COVID-19 Messaging Research Articles

The role of leadership among a Congolese community in Australia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: a narrative study.

ObjectiveCommunity leadership enhances collective action in times of uncertainty, such as during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. This study explores the role of leadership related to the COVID-19 response and information sharing among a newly emerging Congolese community in the Hunter New England region of Australia.MethodsSemi-structured qualitative inquiry was used to interview four participants who were identified as being influential leaders of the local Congolese community. The findings of this study were part of a larger exploration of COVID-19 messaging among emerging culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. Two interviewers independently analysed the transcribed data before pairing their findings. Narrative analysis was employed.ResultsTwo major themes were identified: leadership as an assigned and trusted role, and leadership as a continuous responsibility. Several categories were identified within these themes, such as mutual connection, education level, multilingual ability and networking.DiscussionThe Congolese community leaders reported feeling responsible and confident in their ability to proactively contribute to the local COVID-19 response by enhancing communication within the community. By partnering with and learning from respected leaders in CALD communities, government health services have the opportunity to improve how current public health messaging is developed.

Factors contributing to the sharing of COVID-19 health information amongst refugee communities in a regional area of Australia: a qualitative study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups worldwide. Newly emerging CALD populations formed by recently arrived refugees are predisposed to even greater health disadvantages due to complexities of the refugee experience. The aim of this study was to explore how culture, refugee experiences and existing relationships shaped what COVID-19 messages were listened to and shared during the early-mid phases of the pandemic. The work focused on three newly emerging refugee groups in the Hunter New England region, Australia: Afghan, Congolese and Syrian communities.MethodsQualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the experiences and stories of 15 adult community members, nine influential members and six service providers. All community members arrived in Australia on or after January 2014. Interpreter-assisted interviews were conducted with small groups or individuals, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim in English. Three levels of thematic data analysis were employed to uncover the important issues and experiences of the participants.ResultsThree key themes and several subthemes were identified. The themes were: 1) Experience as a refugee uniquely influences COVID-19 message communication; 2) Refugee groups use diverse practices when accessing and sharing COVID-19 messages; and 3) Official government messages could be improved by listening and tailoring to community needs.ConclusionsEffective health messaging relies on reaching communities in a culturally acceptable and meaningful way. Official COVID-19 messages can be tailored to engage newly emerging communities by improving the quality of the content, delivery and format whilst working collaboratively with communities and trusted service providers. Further mutual research is needed to understand emerging communities’ viewpoints. The use of culturally informed approaches is recommended.

Religion, politics and COVID-19 risk perception among urban residents in Malawi

IntroductionMajority of Malawians have not yet adopted COVID-19 mitigation measures despite having knowledge about its infectivity, morbidity, and fatality. Understanding drivers of hesitancy to adoption of COVID-19 mitigation measures is critical as it can inform prevention programs. This study explores Malawians’ COVID-19 risk perception, and the associated constraints in the adoption of mitigation efforts. A Health Belief Model (HBM) approach was used to understand perceived factors that undermine public health COVID-19 messages to reduce the spread of the pandemic in Malawi.MethodsThe study applied rapid appraisal and photovoice qualitative inquiry to comprehend risk perception regarding COVID-19. We purposively selected 52 participants from three major cities in Malawi. Audio and video interviews were transcribed verbatim, and transcripts were coded manually to derive key themes and concepts.ResultsThe study identified that social factors particularly religious and political beliefs influenced COVID-19 risk perception. Specific religious beliefs pertaining to individuals recognizing signs of the ‘Christian apocalypse’ were particularly associated with lower risk perceptions. Politically, participants believed COVID-19 lockdown measures were a ploy by the then-ruling party to remain in power.ConclusionThe study suggests that religious beliefs and political environment undermine self -perceived risk of contracting COVID-19 among urban dwellers in Malawi. We recommend that diverse actors in Malawi should collaborate to promote the dissemination of accurate COVID-19 discourses and reduce the severity of the pandemic’s impact in Malawi.

