COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors and its Related Beliefs among Health Workers: The Role of Threat and Coping Appraisals

Factors affecting emerging infectious disease prevention behaviors among young workers based on ecological modeling

This cross-sectional, descriptive survey study aimed to identify the factors affecting emerging infectious disease prevention behaviors among young workers aged < 40 years. The factors affecting infection prevention behaviors among young workers were investigated with respect to perception of personal, inter-personal, organizational, and community responses based on ecological modeling. A total of 260 young workers residing in Jeollabuk-do region in South Korea were selected via convenience sampling. Multiple regression analysis performed to assess the factors affecting emerging infectious disease prevention behaviors. Multiple regression analysis revealed that infection prevention behaviors were significantly higher among healthy female participants compared with that in not very healthy female participants. Furthermore, infection prevention behaviors were significantly lower among those residing with family members with a confirmed diagnosis compare with that in those who did not. The infection prevention behaviors were higher among participants with higher levels of perceived susceptibility and perceived self-efficacy showed higher infection prevention behaviors. Thus, health managers should actively promote the implementation of infection prevention behaviors in the workplace by developing executable infection prevention guidelines and programs to enhance the perceived susceptibility and self-efficacy of workers in preparation for outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases.

Preventive behaviors of respiratory infections in staff of hospital in Kazeroon, Fars, Iran: An application of protection motivation theory

BACKGROUND

One of the most crucial and essential methods for the prevention and management of respiratory infections is for healthcare professionals to take precautions for their own safety. Using Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), the current study looked into effective elements influencing the staff at Kazeroon's Valiasr Hospital's preventive actions against respiratory diseases.

METHODS

One hundred ninety-two male and 108 female employees of the Valiasr Hospital in Kazeroon, Iran, participated in this cross-sectional study, in May 2022. Census data were used as the sample technique. A questionnaire based on the PMT and a questionnaire collecting demographic data served as the data collection method. The study's content validity was confirmed by 10 health education experts, and its reliability was assessed using internal consistency techniques, resulting in a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.87.The statistical program SPSS 24 was used to examine the data using the independent t test, logistic regression, and Pearson correlation.

RESULTS

The average age was 34.11 ± 8.91 for men and 32.77 ± 6.09 for women. The majority of participants were married (73.3%), had university education (76.7%), and earned a monthly income between 10 and 15 million Tomans (75%). Notably, 97.7% of participants had received the COVID-19 vaccine, and 77.7% had undergone training related to respiratory infections. The most common preventive practices included avoiding touching the eyes, noses, or mouths, wearing appropriate protective gear, and maintaining a safe distance of 1-2 m from others. Analysis of PMT constructs showed that participants had a generally positive perception toward preventive behaviors. Perceived vulnerability (P = 0.02), perceived cost (P = 0.03), and motivation (P = 0.001) were the three analyzed components that had the greatest impact on respiratory infection preventative behavior. Logistic regression revealed that perceived susceptibility, cost, and motivation significantly predicted the prevention of respiratory infections, with a predictive power of 45%. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the factors influencing preventive behaviors among hospital staff, from respiratory infections like COVID-19.

CONCLUSION

According to the findings, the personnel at Kazeroon's Valiasr Hospital wore gloves, goggles, and other appropriate personal protective equipment. The individuals' decision to wear personal protection equipment was also impacted by perceived susceptibility, cost, and motivation.

Preventive behaviors against COVID-19 among health care providers in Iran: A cross-sectional study

Background and Aim

During outbreaks of infectious diseases, if healthcare providers do not follow the principles of prevention, the risk of personal infection increases and they become a source of infection spread. This study aimed to determine the factors related to the preventive health behaviors of COVID-19 among Iranian healthcare providers based on protection motivation theory (PMT).

Methods

This analytical cross-sectional study included 346 healthcare providers. Data was collected by an online researcher-made questionnaire based on PMT. To analyze the data, independent T tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Spearman correlation coefficient, multiple linear regression, and SPSS 22 software were used. α was considered as 0.05.

