Coverage of Health Information by Different Sources in Communities: Implication for COVID-19 Epidemic Response

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Abstract

Health personnel and community workers are at the front line of the COVID-19 emergency response and need to be equipped with adequate knowledge related to epidemics for an effective response. This study aimed to identify the coverage of COVID-19 health information via different sources accessed by health workers and community workers in Vietnam. A cross-sectional study using a web-based survey was carried out from January to February 2020 in Vietnam. Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) was used for recruiting participants. We utilized the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to examine the construct validity of the questionnaire. A higher percentage of participants knew about “Clinical and pathogen characteristics of COVID-19”, compared to “Regulations and policies related to COVID-19”. The percentage of participants accessing the information on “Guidelines and policies on prevention and control of COVID-19” was the lowest, especially among medical students. “Mass media and peer-educators” channels had a higher score of accessing COVID-19 information, compared to “Organizations/ agencies/ associations” sources. Participants consumed most of their COVID-19 information via “Internet, online newspapers, social networks”. Our findings indicate an urgency to re-design training programs and communication activities for a more effective dissemination of information related to the COVID-19 epidemic or epidemics in general.

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Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China

Cuiyan Wang, Riyu Pan, Xiaoyang Wan … (2020)

Background: The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic is a public health emergency of international concern and poses a challenge to psychological resilience. Research data are needed to develop evidence-driven strategies to reduce adverse psychological impacts and psychiatric symptoms during the epidemic. The aim of this study was to survey the general public in China to better understand their levels of psychological impact, anxiety, depression, and stress during the initial stage of the COVID-19 outbreak. The data will be used for future reference. Methods: From 31 January to 2 February 2020, we conducted an online survey using snowball sampling techniques. The online survey collected information on demographic data, physical symptoms in the past 14 days, contact history with COVID-19, knowledge and concerns about COVID-19, precautionary measures against COVID-19, and additional information required with respect to COVID-19. Psychological impact was assessed by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and mental health status was assessed by the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Results: This study included 1210 respondents from 194 cities in China. In total, 53.8% of respondents rated the psychological impact of the outbreak as moderate or severe; 16.5% reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms; 28.8% reported moderate to severe anxiety symptoms; and 8.1% reported moderate to severe stress levels. Most respondents spent 20–24 h per day at home (84.7%); were worried about their family members contracting COVID-19 (75.2%); and were satisfied with the amount of health information available (75.1%). Female gender, student status, specific physical symptoms (e.g., myalgia, dizziness, coryza), and poor self-rated health status were significantly associated with a greater psychological impact of the outbreak and higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression (p < 0.05). Specific up-to-date and accurate health information (e.g., treatment, local outbreak situation) and particular precautionary measures (e.g., hand hygiene, wearing a mask) were associated with a lower psychological impact of the outbreak and lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression (p < 0.05). Conclusions: During the initial phase of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, more than half of the respondents rated the psychological impact as moderate-to-severe, and about one-third reported moderate-to-severe anxiety. Our findings identify factors associated with a lower level of psychological impact and better mental health status that can be used to formulate psychological interventions to improve the mental health of vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 epidemic.

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A Longitudinal Study on the Mental Health of General Population during the COVID-19 Epidemic in China

Cuiyan Wang, Riyu Pan, Xiaoyang Wan … (2020)

Highlights • A significant reduction in psychological impact 4 weeks after COVID outbreak. • The mean scores of respondents in both surveys were above PTSD cut-offs. • Female gender, physical symptoms associated with a higher psychological impact. • Hand hygiene, mask-wearing & confidence in doctors reduced psychological impact. • Online trauma-focused psychotherapy may be helpful to public during COVID-19.

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Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards COVID-19 among Chinese residents during the rapid rise period of the COVID-19 outbreak: a quick online cross-sectional survey

Bao-Liang Zhong, Wei Luo, Hai-Mei Li … (2020)