COVID-19, city centre streetscapes, and public health signage

ABSTRACT In this paper, we reflect on the changes to cityscapes during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. We focus specifically on the relationships between COVID-19 communication, which took place via advertisements and messages located in urban spaces, and contemporary neoliberal politics. Particular attention is given to on-street official government public health communications and their visual impacts and wider socio-economic implications, exemplified through the lens of Belfast, Northern Ireland. We reflect on, first the transitions from pre-pandemic to pandemic streetscape signage and messages, secondly ephemerality in streetscapes under COVID-19 conditions, thirdly the rapidity of change in COVID-19 related public health signage and messages and finally structural constraints of COVID-19 related public health signage. This messaging has also made visible government responses to the pandemic and revealed official (re)emergent concerns (or lack of) for people’s health and well-being.

Age Differences in Preferred Methods of Obtaining and Understanding Health Related Information During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Australia.

Methods of communications and the nature of messaging are critically important in influencing public behavior. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in major disruptions to all aspects of life globally and has triggered multiple approaches of health messaging to the general public to communicate COVID-19 preventative measures. This study aimed to identify: (1) differences between age groups in the main avenues used by people to obtain COVID-19 related information; and (2) whether age and information sources were associated with correct interpretation of government messaging relating to how people understand or interpret the terms “self-isolation” and “social distancing.” An online survey was conducted in 2020. Participants were aged over 18 years and grouped into age group decades. Differences in sources of COVID-19 information were compared visually between age groups. Logistic regression was used to determine whether age and each of the various methods of communication of COVID-19 information were independently associated with correct response to the self-isolation, or the social distancing statements. There were 3,300 survey respondents 85% female; age sub-groups: 18–29 (7.4%); 30–39 (10.6%); 40–49 (17.6%); 50–59 (22.9%); 60–69 (25.9%); 70–79 (13.9%); and 80+ (1.7%). People accessed public health messaging information from a wide variety of sources that changed as they aged (e.g., older people were more likely to be exposed to COVID-19 information via television news programs and less likely via social media platforms). Age was frequently associated with whether the message key terms were interpreted correctly or incorrectly, but in some cases, it promoted more correct responses whereas in others, fewer correct responses. There was no difference between being exposed to COVID-19 information via mainstream media, compared with social media, or compared with Government sources of information, in terms of whether COVID-19 messages were interpreted correctly. In order to improve future public health messaging, there is a need for multiple avenues of communication to meet the needs and preferences across and within age groups. Further investigation is warranted into the clarity of the content and method of delivery of public health messages, to ensure optimal understanding of public health messages by vulnerable populations and across the community.

Trust and Media: Reflection of the Big Five Factor Personality Traits on COVID-19 Pandemic Communication

The pandemic process, in general, is a process that creates anxiety due to reasons such as confusion, instability, misinformation and inadequate planning. Within the scope of this study, the assumption that the personality traits of individuals are effective in getting information and taking the required measures while carrying out the health communication during COVID-19 pandemic, and from the question of whether the individual differences can be associated with the inclination for information receipt or not. This scope of this study aims to measure how the communication of the COVID-19 epidemic towards the Turkish people affects the individuals’ preferences for information, the relationships between the sources they trust, and their individual differences based on the Big-5 factors, within the framework of the five major personality traits. This quantitative study, firstly aims to investigate the information-seeking behavior of the Turkish public in relation to their perceptions of COVID-19 and the impact of messages received from the media. Secondly, it is aimed to measure how the COVID-19 pandemic communication affects the relationships among the media sources they trust in their choices of information. While the trust in health care professionals and independent health care associatons were the highest among the individuals who participated in the survey, those who have the responsibility personality trait, trust in the content of COVID-19 messages for government agencies is low.