Results

85.3% of the healthcare providers would always wear masks, 80.7% would always refuse to kiss and touch hands with others, and 34.7% sometimes would exercise at home. The preventive behaviors were significantly correlated with protection motivation (r = 0.84), self-efficacy (r = 0.51), response efficiency (r = 0.43), perceived severity (r = 0.41) Fear (r = 0.21), perceived susceptibility (r = 0.11), response cost (r = -0.14), and reward (r = -0.15). PMT constructs were able to predict 77% of the variance of the behaviors and the protection motivation construct was the strongest predictor (β = 0.806). Income above 300 Dolars per month was significantly related to the decrease in the mean score of preventive behaviors against COVID-19. The female sex and the individual or family history of infectious diseases were significantly related to increasing the mean score of COVID-19 preventive behaviors.

Conclusion

Based on the study results, it is suggested that some educational interventions be designed and implemented with a focus on this construct and the perceived severity construct and that more attention be given to the education of health care providers with high-income levels, male providers, and the individuals without a history of corona infection in themselves or their family members.

Determinants of COVID-19 preventive health behaviors in Iranian adults based on extended parallel process model

Performing preventive behaviors by individuals has been recognized as one of the important strategies for the prevention and control of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to assess the determinants of adopting preventive behaviors of COVID-19 in a sample of Iranian adults based on Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) variables. In this cross-sectional study, 300 adults from Tehran, Iran were selected using cluster sampling method from five areas of the city: north, south, west, east, and center. The participants completed a study instrument developed to assess demographic information and EPPM variables. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS software. The mean age of the participants was 40.11 (± 15.158) years. The results showed that 88.3% (n = 265) of the participants were in the process of danger control. Perceived self-efficacy, attitude, response efficiency, behavioral intention, and the number of hours of activity outside home were determinants of performing COVID-19 preventive behaviors among the participants. These predictors might be used to develop theory-based educational efforts based on EPPM variables due to encouraging people to adopt COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Our results suggest that because many participants were engaged in danger control, health professionals should focus on increasing perceived efficacy.

COVID-19 Protective Behaviors of Iranian Healthcare Workers: A Psychological Theoretical Design Analysis

Background: This study aimed to investigate COVID-19 protective behaviors of Iranian healthcare workers (HCWs) using an extended parallel process model (EPPM). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted online on a convenience sample of 418 Iranian HCWs in 2020. Data were gathered using a standardized electronic questionnaire published on the Porsline website, designed based on the EPPM, to assess the relationships between different constructs of EPPM and COVID-19 protective behaviors. For data analysis, statistical tests, such as descriptive tests, independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation test, and multiple regression analysis, were performed in SPSS version 18. Results: Most participants (40.4%) were in the age group of 30-40 years, and most were female (70.6%). Significant associations were found between COVID-19 protective behaviors and EPPM constructs of perceived self-efficacy (r = 0.373, P = 0.000), perceived response efficacy (r = 0.120, P = 0.014), and intention (r = 0.462, P = 0.000). Perceived self-efficacy (P = 0.000, beta = 0.398) and behavioral intention (P = 0.000; Beta = 0.283) were predictors of protective behaviors. Also, 34.4% of the HCWs were involved in the danger control process. Conclusions: Only one-third of the HCWs contributed to the process of COVID-19 danger control. The HCWs' motivation for protection against COVID-19 depended on their perception of self-efficacy and their perceived efficacy of COVID-19 preventive behaviors. The present results can be used to design and implement training programs to improve the protective behaviors of HCWs.

