scholarly journals Factors associated with adherence to self-isolation and lockdown measures in the UK: a cross-sectional survey

Public Health ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 187 ◽  
pp. 41-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.E. Smith ◽  
R. Amlȏt ◽  
H. Lambert ◽  
I. Oliver ◽  
C. Robin ◽  
...  
Author(s):  
Louise E. Smith ◽  
Richard Amlôt ◽  
Helen Lambert ◽  
Isabel Oliver ◽  
Charlotte Robin ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivesTo investigate factors associated with adherence to self-isolation and lockdown measures due to COVID-19 in the UK.DesignOnline cross-sectional survey.SettingData were collected between 6th and 7th May 2020.Participants2240 participants living in the UK aged 18 years or over. Participants were recruited from YouGov’s online research panel.Main outcome measuresHaving gone out in the last 24 hours in those who reported symptoms of COVID-19 in their household. Having gone out shopping for items other than groceries, toiletries or medicines (non-essentials), and total number of outings, in the last week in those who reported no symptoms of COVID-19 in their household.Results217 people (9.7%) reported that they or someone in their household had symptoms of COVID-19 (cough or high temperature / fever) in the last seven days. Of these people, 75.1% had left the home in the last 24 hours (defined as non-adherent). Factors associated with non-adherence were being male, less worried about COVID-19, and perceiving a smaller risk of catching COVID-19. Adherence was associated with having received help from someone outside your household. Results should be taken with caution as there was no evidence for associations when controlling for multiple analyses. Of people reporting no symptoms in the household, 24.5% had gone out shopping for non-essentials in the last week (defined as non-adherent). Factors associated with non-adherence and with a higher total number of outings in the last week included decreased perceived effectiveness of Government “lockdown” measures, decreased perceived severity of COVID-19, and decreased estimates of how many other people were following lockdown rules. Having received help was associated with better adherence.ConclusionsAdherence to self-isolation is poor. As we move into a new phase of contact tracing and self-isolation, it is essential that adherence is improved. Communications should aim to increase knowledge about actions to take when symptomatic or if you have been in contact with a possible COVID-19 case. They should also emphasise the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19 when out and about and the effectiveness of preventative measures. Using volunteer networks effectively to support people in isolation may promote adherence.WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS TOPICThe UK Government introduced “lockdown” measures, including physical or ‘social’ distancing, on 23rd March 2020 due to COVID-19.Government guidance states that people with symptoms of COVID-19 should not leave their home, also known as self-isolation.There is no research investigating adherence to self-isolation and lockdown measures, or factors associated with self-isolation or lockdown measures in the UK.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDSApproximately 10% of participants indicated that they had had symptoms of potential COVID-19 (cough and high temperature / fever) in the last week. Of these participants, 75% had left their home in the last 24 hours.Factors associated with non-adherence to self-isolation measures included being male, less worried about COVID-19, and perceiving a smaller risk of catching COVID-19. However, these results should be taken with caution as there was no longer evidence for associations when correcting for multiple analyses.25% of people who reported no symptoms in their household reported having gone out shopping for items other than groceries, toiletries or medicines in the last week; this was not allowed by Government guidelines in place at the time of data collection.Factors associated with non-adherence to lockdown measures, and increased number of outings in the last week, included decreased perceived effectiveness of Government “lockdown” measures, decreased perceived severity of COVID-19, and decreased estimates of how many other people were following lockdown rules.


2020 ◽  
pp. 014107682096206
Author(s):  
Louise E Smith ◽  
Bobby Duffy ◽  
Vivienne Moxham-Hall ◽  
Lucy Strang ◽  
Simon Wessely ◽  
...  

Objectives To investigate factors associated with anger or confronting others due to COVID-19. Design Online cross-sectional survey. Setting Data were collected between 17 and 20 July 2020. Participants A total of 2237 participants living in the UK aged 16–75 years. Main outcome measures Reporting having had arguments, felt angry or fallen out with others because of COVID-19. Reporting having confronted or reported someone to the authorities, or that you had been confronted or reported to the authorities, for not wearing a face covering; not keeping your distance from others or being in too large a group; or alternatively following recommended measures too carefully. We used logistic regression analyses to identify factors associated with anger and confrontation. Results Most participants reported having had arguments, feeling angry or fallen out with others because of COVID-19 (56%, n = 1255). Twenty-two percent (n = 500) of participants reported that they had confronted or reported someone. Fourteen percent (n = 304) of participants reported that they had been confronted or reported by someone. Confronting someone, having been confronted and feeling angry or having had arguments were strongly associated with each other. Anger and confrontation were associated with younger age, greater likelihood of experiencing significant financial difficulties due to the pandemic, greater perceived risk of COVID-19 and getting information about COVID-19 from social media. Conclusions Measures put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have caused considerable strain. Increased support, clear messaging on the rationale for easing restrictions and combatting misinformation on social media may all help decrease tension.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise E. Smith ◽  
Danai Serfioti ◽  
Dale Weston ◽  
Neil Greenberg ◽  
G James Rubin

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are frontline responders to emergency infectious disease outbreaks such as COVID-19. We investigated factors associated with adherence to personal protective behaviours in UK HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic using an online cross-sectional survey of 1035 healthcare professionals in the UK. Data were collected between 12th and 16th June 2020. Adjusted logistic regressions were used to separately investigate factors associated with adherence to use of personal protective equipment, maintaining good hand hygiene, and physical distancing from colleagues. Adherence to personal protective measures was suboptimal (PPE use: 80.0%, 95% CI [77.3 to 82.8], hand hygiene: 67.8%, 95% CI [64.6 to 71.0], coming into close contact with colleagues: 74.7%, 95% CI [71.7 to 77.7]). Adherence to PPE use was associated with having adequate PPE resources, receiving training during the pandemic, lower perceived fatalism from COVID-19, higher perceived social norms and higher perceived effectiveness of PPE. Adherence to physical distancing was associated with one's workplace being designed, using markings to facilitate physical distancing and receiving training during the pandemic. There were few associations with adherence to hand hygiene. Findings indicate HCWs should receive training on personal protective behaviours to decrease fatalism over contracting COVID-19 and increase perceived effectiveness of protective measures.