Inequalities in Covid-19 Messaging: A Systematic Scoping Review

ABSTRACT The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has been widely documented. While deaths are now in the millions and many more have been impacted in other ways, the impact of Covid-19 has not been felt equally, with it exacerbating existing inequalities and disproportionately impacting a number of populations. With this Covid-19 has created unprecedented challenges in relation to health communication, with the need to reach disadvantaged populations. This systematic scoping review sought to 1) synthesize the existing research regarding communication inequalities in the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and 2) analyze the recommendations that emerge from this body of evidence on how to best address these inequalities. This review includes 40 studies that fell into three broad groups (1) those revealing a disadvantage or inequality in studies of general population; (2) those focussing on communication with sub-groups disproportionately affected by the pandemic; and (3) those reporting and evaluating practical attempts to address inequalities. The results largely corroborate those found in past pandemics, highlighting the role of sociodemographic, cultural/religious, and economic factors in facilitating/jeopardizing the public’s capacity to access and act upon public health messaging. In a number of studies it was encouraging to see recommendations from the literature – particularly, lessons learnt on the importance of community partnerships, trusted messengers and the co-creation of health and risk messages – being applied, however many challenges remain unmet. Covid-19 has also highlighted the need to actively tackle misinformation, something which was recognized, but largely unaddressed.

"We figured it out as we went along": Staff perspectives of COVID-19 response efforts at a large North American syringe services programme.

Syringe services programmes face operational challenges to provide life‐sustaining services to people who use substances and those who have substance use disorders. COVID‐19 has disrupted operations at these programmes and is a threat to people with substance use disorder because of severe poverty, de‐prioritisation of COVID‐19 safety and high prevalence of comorbidities. This phenomenological qualitative study describes 16 in‐depth interviews with staff of one of the largest syringe services programme in North America—Prevention Point Philadelphia, located in the Kensington neighbourhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Interviews were conducted from December 2020 to February 2021, audio‐recorded, transcribed and coded to develop a thematic framework. Participants were mostly white (71.4%) and female (68.8%) with a median age of 31.5. Three main and four sub‐themes related to the impact of COVID‐19 on the syringe services programme were identified: (1) COVID‐19 altered services provision (sub‐theme: select service changes should be retained); (2) unclear or absent COVID‐19 response guidance which compromised mitigation (sub‐themes: COVID‐19 messaging was difficult to translate to practice, learn‐as‐we‐go); and (3) staff and clients experienced elevated mental anguish during the pandemic (sub‐theme: already limited resources were further strained). COVID‐19 presented complex challenges to an organisation normally strained in pre‐pandemic times. A staff culture of resourcefulness and resiliency aided the syringe services programme to balance client needs and staff safety. However, staff experienced a serious psychological impact, largely attributable to being unable to find reprieve from the stressors of COVID‐19 and the difficulties associated with navigating and acting‐on contradictory public health messaging. Staff also shared a belief that the relaxing of some pre‐pandemic barriers allowed staff to link clients more readily with services. Syringe services programmes should embrace the potential for lasting changes to health services delivery brought about by wide‐scale changes in service provisions because of COVID‐19.

Risk communication and community engagement – unlocking the key to South Africa’s response to SARS-CoV-2

Background. COVID-19 has changed the way that governments communicate and engage with citizens. In emergencies, effective communication must be immediate, grounded in science, transparent, easy to understand and in language-appropriate messaging delivered through multiple and varied platforms. For the South African (SA) COVID-19 response, the intent was to design an agile, locally relevant Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) strategy as the pandemic was unfolding and to constantly evaluate its implementation. Early involvement of communities in the formulation and direction of a risk communication plan is essential to its success. Objective. To outline the significance of the RCCE’s robust communication strategy during the COVID-19 response and the lessons learnt in executing the strategy. Methods. This is a qualitative review of documents and reports generated and utilised by the RCCE Technical Working Group (TWG) and reflects the lessons learnt from discussions and multiple engagements at district, provincial and national levels. The review incorporates lessons learnt from international practice, resource documents from the World Health Organization (WHO), RCCE readiness and response to coronavirus disease, feedback from the Behavioural Science Ministerial Advisory Committee, input from the call centre, website and various established social media platforms. Results. Communication and building trust with multiple stakeholders begin before an outbreak and is a prerequisite to facilitate the timeous flow of information, particularly in the context of a rapidly evolving outbreak of a new disease, where the scientific community does not immediately have all the answers. Initial COVID-19 messages were therefore filled with challenges that ranged from the lack of scientific and epidemiological information to rumours, conspiracy theories and misinformation. The findings validate that empowering communities to act, strengthening public trust and community participation using multiple channels as well as timely responses to rumours and misinformation are important drivers of COVID-19 communication efforts in SA. Communication efforts must be accelerated to translate science into locally relevant languages and the impact of interventions must be measured to appropriately direct limited resources. Conclusion. The risk communication strategy incorporated several key lessons that could be used to improve communication and inform future emergency response communication that is immediate, science-based, transparent, inclusive and encourages community participation.