A Study on the COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors of Automobile Manufacturing Workers in South Korea

The present study used a cross-sectional, descriptive survey design to investigate the influencing factors of COVID-19-related infection prevention behaviors of workers in the automobile manufacturing sector. An online survey was conducted on 157 workers in the automobile manufacturing sector of a company in Korea. We analyzed the collected data using SPSS to test whether there were significant differences in COVID-19 risk perception, crisis communication, health literacy, and infection prevention behaviors according to the general characteristics of the participants. An independent sample t-test and a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed. A Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed to identify the correlations among COVID-19 risk perception, crisis communication, health literacy, and infection prevention behaviors. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify the influencing factors of COVID-19 infection prevention behaviors. The regression model was found to be significant, and the employment period at current job, COVID-19 prevention education, source of information, COVID-19 risk perception, crisis communication, and health literacy were also found to be significant. Among the demographic variables, employment period at current job of 5−10 years showed a higher level of infection prevention behaviors than that of <5 years. Moreover, the level of infection prevention behaviors was also significantly higher when COVID-19-related information was acquired through the KDCA/health center. Higher COVID-19 risk perception, crisis communication, and health literacy were associated with significantly higher levels of infection prevention behaviors. Therefore, based on the results, health managers need to develop programs and educate and improve information comprehension and crisis communication skills in order to promote workers’ infection prevention behaviors of emerging infectious diseases in an era of global change.

The role of e-health literacy and some cognitive factors in adopting protective behaviors of COVID-19 in Khalkhal residents

Background

Several vaccines have recently been generated and are being utilized to prevent COVID-19 mortality. Although the disease is causing many fatalities worldwide, preventative practices should be prioritized, even if vaccines are available. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the role of e-health literacy and some cognitive factors in adopting protective behaviors against COVID-19 in Khalkhal residents.

Methods

In the present cross-sectional study we recruited 380 people aged 18–65 according to cluster sampling from September 2021 to December 2021 in Khalkhal County, Iran. Reliable and validated tools were applied to data collection, including the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) in Persian and the Cognitive factors assessment questionnaire based on the Health Belief Model (HBM). Data were analyzed using Chi-square, one-way ANOVA, independent samples t-test, and bivariate correlation. The predictors were also determined using hierarchical linear regression analysis.

Results

The average age of the participants was 35.26 ± 11.51 years. The regression analysis implied that gender (p-value = 0.032), education level (p-value = 0.001), occupational status (p-value = 0.002), income (p-value = 0.001), and marriage (p-value = 0.001) had statistically significant associations with e-HL. Additionally, education level (p-value = 0.001), occupational status (p-value = 0.001), income (p-value = 0.001), and marriage (p-value = 0.002) revealed statistically significant associations with COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Approximately 16.5% of the variation in the COVID-19 protective behaviors is explained by the cognitive factors and the demographic variables. Overall, demographic, cognitive, and e-HL variables were able to explain roughly 35.5% of the variation in COVID-19 protective behaviors. Furthermore, self-efficacy was the strongest predictor of protective behaviors (β = 0.214).

Conclusions

HBM constructs successfully predicted the role of e-health literacy and some cognitive factors in adopting COVID-19 protective behaviors. People with high socioeconomic levels were better at e-health literacy and COVID-19 protective behaviors during the pandemic. Moreover, applying approaches to adopting COVID-19 protective behaviors is essential, especially in low socioeconomic status (SES) groups.

Factors related to treatment adherence behaviors among old-age hemodialysis patients in Hamadan, Iran: the application of the extended theory of planned behavior during Covid-19 pandemic

Purpose

This study aimed to identify the factors related to treatment adherence behaviors among old-age hemodialysis patients in Hamadan based on the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior (ETPB) during the covid-19 pandemic.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2021 in Hamadan, Iran. 191 hemodialysis patients were recruited who were referred to hemodialysis centers via the census method. Data were collected by a questionnaire containing items on socio-demographic information, End-Stage Renal Disease Adherence (ESRD-Adherence) Questionnaire, and ETPB constructs scale. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling.

