scholarly journals Examining Australian public perceptions and behaviors towards a future COVID-19 vaccine

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly Seale ◽  
Anita E. Heywood ◽  
Julie Leask ◽  
Meru Sheel ◽  
David N. Durrheim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Private Health Insurance ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Careful Planning ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Public ◽  
Individual Perceptions ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Early Indication

Abstract Background As immunisation program launches have previously demonstrated, it is essential that careful planning occurs now to ensure the readiness of the public for a COVID-19 vaccine. As part of that process, this study aimed to understand the public perceptions regarding a future COVID-19 vaccine in Australia. Methods A national cross-sectional online survey of 1420 Australian adults (18 years and older) was undertaken between 18 and 24 March 2020. The statistical analysis of the data included univariate and multivariable logistic regression model analysis. Results Respondents generally held positive views towards vaccination. Eighty percent (n = 1143) agreed with the statement that getting myself vaccinated for COVID-19 would be a good way to protect myself against infection. Females (n = 614, 83%) were more likely to agree with the statement than males (n = 529, 78%) (aOR = 1.4 (95% CI: 1.1–1.8); P = 0.03), while 91% of those aged 70 years and above agreed compared to 76% of 18–29-year-olds (aOR = 2.3 (95% CI:1.2–4.1); P = 0.008). Agreement was also higher for those with a self-reported chronic disease (aOR = 1.4 (95% CI: 1.1–2.0); P = 0.04) and among those who held private health insurance (aOR = 1.7 (95% CI: 1.3–2.3); P < 0.001). Beyond individual perceptions, 78% stated that their decision to vaccinate would be supported by family and friends. Conclusion This study presents an early indication of public perceptions towards a future COVID-19 vaccine and represents a starting point for mapping vaccine perceptions. To support an effective launch of these new vaccines, governments need to use this time to understand the communities concerns and to identify the strategies that will support engagement.

scholarly journals Examining Australian public perceptions and behaviors towards a future COVID-19 vaccine

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly Seale ◽  
Anita E Heywood ◽  
Julie Leask ◽  
Meru Sheel ◽  
David N Durrheim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Private Health Insurance ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Public ◽  
Individual Perceptions ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Early Indication

Background: There is an indication that vaccine(s) for COVID-19 could be available by early 2021. As immunisation program launches have previously demonstrated, it is essential that careful planning occurs now to ensure the readiness of the public for a COVID-19 vaccine. As part of that process, this study aimed to understand the public perceptions regarding a future COVID-19 vaccine in Australia. Methods: A national cross-sectional online survey of 1420 Australian adults (18 years and older) was undertaken between 18 and 24 March 2020. The statistical analysis of the data included univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Participants generally held positive views towards vaccination. Eighty percent (n=1143) agreed with the statement that getting myself vaccinated for COVID-19 would be a good way to protect myself against infection. Females (614, 83%) were more likely to agree with the statement than males (529, 78%) (aOR=1.4 (95% CI: 1.1-1.8); P=0.029), while 90.9% aged 70 and above agreed compared to 76.6% aged 18-29 year old (aOR=2.3 (95% CI:1.2-4.1); 0.008). Agreement was also higher for those with a self-reported chronic disease (aOR=1.4 (95% CI: 1.1-2.0); P=0.043) and among those who held private health insurance (aOR=1.7 (95% CI: 1.3-2.3); P<0.001). Beyond individual perceptions, 78% stated that their decision to vaccinate would be supported by family and friends Conclusion: This study presents an early indication of public perceptions towards a future COVID-19 vaccine and represents a starting point for mapping vaccine perceptions. To support an effective launch of these new vaccines, governments need to use this time to understand the communities concerns and to identify the strategies that will support engagement.

scholarly journals COVID-19 is rapidly changing: Examining public perceptions and behaviors in response to this evolving pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Seale ◽  
AE Heywood ◽  
J Leask ◽  
M Sheel ◽  
S Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Attitudes And Beliefs ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Public ◽  
Avoidance Behaviors ◽  
Very High