A Discourse Analysis of Online Newspaper Reports on COVID-19 in Nigeria

This study explored a discourse analysis of the online newspapers reportage of the news about COVID-19 using Van Dijk’s discourse analysis parameters and J. Austin’s speech acts concepts. To do this, 91 stories were retrieved from two online Nigerian newspapers. An online search was conducted using keywords: ‘Coronavirus in Nigeria’, ‘updates on Coronavirus in Nigeria’, ‘COVID-19 in Nigeria from November to December 2021’. The search in total retrieved 91 articles consisting of ‘news’, ‘feature’, ‘opinion’ and ‘column’ articles over a period of two months - November and of December 2021 from Vanguard and The Punch newspapers. The parameters of Evidentiality, Metaphor, Lexicalisation and presupposition as provided by Van Dijik were used to analyse the headlines and leads of the newspapers. Because of the prominent roles which verbs in speech production, in the study, verbs were analysed from the concept of J. Austin’s speech act to determine how they have been used in the newspapers’ headlines and leads to pass COVID-19 messages across to the readers. Framing theory was employed to underpin the study. The theory explicated how the crafting (framing) of messages (in forms of headlines and leads) by the media plays a significant role in process by which the people (the audience) develop a particular conceptualisation of an issue and assign meaning to the issue or redirect their thinking about an issue. This study concluded that mass media plays a fundamental role in disseminating information, influences the public behavior which can curtail the spread of the pandemic. The way the media craft and present their messages in the headlines and leads especially during the COVID-19 pandemic has a long effect in ameliorating the challenges of the pandemic or aggravating it.

“Not me!”: Optimistic bias and college students’ perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, and self-efficacy in following COVID-19 preventive guidelines

Objective The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for university administrators and health professionals to keep doors open and students safe. Optimistic bias and the Health Belief Model serve as foundations for understanding students’ perceived susceptibility and severity for contracting the virus and their perceived benefits and self-efficacy for following prevention recommendations. Participants: A total of 1,773 undergraduate and graduate students from a large mid-western university participated. Methods: Students were emailed an online survey examining their perceptions and knowledge of COVID-19 and their adherence to recommended preventive measures. Results: Almost one-half of students do not think they will get COVID-19 but said their friends are at risk. The majority are following most Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations and understand the perceived benefits of doing so. Conclusions: Results could aid university officials in developing effective COVID-19 messages that could lead to reductions in cases numbers, deaths, and spread of the virus.

Media Dissemination Strategies Utilized for Communication of Covid-19 Information in Western Kenya

Communication strategies in health communication have a direct impact on the messages shared. Further, they influence the target audience in relation to behaviour change. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, many messages have been shared among communities with the aim of changing behaviour to curb the spread of the pandemic. However, despite the increased dissemination of messages on COVID-19 through multiple channels, the infection rates have continued to rise among community members. Further, community members have continued to flout government directives on COVID-19 safety measures. This presented the need to investigate the communication strategies that are available at the community level through which the community members receive COVID-19 messages. The study was conducted in the Vihiga and Busia counties of Western Kenya. Mixed methods research approaches were applied. The study targeted the general public and media practitioners. The results of the study showed that radio, social media and television are the dominating communication strategies being used in disseminating messages on COVID-19. The findings also revealed that apart from the mass media, other communication strategies include community and religious leaders, as well as government. However, the results showed that the audience has no feedback mechanism through which they can channel their views to the media.