Results

The mean (SD) age of participants was 62.49 (10.66). Also, the mean (SD) hemodialysis vintage/Month of them was 36.56 (43.34). Moreover, Treatment Adherence Behaviors are associated with education level, sex, and marital status (p < 0.001). Besides, Perceive Behavior Control (β = 0.414, t-value = 3.810) associated with intention. Also, intention (β = 0.158, t-value = 1.976) was associated to adherence behaviors. No significant associations were observed between positive attitudes, subjective norms, a perceived threat with intention, and adherence behaviors. The model explained about 54% of the variance of adherence behaviors. Finally, the goodness of fit index of 0.78, indicating the model good fit.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrates that some of the ETPB constructs such as perceived behavior control and intention are useful to improve adherence among the oldest hemodialysis patients. Also. This framework is revealed alongside the theory of planned behavior (TPB) applicable in the treatment adherence of old-age hemodialysis patients.

Factors related to preventive COVID-19 behaviors using health belief model among general population: a cross-sectional study in Iran

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has become one of the biggest challenges to global health and economy. The present study aimed to explore the factors related to preventive health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in Khuzestan Province, South of Iran, using the Health Belief Model (HBM).

METHODS

The present cross-sectional study was conducted in the period between July 2020 and September 2020. A total of 1090 people from Khuzestan province participated in the study. The data collection method included a multistage cluster sampling method with a random selection of provincial of health centers. The questionnaire collected socio-demographic information and HBM constructs (e.g., perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits and barriers, cues to action, and COVID-19 preventive behaviors). Data were analyzed using ANOVA, t-test, hierarchical multiple linear regression, and SPSS version 22.

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants was 35.53 ± 11.53, more than half of them were female (61.6%) and married (65.3). The results showed that 27% of the variance in the COVID-19 preventive behaviors was explained by HBM constructs. The regression analysis indicated that female gender (β = 0.11), perceived benefits (β = 0.10), perceived barriers (β = - 0.18), external cues to action (β = 0.25), and internal cues to action (β = 0.12) were significantly associated with COVID-19 preventive behaviors (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Designing an educational intervention on the basis of HBM might be considered as a framework for the correction of beliefs and adherence to COVID-19 behavior. Health information campaigns need to (1) emphasize the benefits of preventive behaviors including avoiding the likelihood of getting a chronic disease and complications of the disease, (2) highlight the tips and advice to overcome the barriers (3) provide cues to action by means of showing various reminders in social media (4) focusing on adoption of COVID-19-related preventive behaviors, especially among men.

COVID-19 Prevention Behaviors among Health Staff: Data from a Large Survey in the West of Iran

Background: Hospital staffs are at high risk of Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV preventive behaviors play a peculiar role in the reduction of the incidence and mortality of this infection. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the prevention behaviors of COVID-19 among health staff based on the Extended Parallel Model (EPPM) in western Iran.

Study design: It was a cross-sectional study.

Methods: The present study was performed in the west of Iran in April 2020. In total, 1,664 cases were enrolled in this study via multi-stage sampling. The data were collected using a questionnaire, including the demographic characteristics of participants and EPPM constructs. All analyses were conducted in Stata software (version 14) at a 5% significant level.

Results: As evidenced by the obtained results, 1,523 (91.53%), 1,226 (73.68%), 1,526 (91.71%), 893 (53.67%), and 862 (51.86%) of health staff wear gloves, use masks, avoid contact with others, maintain a good distance from other people, and wash their hands frequently with water and soap, respectively. In terms of using gloves and avoiding contacts with others, participants with high perceived threat had higher odds of observing health behaviors (OR= 3.14, 95% CI: 2.08, 4.73; P<0.001) and (OR= 3.1, 95% CI: 2.04, 4.69; P<0.001), respectively. In all categories of EPPM, the participants with high efficacy had higher odds of exhibiting health behaviors, compared to those with low efficacy (P<0.001).

Conclusion: The results of the present study demonstrated that health workers are expected to be at the highest level of threat and efficiency. Moreover, the findings emphasized the effectiveness of the recommended strategies in the prevention of COVID-19 disease.