feminine Perspective On Experiencing Old Age Problems In Karachi, Pakistan

This study was conducted from the period of October to December 2013 with a selected population of elderly women who belongs to urban and rural areas of Karachi. The aim of the study was to investigate the Socio-economic conditions, health status, psychological condition, living style and also social support mechanisms among the elderly women in both rural and urban areas. Stratified random sampling method was used to collect the data. A sample of 300 female senior citizens was selected from two different communities of two union councils namely, “Jut Lines” and the “Central Jacob Line” of Jamshed Town from urban area and two from Malir town to represent the rural population of Karachi, Pakistan. The respondents were interviewed through a formulated questionnaire that was crosstranslated into Urdu language to determine the participant’s socio-economic problems. The study respondents belong to different walks of life and they participated voluntarily in this study. Similar studies are needed to be conducted in other community settings for recommending appropriate changes in public behavior towards elder women problems’ in our society.

Perceptions of Civil Engineers Regarding Adequacy of Infrastructure in the Yogyakarta Special Region

In order to review the performance of the Yogyakarta Special Region's infrastructure over the last decades the Civil Engineers of Yogyakarta prepared a study of infrastructure adequacy at the regional level that started on June 2013, The study with 22 civil engineers working in various backgrounds and professions as participants released the most recent grades for various infrastructures in Yogyakarta Special Region's, including the region's roads and bridges, transits, railways, clean water systems, energy, tourism, dams and irrigations, and other critical facilities. A cumulative grade of an average of “C” and noting a five-year spending in services and goods need of Rp.29.1 trillion. A grade C means that the infrastructure in the system or network is in fair to good condition; it shows general signs of deterioration and requires attention. Some elements exhibit significant deficiencies in conditions and functionality, with increasing vulnerability to risk. As an example, the study reveals that more than 25% (more than one in four) of the Yogyakarta special regions’ bridges and road's are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Raising the grade on the infrastructure will require a wide range of solutions in every category, including technical advances, funding, and regulatory changes in public behaviour and support. Thus this study provides a great deal of information on the impact of failing infrastructure, and also focuses on ways the Yogyakarta Special Region can begin addressing these critical deficiencies. Most importantly, The Sultan of Yogyakarta is expected to utilize the Civil Engineers in Yogyakarta Infrastructure study to explain one of the reasons the economic stimulus bill should be enacted by the Local Parliament (DPRD).

Sociological barriers to developing sustainable discretionary air travel behaviour

Encouraging positive public behaviour change has been touted as a pathway for mitigating the climate impacts of air travel. There is, however, growing evidence that two gaps, one between attitudes and behaviour, and the other between practices of “home” and “away”, pose significant barriers to changing discretionary air travel behaviour. This paper uses both modern sociological theory on tourism as liminoid space, and postmodern theory that views identities as contextual, to provide a deeper understanding of why these gaps occur in the context of tourism spaces. Based on 50 in-depth consumer interviews in Australia, Norway and the United Kingdom, our findings confirm that tourism spaces are often subject to lower levels of environmental concern than daily domestic contexts. The majority of participants reduced, suppressed or abandoned their climate concern when in tourism spaces, and rationalised their resulting behavioural contradictions. Only a minority held there was no difference between the environmental sustainability of their practices in domestic situations versus those on holiday. These findings suggest that scope for voluntary positive behaviour change in the air travel context is limited and will not come without stronger intervention, which is a key finding for policy makers seeking reductions in air travel's climate impacts.

Shifting the Paradigm for Promoting Appropriate Antibiotic Use

Shifting the Paradigm for Promoting Appropriate Antibiotic Use

027 Paediatric emergency department attendances between 2000 and 2009: trends in a large UK Children's Hospital

Objectives and BackgroundThere has been an increase in UK demand for emergency department services. This may be attributed to changes in public behaviour or the availability of out of hours...

Knowledge, motivation, and behavior patterns of the general public towards sun protection

The general public has long been educated about the harms of ultraviolet (UV) exposure and the benefits of photoprotection. Many organizations have worked in close collaboration to deliver the photoprotection message through a variety of programs. Most address the health-related consequences of UV radiation, although appearance-based strategies have also been initiated. As is common with preventative health measures, these intervention efforts have not resulted in meaningful changes in public behavior despite providing seemingly adequate knowledge to do so. Behaviors are often difficult to change on a societal, personal, and biological level. Within these categories, there are unique reasons for the unsatisfactory outcome with photoprotection such as (1) tan is perceived as beautiful, (2) the knowledge conveyed is often superficial, (3) there is a lack of immediate risk/reward, and (4) UV has reinforcing effects on mood. We propose that better results could be achieved by creating interventions focused on demographic subsets of the population. Specific techniques include anti-tanning legislature, age or gender-based screening campaigns, anti-tan beauty campaigns, and UV photography. Future photoprotection messages should shift from purely promoting knowledge to inspiring improvements in behavior with targeted strategies.

'New security' risks and public educating: the significance of recent evolutionary brain science

The response to 'new security' risks requires significant changes in public behaviour, and the legitimization of unpopular government policies. Public Educating (public information/public education) is one means to achieve this. The need is reflected in initiatives such as environmental education, development education, health promotion, and the Public Understanding of Science. Current strategies are often based on commercial advertising, but mass communications theory does not directly encompass influencing perception , which is necessary to create awareness of the new 'invisible' risks. Recent evolutionary brain science is providing fresh and relevant insights into our species perception deficits, which can inform a more effective approach to Public Educating. This paper first places risk within the context of the post-Cold War 'global security' agenda. It proposes a theoretical framework - 'brain lag' - to explain perceptual deficits in relation to this agenda, which draws on theories of information, adaptation and denial, and an understanding of the human senses including time-scale-latency. Fundamental areas of evolutionary perception are proposed which are relevant across the agenda: fear and disgust, number perception, and cheating. This leads to a core concept for Public Educating about new security risks, 'enhanced difference', and a set of hypotheses that can be applied to text or image.

The transfer of medical information. A journalist's view.

Despite the quantity of material on medical issues which journalists typically receive, and the tremendous public interest in health news, journalists are only rarely able to provide medical information of any real value to the public. Good news, no matter how tentative, always gets more attention than critical assessment. Deadlines pressure journalists to look only at the surface of the issues that they describe, and few have the expertise necessary to judge the importance of their stories. When accurate, authoritative information is available in a structured format; however, the news media can publicize medical findings rapidly, effecting significant changes in public behavior.