Behavioural changes during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results of a nationwide survey in Singapore.
10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2020391
- Author:
Victoria J E LONG
1
;
Jean C J LIU
Author Information
1. Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Adult;
Age Factors;
Aged;
Aged, 80 and over;
COVID-19/psychology*;
Female;
Follow-Up Studies;
Hand Disinfection/trends*;
Health Behavior;
Health Policy;
Health Surveys;
Humans;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Pandemics;
Physical Distancing;
Risk-Taking;
Self Report;
Sex Factors;
Singapore/epidemiology*;
Socioeconomic Factors
- From:Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore
2021;50(3):222-231
- CountrySingapore
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
INTRODUCTION:As part of infection control measures for COVID-19, individuals have been encouraged to adopt both preventive (such as handwashing) and avoidant behavioural changes (e.g. avoiding crowds). In this study, we examined whether demographics predicted the likelihood that a person would adopt these behaviours in Singapore.
METHODS:A total of 1,145 participants responded to an online survey conducted between 7 March and 21 April 2020. We collected demographic information and asked participants to report which of 17 behaviour changes they had undertaken because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Regression analyses were performed to predict the number of behavioural changes (preventive, avoidant, and total) as a function of demographics. Finally, we sought to identify predictors of persons who declared that they had not undertaken any of these measures following the outbreak.
RESULTS:Most participants (97%) reported at least one behavioural change on account of the pandemic, with changes increasing with the number of local COVID-19 cases (
CONCLUSION:Our characterisation of behavioural changes provides a baseline for public health advisories. Moving forward, health authorities can focus their efforts on encouraging segments of the population who do not readily adopt infection control measures against COVID-19.