Unprecedented measures have been adopted to control the rapid spread of the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic in China. People's adherence to control measures is affected by their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards COVID-19. In this study, we investigated Chinese residents' KAP towards COVID-19 during the rapid rise period of the outbreak. An online sample of Chinese residents was successfully recruited via the authors' networks with residents and popular media in Hubei, China. A self-developed online KAP questionnaire was completed by the participants. The knowledge questionnaire consisted of 12 questions regarding the clinical characteristics and prevention of COVID-19. Assessments on residents' attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 included questions on confidence in winning the battle against COVID-19 and wearing masks when going out in recent days. Among the survey completers (n=6910), 65.7% were women, 63.5% held a bachelor degree or above, and 56.2% engaged in mental labor. The overall correct rate of the knowledge questionnaire was 90%. The majority of the respondents (97.1%) had confidence that China can win the battle against COVID-19. Nearly all of the participants (98.0%) wore masks when going out in recent days. In multiple logistic regression analyses, the COVID-19 knowledge score (OR: 0.75-0.90, P<0.001) was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of negative attitudes and preventive practices towards COVID-2019. Most Chinese residents of a relatively high socioeconomic status, in particular women, are knowledgeable about COVID-19, hold optimistic attitudes, and have appropriate practices towards COVID-19. Health education programs aimed at improving COVID-19 knowledge are helpful for Chinese residents to hold optimistic attitudes and maintain appropriate practices. Due to the limited sample representativeness, we must be cautious when generalizing these findings to populations of a low socioeconomic status.

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Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Int J Environ Res Public Health

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Int J Environ Res Public Health

Journal ID (publisher-id): ijerph

Title: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Publisher: MDPI

ISSN (Print): 1661-7827

ISSN (Electronic): 1660-4601

Publication date (Electronic): 20 May 2020

Publication date (Print): May 2020

Volume: 17

Issue: 10

Electronic Location Identifier: 3577

Affiliations

[1 ]Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam; dangkimanh@ 123456hmu.edu.vn (A.K.D.); lethihuong@ 123456hmu.edu.vn (H.T.L.); lethithanhxuan@ 123456hmu.edu.vn (X.T.T.L.); dothithanhtoan@ 123456hmu.edu.vn (T.T.T.D.); donamkhanh@ 123456hmu.edu.vn (K.N.D.)

[2 ]Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; carl.latkin@ 123456jhu.edu

[3 ]Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; p.thai@ 123456uq.edu.au

[4 ]Vietnam Young Physicians’ Association, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam; huutu85@ 123456gmail.com

[5 ]Institute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam; phamquanghai@ 123456duytan.edu.vn (H.Q.P.); phanthanhhai9@ 123456duytan.edu.vn (H.T.P.)

[6 ]Faculty of Medicine, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam

[7 ]Center of Excellence in Evidence-Based Medicine, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh 700000,Vietnam; giang.coentt@ 123456gmail.com

[8 ]School of Medicine, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia; d.phung@ 123456griffith.edu.au

[9 ]Centre for Applied Health Economics (CAHE), Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia; s.nghiem@ 123456griffith.edu.au

[10 ]Department of Pharmacy, Dai Nam University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam; nghthu11@ 123456gmail.com

[11 ]Demography and Medical statistics, Faculty of Public Health, Danang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam; trandinhtrung@ 123456dhktyduocdn.edu.vn

[12 ]Department of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh 700000, Vietnam; dattv@ 123456ump.edu.vn

[13 ]Department of Internal Medicine, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam; vuvangiap@ 123456hmu.edu.vn

[14 ]Respiratory Center, Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam

[15 ]Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore; pcmrhcm@ 123456nus.edu.sg

[16 ]Institute for Health Innovation and Technology (iHealthtech), National University of Singapore, Singapore 119077, Singapore

[17 ]Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, Singapore; cyrushosh@ 123456gmail.com

Author notes

[* ]Correspondence: bach.ipmph2@ 123456gmail.com ; Tel.: +84-98-222-8662

Author information

Toan Thanh Thi Do https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7049-7361

Son Hong Nghiem https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2451-5290

Dat Van Truong https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0018-8336

Carl A. Latkin https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7931-2116

Roger C.M. Ho https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9629-4493

Article

Publisher ID: ijerph-17-03577

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17103577

PMC ID: 7277747

PubMed ID: 32443712

SO-VID: fe7902e3-72a9-4944-9011-d556ed62f576

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Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Coverage of Health Information by Different Sources in Communities: Implication for COVID-19 Epidemic Response

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Novel Coronavirus Disease COVID-19

Most cited references 23

Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China

A Longitudinal Study on the Mental Health of General Population during the COVID-19 Epidemic in China

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards COVID-19 among Chinese residents during the rapid rise period of the COVID-19 outbreak: a quick online cross-sectional survey

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