A LEARN model approach in health care for improvising the doctor-patient relationship

The LEARN model was originally developed to help physicians and other clinicians working in ethnically diverse communities. However, it has broad applicability in the prevention setting. The LEARN (Listen, Explain, Acknowledge, Recommend, Negotiate) model is a framework for cross-cultural communication that helps build mutual understanding and enhance community engagement. Community-engaged communication is much important in the community with culturally relevant and authentic solutions. COVID-19 pandemic has re-ignited the discussions regarding the need of the effective communication across cultures in health care professionals. Culture is central to effective COVID-19 messaging for community engagement. Culture may appear neutral, but its power to define identity and communities as a collective is based on values expressed through institutions such as health care, education, and families. Be careful about the biases and values that you may be bringing to medical encounters. Try to resolve and applied a tailored treatment plan approach that involves the patient’s immediate family, extended family or other community members, as appropriate. Find out the various diversities exists within ethnic and cultural background as much as between groups and avoid generalizing or stereotyping cross-cultural encounters. Assess the literacy levels of your patients or families and then give appropriate advice accordingly. The aim of the study was to improvise doctor-patient communication and the doctor-patient relationship using LEARN model.

Maternal, Sexual and Reproductive Health in Marginalised Areas: Renewing Community Involvement Strategies beyond the Worst of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic and resultant lockdowns have brought unprecedented challenges for Maternal, Sexual and Reproductive Health (MSRH) services. Components of MSRH services adversely affected include antenatal, postnatal, and newborn care; provision of family planning and post-abortion care services; sexual and gender-based violence care and prevention; and care and treatment for sexually transmitted infections including HIV. Resuscitating, remodeling or inventing interventions to restore or maintain these essential services at the community level, as a gateway to higher care, is critical to mitigating short and long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on essential MSRH. We propose a possible framework for community involvement and propose integrating key information, education, and communication of MSRH messages within COVID-19 messages.

Increasing Receptivity to COVID-19 Public Health Messages with Self-Affirmation and Self vs. Other Framing

ABSTRACT There remains an urgent need for effective communication about the importance of widespread adherence to behavioral recommendations to control the COVID-19 pandemic that will also reduce resistance to such guidance. We examined two strategies for COVID-19 communication— (1) self-affirmation (reflecting on a personal value in order to boost self-integrity and reduce defensiveness to potentially threatening information); and (2) manipulating self/other message framing – and moderation of these strategies by COVID-19 risk. 600 participants (M age = 32.55, 51% female) were recruited for an online study and, after assessment of risk factors for severe COVID-19 infection, were exposed to the experimental manipulations. Three classes of defensive responses were considered as outcomes of interest: reactance, attitudinal responses, and behavioral responses. We found that participants derogated the self-focused message more than the other-focused message. Further, other-focused messaging and/or self-affirmation were more likely to elicit positive responses among individuals at higher risk for COVID-19 complications. Our findings suggest having individuals affirm values prior to viewing COVID-19 messages, and framing messages in terms of the importance of protecting others, may be beneficial strategies for encouraging responsiveness – particularly if the targets of such messages are at risk of COVID-19 complications themselves.

142. Content and Linguistic Analysis of COVID-19 Tweets on One University’s Twitter Page

Covid-19 information is commonly shared on Twitter. Universities may use Twitter to share public health information with adolescents and young adults (AYAs). However, the content that universities share regarding Covid-19 on Twitter amid the pandemic is unknown. This study evaluated Covid-19 messaging content from one university’s Twitter account to understand how 1) engagement 2) post frequency and 3) linguistic elements of tweets, changed during the pre-surge and surge phases of fall semester 2020.

COVID-19 narratives and counter-narratives in Ghana: The dialectics of state messaging and alternative re/de-constructions

As part of its efforts to manage the pandemic, the government of Ghana has tried to control messaging via press conferences, only to find out that it has to contend with a preponderance of, sometimes conflicting, narratives from a variety of sources. These messages come from traditional and social media, adopting conventional and alternative formats for content and delivery. In this article, we examine the dialectical relationship between the government’s COVID-19 communication strategy and alternative messages from a select range of sources that have emerged. We evaluate the extent to which the latter messages reinforced or undermined official narratives; the relative trust that each set of messages is generating among citizens; the implications for effective management of the crisis; and steps that the state took to maintain/regain control as it sought to combat what it considered to be (dis)misinformation from some of these sources.

