A Multidimensional Model of Public Health Approaches Against COVID-19

Abstract

COVID-19 is appearing as one of the most fetal disease of the world’s history and has caused a global health emergency. Therefore, this study was designed with the aim to address the issue of public response against COVID-19. The literature lacks studies on social aspects of COVID-19. Therefore, the current study is an attempt to investigate its social aspects and suggest a theoretical structural equation model to examine the associations between social media exposure, awareness, and information exchange and preventive behavior and to determine the indirect as well as direct impact of social media exposure on preventive behavior from the viewpoints of awareness and information exchange. The current empirical investigation was held in Pakistan, and the collected survey data from 500 respondents through social media tools were utilized to examine the associations between studied variables as stated in the anticipated study model. The findings of the study indicate that social media exposure has no significant and direct effect on preventive behavior. Social media exposure influences preventive behavior indirectly through awareness and information exchange. In addition, awareness and information exchange have significant and direct effects on preventive behavior. Findings are valuable for health administrators, governments, policymakers, and social scientists, specifically for individuals whose situations are like those in Pakistan. This research validates how social media exposure indirectly effects preventive behavior concerning COVID-19 and explains the paths of effect through awareness or information exchange. To the best of our knowledge, there is no work at present that covers this gap, for this reason the authors propose a new model. The conceptual model offers valuable information for policymakers and practitioners to enhance preventive behavior through the adoption of appropriate awareness strategies and information exchange and social media strategies.

Exploring the Social Media on the Communication Professionals in Public Health. Spanish Official Medical Colleges Case Study

“…With social media, access to information has changed, currently people do not rely exclusively on traditional or government media but trust the social media for essential information from the health sector [ 29 ]. Nowadays, social media such as blogs, websites or social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.…”

“…The professional practice of those who develop informative content for the media has been recognized for over a decade. As Arkin points out [ 33 ], in a study focusing on the American population, social media, as a leading source of health information, could potentially save lives in the event of a health crisis [ 29 ]. Nevertheless, those who develop informative content can also be alarmist and spread false information in the news or the coverage they offer.…”

Sentiment Analysis and Emotion Understanding during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain and Its Impact on Digital Ecosystems

“…Throughout the history of mankind, societies have been faced with crises of various kinds and of very diverse natures, such as civil conflicts, financial crises, crises caused by the management and export of energy resources or emergencies caused by the impact of diseases and epidemics, among others [ 7 ]. It is only necessary to recall some of the events of the past 20th century to be able to appreciate how crises have conditioned our existence and have modified our way of living and understanding the world around us [ 8 , 9 ].…”

“…In addition, we must highlight the growing interconnection between the world’s economies, which is reflected in the flow of goods, capital, people, and ideas [ 12 ]. These facts and others associated with contemporary societies are making us face an old enemy of humanity as they are in this case, viruses such as the COVID-19 pandemic in a completely different context, and it is in this new scenario where areas such as communication, and in particular crisis communication, have become essential to manage and combat crises [ 8 , 13 ].…”

Healthy Dietary Intake Behavior Potentially Modifies the Negative Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on Depression: A Hospital and Health Center Survey

“…Infections and deaths are dramatically increasing in all the affected countries (10). Multidisciplinary and multidimensional approaches are required to contain the pandemic (11)(12)(13). In the situation of unavailable effective treatments and vaccination, social and behavioral changes are highly recommended to control the massive global health crisis (14,15).…”