Author(s):  
Susan Mary Sherman ◽  
Louise E. Smith ◽  
Julius Sim ◽  
Richard Amlôt ◽  
Megan Cutts ◽  
...  

Aim: To investigate factors associated with intention to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Methods: Online cross-sectional survey of 1,500 UK adults, recruited from an existing online research panel. Data were collected between 14th and 17th July 2020. We used linear regression analyses to investigate associations between intention to be vaccinated for COVID-19 when a vaccine becomes available to you and socio-demographic factors, previous influenza vaccination, general vaccine attitudes and beliefs, attitudes and beliefs about COVID-19, and attitudes and beliefs about a COVID-19 vaccination. Results: 64% of participants reported being likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19; 27% were unsure and 9% reported being unlikely to be vaccinated. Personal and clinical characteristics, previous influenza vaccination, general vaccination beliefs, and beliefs and attitudes about COVID-19 and a COVID-19 vaccination explained 77% of the variance in vaccination intention. Intention to be vaccinated was associated with more positive general COVID-19 vaccination beliefs and attitudes, weaker beliefs that the vaccination would cause side effects or be unsafe, greater perceived information sufficiency to make an informed decision about COVID-19 vaccination, greater perceived risk of COVID-19 to others but not oneself, older age, and having been vaccinated for influenza last winter (2019/20). Conclusions: Despite uncertainty around the details of a COVID-19 vaccination, most participants reported intending to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Actual uptake will likely be lower. Vaccination intention reflects general vaccine beliefs and attitudes. Campaigns and messaging about a COVID-19 vaccination should emphasize the risk of COVID-19 to others and necessity for everyone to be vaccinated.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e000942
Author(s):  
Oliver G P Lawton ◽  
Sarah A Lawton ◽  
Lisa Dikomitis ◽  
Joanne Protheroe ◽  
Joanne Smith ◽  
...  

COVID-19 has significantly impacted young people’s lives yet little is known about the COVID-19 related sources of information they access. We performed a cross-sectional survey of pupils (11–16 years) in North Staffordshire, UK. 408 (23%) pupils responded to an online survey emailed to them by their school. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data. Social media, accessed by 68%, played a significant role in the provision of information, despite it not being considered trustworthy. 89% felt that COVID-19 had negatively affected their education. Gaps in the provision of information on COVID-19 have been identified.


Author(s):  
Soufiane El Moussaoui ◽  
Kamal Kaoutar ◽  
Ahmed Chetoui ◽  
Abdeslam El Kardoudi ◽  
Fatiha Chigr ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Exclusive breastfeeding is the best form of nutrition for infants during the first 6 months of life. Nevertheless, the practice of breastfeeding is currently declining throughout the world. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) practice and its associated factors among mothers living in Marrakesh province, Morocco. METHODS: The data were collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding practice. RESULTS: Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 50.2%. Mothers with age more than 30 years, residing in rural area, receiving counseling related breastfeeding during antenatal follow up and having knowledge about duration of breastfeeding were more likely to practice exclusive breastfeeding than their counterparts. CONCLUSION: Although the prevalence of breastfeeding in Marrakesh was higher than the last national survey report but it is still insufficient. These findings have to stress authorities and deciders to sensitize mothers and future mothers to increase exclusive breastfeeding practice notably through the involvement of health professionals.


Author(s):  
Yoko Iwaki ◽  
Santosh Kumar Rauniyar ◽  
Shuhei Nomura ◽  
Michael C. Huang

Tuberculosis (TB) has still remained a serious global health threat in low- and middle-income countries in recent years. As of 2021, Nepal is one of the high TB burden countries, with an increasing prevalence of cases. This study evaluates factors associated with TB awareness in Nepal. This study uses data from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, a cross-sectional survey carried out from June 2016 to January 2017. Multilevel logistic regression is performed to examine the association of demographic and socioeconomic factors with TB awareness. Our findings show a high level of TB awareness in all seven provinces of Nepal. Province 5 has the highest level of awareness (98.1%) among all provinces, followed by provinces 3 and 4, while province 6 has the lowest awareness level (93.2%) compared to others. Socioeconomic factors such as wealth, education and owning a mobile phone are significantly associated with TB awareness. Socioeconomic determinants are influential factors associated with TB awareness in Nepal. The wide variation in the proportion of awareness at a regional level emphasizes the importance of formulating tailored strategies to increase TB awareness. For instance, the use of mobile phones could be an effective strategy to promote TB awareness at a regional level. This study provides valuable evidence to support further research on the contribution of information and communication technology (ICT) usage to improving TB awareness in Nepal.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tun Min Bo ◽  
Yohei Hama ◽  
Norihisa Akiba ◽  
Shunsuke Minakuchi

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