The influence of photographs, music and comedy in Instagram coronavirus messages on adult preventive habits

Coronaviruses have been in existence for over five decades – shaking and taking lives around the world. COVID-19 is similar to others in this regard, but different because it has had a more global impact, causing more deaths than previous life-threatening viruses. In order to reduce deaths and curtail the virus, different communication forms are being used in various countries. Hinged on the agenda-setting and the individual differences theories of media, this study analyses the use of photographs, comedy and music in communicating coronavirus messages on Instagram, the influence of these messages on preventive measures and the attitude of Nigerian citizens to prevention tips based on the content of the messages. Using mixed method of qualitative content analysis and survey, 120 Instagram COVID-19 messages from sixteen social media skit creators/influencers were analysed. Responses of 247 survey respondents, mostly from South West Nigeria, were used to examine the influence of these messages on citizens’ preventive habits. Results of the study reveal that different methods including pictures, comedy, music, satire and spoken words were used in communicating coronavirus messages and preventive tips on Instagram. However, music, comedy, photograph and short film messages gained more attention and responses from citizens. Citizens identified them as helpful in cultivating preventive habits because these messages were easier to remember and they gave detailed explanations of prevention habits citizens should adhere to in order to curtail the spread of coronavirus. Media should therefore continue to use different strategies, especially music, comedy, photographs and short films, to reach citizens.

Influence of Social Media Covid-19 Messages on the Lifestyle of Students in Two Nigerian Universities

The advent of the corona virus disease has affected every facet of human existence including the way life is lived. To forestall the spread of the disease, lifestyle changes in form of safety protocols were advanced by health and medical experts. These protocols were propagated on the social media seeing that social media have been known to be veritable disseminators of health information. This study was conducted among students of Kogi state university and University of Nigeria to ascertain the influence of social media Covid-19 messages on their uptake of the new lifestyles promoted in form of safety protocols. The survey research design was adopted with questionnaire as instrument. Findings revealed that respondents were aware of the protocols and they made use of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram platforms more frequently to access Covid -19 messages on the social media. Further findings show that they saw the safety protocols on the social media and their exposure to these messages influenced them to adopt the protocols, hence effecting a change in their lifestyles. It was also discovered that the influence was however not overwhelming as it was mild on protocols that encouraged shaking hands and receiving hugs. This implies a mild change in lifestyle effected b y the social media. It was thus concluded that social media, no doubt, have a role to play in mitigating the contagion rate of the Covid-19. It was thus recommended that health communication planners should engage the social media in coming up with communication interventions for health emergencies. Keywords: Covid-19: Social Media: Lifestyle: Students: Safety Protocols.

A conceptual analysis of the ethicality of Web-based messaging on the COVID-19 pandemic

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the primary sources and methods of Web-based messaging during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. The authors use ethical lens to develop a conceptual framework to inform and reduce conflicts of Web-based messaging associated with COVID-19.Design/methodology/approachThis paper provides a comprehensive review of three different ethical schools and identifies the cohesive theme of common good across them. Common good leading to a greater good serves as the overarching ethical construct for Web-based messages that focus on society and not the singular individual, business or political ideology.FindingsThe findings suggest that the ethical construct of common good focuses on prioritizing the society over the individual and draws upon utilitarian principles focused on consequences, Kantian principles focused on intentions and Aristotelian principles focused on the definition of good. Web-based messaging on COVID-19 originates from diverse public and private sources and ethically can be governed by adherence to achieving the greatest good for society. Pervasive conflicts with COVID-19 messaging can be mitigated by pursuing a more ethical agenda with messages.Originality/valueThis manuscript provides a conceptual framework, based on ethical principles, to serve as a blueprint for Web-based messaging during a pandemic. This work offers an ethical perspective for communication during a pandemic and it is original in conceptualizing the components of Web-based messaging and decomposing them into the different levels where conflicts can occur. This article can serve as a template for Web-based communication pertaining to future pandemics and other events that benefit from prioritizing the impact on society over the impact on the individual.