Pandemic Worry and Preventive Health Behaviors During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Abstract

Objective: As schools are preparing for onsite learning, it is urgently needed to characterize the extent of pandemic worry and to examine predictors of adopting preventive health behaviors of hand washing, face mask wearing, and maintaining social distance among student pharmacists.Methods: An online survey was sent to 326 student pharmacists in the United States. Pandemic worry was measured using a seven-point Likert scale ranging from extremely not afraid of, to extremely afraid of getting COVID-19. The health belief model (HBM) was the theoretical framework of this study. Preventive health behaviors and components of the HBM were also measured using seven-point Likert scales (one indicated extremely unlikely; seven indicated extremely likely). Multivariable linear regression models were used to identify predictors of each behavior.Results: A medium level of pandemic worry (M = 4.2, SD = 1.92) was identified and females reported a higher pandemic worry. Respondents reported that they were extremely likely to wash their hands (M = 6.8, SD = 0.48) and maintain social distance (M = 6.6, SD = 0.92), but were moderately unlikely to wear face masks (M = 2.2, SD = 1.51). Determinants of face mask wearing included pandemic worry, perceived benefits, cue to action, self-efficacy, and being of an Asian American. Perceived barriers were negatively associated with face mask wearing.Conclusion: Strategies should be implemented to reduce the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic among student pharmacists. Predictors identified in this study should be incorporated in efforts to improve face mask wearing. Continued monitoring of pandemic worry and preventive health behaviors is of great significance when universities and colleges are for onsite learning.

COVID-19 Health Beliefs Regarding Mask Wearing and Vaccinations on Twitter: Deep Learning Approach

“…That is, as more perceived benefits of mask wearing were discussed, fewer perceived barriers were discussed. These findings are consistent with other HBM research, particularly among student pharmacists [ 39 ]. Although previous research on COVID-19 mask-wearing beliefs pointed to the influence of perceived severity [ 40 ], in this study, the perceived susceptibility to and perceived severity of COVID-19 were much less prominent.…”

Public awareness, specific knowledge, and worry about mpox (monkeypox): A preliminary community-based study in Shenzhen, China

“…Besides, there were other kinds of tools to measure the level of worry. Some studies generally assessed the frequency and severity of worry regarding disease pandemics ( 16 , 33 ), whereas other studies concentrated on assessing various worry contents, such as worries in social, economic, and life impacts, infection and related outcomes, and so on ( 34 – 36 ). Further studies can draw on the experience of these measurement tools on COVID-19 to explore mpox related worry.…”

“…Worrying about the occurrence of a disease pandemic is a key factor of public health significance. On the one hand, worry helps to promote protective health behaviors and contributes to the effective prevention and control of infectious diseases ( 16 , 17 ). On the other hand, worry affects people's mental health as researchers have found during the COVID-19 pandemic ( 18 , 19 ), which may be originated from stringent control measures (e.g., strict home quarantine, prohibition of gathering) and subsequently adverse impacts on the economy and people's daily routines ( 20 ).…”

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“…A study done based on TPB behavioral intention ranges from 64.9% to 70.6%to take COVID-19 vaccine uptake and the behavioral intention was positively associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. [38][39][40][41][42][43][44] This systematic review also included articles done using TRA five, EPPM seven, TTM two, SEM two, and SCT one.…”