Knowledge, Attitude, and Self-Reported Practice Towards Measures for Prevention of the Spread of COVID-19 Among Australians: A Nationwide Online Longitudinal Representative Survey
Objective: To assess and share learnings on the motivators and behavioural adherence across sex and age to evolving strategies in public policy to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 at the end of a first COVID-19 wave and the beginning of a second COVID-19 wave in Australia.Design and Setting: A natio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.630189/full |
| _version_ | 1818618768558915584 |
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| author | Joanne Enticott Joanne Enticott William Slifirski Kim L. Lavoie Kim L. Lavoie Simon L. Bacon Simon L. Bacon Helena J. Teede Helena J. Teede Jacqueline A. Boyle Jacqueline A. Boyle |
| author_facet | Joanne Enticott Joanne Enticott William Slifirski Kim L. Lavoie Kim L. Lavoie Simon L. Bacon Simon L. Bacon Helena J. Teede Helena J. Teede Jacqueline A. Boyle Jacqueline A. Boyle |
| author_sort | Joanne Enticott |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: To assess and share learnings on the motivators and behavioural adherence across sex and age to evolving strategies in public policy to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 at the end of a first COVID-19 wave and the beginning of a second COVID-19 wave in Australia.Design and Setting: A national longitudinal survey using a framework based on evidence-based behaviour change models. The survey was administered to a national sample representative across sex, age and location was undertaken at two time points: May 1st to 5th, 2020, and July 1st to 7th, 2020.Results: Overall 2,056 surveys were completed across the first and second rounds, with 63% (1,296/2,056) completing both. Age range was 18–99 years (median 53, IQR: 34–64). Suboptimal physical distancing and self-quarantining if unwell/diagnosed was reported in one in four respondents and not getting a test at onset of symptoms reported in one in three. Those non-adherent to all three behaviours (19%, 60/323), were mainly male, younger, lived in major cities and reported fewer concerns or motivators to change behaviour. Overall, government lockdown measures were considered very important by 81% (835/1,032) and appropriate by 75% (772/1,029).Conclusions: Prior to the suppression of a second COVID-19 wave, a significant minority of Australians reported suboptimal behavioural adherence to vital policy strategies to limit SARS-CoV-2 spread, mostly young adults and men. Successful wave 2 suppression required consistent communication from political and health leaders and supportive public health and economic strategies. Additional lockdown and punitive strategies were needed in Victoria and were generally well-supported and adhered to. To limit subsequent lockdown, this work reinforces the need for a mix of communication around saving lives of the vulnerable, and other strategies targeting high risk groups, facilitation of easy testing and minimisation of financial impacts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T17:26:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2a93986c13464848a99bcb5b30b01bf6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T17:26:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-2a93986c13464848a99bcb5b30b01bf62022-12-21T22:23:02ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652021-06-01910.3389/fpubh.2021.630189630189Knowledge, Attitude, and Self-Reported Practice Towards Measures for Prevention of the Spread of COVID-19 Among Australians: A Nationwide Online Longitudinal Representative SurveyJoanne Enticott0Joanne Enticott1William Slifirski2Kim L. Lavoie3Kim L. Lavoie4Simon L. Bacon5Simon L. Bacon6Helena J. Teede7Helena J. Teede8Jacqueline A. Boyle9Jacqueline A. Boyle10Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, AustraliaMonash Partners Academic Health Science Centre, Clayton, VIC, AustraliaMonash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, AustraliaDepartment of Psychology, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, QC, CanadaMontreal Behavioral Medicine Centre, Centre Integrée Universitaire de Santé et Services Sociaux du Nord de l'Ile de Montréal (CIUSSS-NIM), Montreal, QC, CanadaMontreal Behavioral Medicine Centre, Centre Integrée Universitaire de Santé et Services Sociaux du Nord de l'Ile de Montréal (CIUSSS-NIM), Montreal, QC, CanadaDepartment of Health, Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, CanadaMonash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, AustraliaMonash Partners Academic Health Science Centre, Clayton, VIC, AustraliaMonash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, AustraliaSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaObjective: To assess and share learnings on the motivators and behavioural adherence across sex and age to evolving strategies in public policy to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 at the end of a first COVID-19 wave and the beginning of a second COVID-19 wave in Australia.Design and Setting: A national longitudinal survey using a framework based on evidence-based behaviour change models. The survey was administered to a national sample representative across sex, age and location was undertaken at two time points: May 1st to 5th, 2020, and July 1st to 7th, 2020.Results: Overall 2,056 surveys were completed across the first and second rounds, with 63% (1,296/2,056) completing both. Age range was 18–99 years (median 53, IQR: 34–64). Suboptimal physical distancing and self-quarantining if unwell/diagnosed was reported in one in four respondents and not getting a test at onset of symptoms reported in one in three. Those non-adherent to all three behaviours (19%, 60/323), were mainly male, younger, lived in major cities and reported fewer concerns or motivators to change behaviour. Overall, government lockdown measures were considered very important by 81% (835/1,032) and appropriate by 75% (772/1,029).Conclusions: Prior to the suppression of a second COVID-19 wave, a significant minority of Australians reported suboptimal behavioural adherence to vital policy strategies to limit SARS-CoV-2 spread, mostly young adults and men. Successful wave 2 suppression required consistent communication from political and health leaders and supportive public health and economic strategies. Additional lockdown and punitive strategies were needed in Victoria and were generally well-supported and adhered to. To limit subsequent lockdown, this work reinforces the need for a mix of communication around saving lives of the vulnerable, and other strategies targeting high risk groups, facilitation of easy testing and minimisation of financial impacts.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.630189/fullCOVID-19representative survey Australiarepresentative surveypublic health behaviourhealth policies |
| spellingShingle | Joanne Enticott Joanne Enticott William Slifirski Kim L. Lavoie Kim L. Lavoie Simon L. Bacon Simon L. Bacon Helena J. Teede Helena J. Teede Jacqueline A. Boyle Jacqueline A. Boyle Knowledge, Attitude, and Self-Reported Practice Towards Measures for Prevention of the Spread of COVID-19 Among Australians: A Nationwide Online Longitudinal Representative Survey Frontiers in Public Health COVID-19 representative survey Australia representative survey public health behaviour health policies |
| title | Knowledge, Attitude, and Self-Reported Practice Towards Measures for Prevention of the Spread of COVID-19 Among Australians: A Nationwide Online Longitudinal Representative Survey |
| title_full | Knowledge, Attitude, and Self-Reported Practice Towards Measures for Prevention of the Spread of COVID-19 Among Australians: A Nationwide Online Longitudinal Representative Survey |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge, Attitude, and Self-Reported Practice Towards Measures for Prevention of the Spread of COVID-19 Among Australians: A Nationwide Online Longitudinal Representative Survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge, Attitude, and Self-Reported Practice Towards Measures for Prevention of the Spread of COVID-19 Among Australians: A Nationwide Online Longitudinal Representative Survey |
| title_short | Knowledge, Attitude, and Self-Reported Practice Towards Measures for Prevention of the Spread of COVID-19 Among Australians: A Nationwide Online Longitudinal Representative Survey |
| title_sort | knowledge attitude and self reported practice towards measures for prevention of the spread of covid 19 among australians a nationwide online longitudinal representative survey |
| topic | COVID-19 representative survey Australia representative survey public health behaviour health policies |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.630189/full |
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