Application of the protection motivation theory to understand determinants of compliance with the measure of banning gathering size >4 in all public areas for controlling COVID-19 in a Hong Kong Chinese adult general population

Abstract

Background Restriction of gathering size in all public areas is a newly and commonly exercised governmental social distancing policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its effectiveness depends on the general public’s compliance. This study applied the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) to investigate determinants (i.e., perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, perceived response efficacy, and perceived self-efficacy) of compliance with the social distancing policy of banning gathering of >4 people in all public areas (BG4PA) in the Hong Kong general adult population. Methods 300 participants were interviewed through a population-based telephone survey during April 21–28, 2020. Results The compliance rate of BG4PA was high (78%). Adjusted for the background factors, multiple linear regression analysis found that perceived response efficacy and perceived self-efficacy were significantly and positively associated with compliance with BG4PA (p<0.05), while the associations between perceived severity/perceived susceptibility and compliance were of marginal significance (0.05<p<0.10). A stepwise linear regression model considered four PMT constructs as candidates; its final model only selected self-efficacy but not the other three PMT constructs. Conclusions PMT can be applied to understand compliance with BG4PA. Perceived response efficacy and perceived self-efficacy were more influential than perceived severity and perceived susceptibility. Health promotion may focus on improving coping appraisal.

Reasons, experiences and expectations of women with delayed medical care for ectopic pregnancies in Chinese urban edges: a qualitative study

“…The subjective physical feelings, the severity of their self-evaluations of the disease, the symptoms and the duration of the disease were the most critical factors that led to individuals’ decisions about whether to seek medical services 21. According to the theory of protective motivation, patients who were fully aware that their conditions could cause severe damage to their bodies would be more willing to pay attention to their abnormal symptoms and change their lousy living habits 22 23. Therefore, medical personnel and community medical workers should educate women of reproductive age, improve their healthcare knowledge, draw their attention to abnormal symptoms related to their reproductive system and make them respond to abnormal symptoms and signs appropriately.…”

“… 21 According to the theory of protective motivation, patients who were fully aware that their conditions could cause severe damage to their bodies would be more willing to pay attention to their abnormal symptoms and change their lousy living habits. 22 23 Therefore, medical personnel and community medical workers should educate women of reproductive age, improve their healthcare knowledge, draw their attention to abnormal symptoms related to their reproductive system and make them respond to abnormal symptoms and signs appropriately. The prevention and treatment of risk factors for ectopic pregnancy should be fully explained to these women.…”

Illness representation of COVID-19 affected public’s support and anticipated panic regarding the living with the virus policy: a cross-sectional study in a Chinese general population

“…The eight items were consequence (“In the case of contracting COVID-19, how much does your illness affect your life”; 0 = no affect at all to 10 = severely affects in my life), timeline (“In the case of contracting COVID-19, how long do you think your illness will continue”; 0 = a very short time to 10 = forever), personal control (“In the case of contracting COVID-19, how much control do you feel you have over your illness”; 0 = absolutely no control to 10 = extreme amount of control), treatment control (“In the case of contracting COVID-19, how long do you think your treatment can help your illness”; 0 = not at all to 10 = extremely helpful), identity (“In the case of contracting COVID-19, how much would you experience symptoms from the illness”; 0 = no symptoms at all to 10 = many severe symptoms), illness concern (“In the case of contracting COVID-19, how concerned are you about your illness”; 0 = not at all concerned to 10 = extremely concerned), illness coherence (“how well do you feel you understand COVID-19″; 0 = do not understand at all to 10 = understand very clearly), and emotional representation [“In the case of contracting COVID-19, how much does your illness affect you emotionally (e.g., does it make you angry, scared, upset or depressed)”; 0 = not at all affected emotionally to 10 = extremely affected emotionally]. The B-IPQ-COVID-19 has been used in several studies investigating cognitive responses to COVID-19 ( 9 , 12 ).…”

“…Such associations have not been investigated in the literature. Furthermore, the illness representation constructs of COVID-19 were associated with the practice of COVID-19 preventive measures (e.g., social distancing measures and facemask use) ( 12 , 13 ), the intention of COVID-19 vaccination ( 14 ), and emotional distress related to COVID-19 (e.g., worries about COVID-19 and depression) ( 5 , 15 ). Illness representations hence provide a systematic way to understand perceptions and emotions related to COVID-19.…”

Modelling Workplace Ostracism among Workforces amid Pandemic Outbreaks

“…Threat appraisal is to determine how dangerous the disease is and the possibility one would have it. Coping appraisal, on the other hand, evaluates one's anticipated response efficacy of suggested recommendations that can minimize or eliminate the threat and their ability to carry out the suggested behavior successfully (Yu et al, 2022). The stronger the appraisals, the higher one's protection motivation; thus, the more likely an individual is to adopt the recommended behaviors (Rogers, 1975).…”