ABSTRACTBackgroundSince the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in late 2019, communities have been required to rapidly adopt community mitigation strategies rarely used before, or only in limited settings. This study aimed to examine the attitudes and beliefs of Australian adults towards the COVID-19 pandemic, and willingness and capacity to engage with these mitigation measures. In addition, we aimed to explore the psychosocial and demographic factors that are associated with adoption of recommended hygiene-related and avoidance-related behaviors.MethodsA national cross-sectional online survey of 1420 Australian adults (18 years and older) was undertaken between the 18 and 24 March 2020. The statistical analysis of the data included univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.FindingsThe survey of 1420 respondents found 50% (710) of respondents felt COVID-19 would ‘somewhat’ affect their health if infected and 19% perceived their level of risk as high or very high. 84·9% had performed ≥1 of the three recommended hygiene-related behaviors and 93·4% performed ≥1 of six avoidance-related behaviors over the last one month. Adopting avoidance behaviors was associated with trust in government/authorities (aOR: 5·5, 95% CI 3-9·0), higher perceived rating of effectiveness of behaviors (aOR: 4·3, 95% CI: 2·8-6·9) and higher levels of perceived ability to adopt social distancing strategies (aOR: 1·8, 95% CI 1·1-3·0).InterpretationIn the last two months, members of the public have been inundated with messages about hygiene and social (physical) distancing. However, our results indicate that a continued focus on supporting community understanding of the rationale for these strategies, as well as instilling community confidence in their ability to adopt or sustain the recommendations is needed.FundingNone

scholarly journals What the Public Think about Social Services: A Report from Scotland

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 1146-1166
Author(s):  
Trish McCulloch ◽  
Stephen Webb
Keyword(s):  
Social Services ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Service Workers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Welfare Institutions ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Two Stages

Abstract This article reports on findings of a government-funded research project which set out to understand what the public think about social services in Scotland. The authors were particularly keen to examine issues of legitimacy, trust and licence to operate for social services as they are framed in public perceptions. Drawing on a national online survey of 2,505 nationally representative adults, the findings provide the first and largest empirical data set on public perceptions of social services in Scotland. Data analysis occurred in two stages and employed descriptive statistical measurement and cross-tabulation analysis. The findings indicate that, overall, people in Scotland are positive about social services and the value of their impact on society. Furthermore, they believe that social services perform a valuable public role. These findings are significant for debates surrounding social services and suggest that the Scottish public has a more positive view of social services than social service workers and welfare institutions typically perceive. The findings demonstrate the need to develop a more theoretically rich understanding of the relationships between public perception, legitimacy and social licence in social services, including attention to co-productive models of engagement.

scholarly journals A Network-Based Explanation of Perceived Inequality

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Schulz ◽  
Daniel Mayerhoffer ◽  
Anna Gebhard
Keyword(s):  
Public Perception ◽  
Small World ◽  
Geometric Graph ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Common Mechanism ◽  
Small World Networks ◽  
Promising Candidate ◽  
Random Geometric Graph ◽  
The Public ◽  
Individual Perceptions

Across income groups and countries, the public perception of economic inequality and many other macroeconomic variables such as inflation or unemployment rates is spectacularly wrong. These misperceptions have far-reaching consequences, as it is perceived inequality, not actual inequality informing redistributive preferences. The prevalence of this phenomenon is independent of social class and welfare regime, which suggests the existence of a common mechanism behind public perceptions. We propose a network-based explanation of perceived inequality building on recent advances in random geometric graph theory. The literature has identified several stylised facts on how individual perceptions respond to actual inequality and how these biases vary systematically along the income distribution. Our generating mechanism can replicate all of them simultaneously. It also produces social networks that exhibit salient features of real-world networks; namely, they cannot be statistically distinguished from small-world networks, testifying to the robustness of our approach. Our results, therefore, suggest that homophilic segregation is a promising candidate to explain inequality perceptions with strong implications for theories of consumption behaviour.

scholarly journals The Public Attitudes, Concerns and Behaviors towards Children Vaccination

2021 ◽  
pp. 39-43
Author(s):  
Nehad J. Ahmed ◽  
Abdulrahman S. Alrawili ◽  
Faisal Z. Alkhawaja
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Arabic Language ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Public ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Attitudes And Behavior ◽  
Public Concerns

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify the public concerns, attitudes and behavior towards vaccination. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study that included an online survey about the public concerns, attitudes and behavior towards vaccination in Saudi Arabia. The survey was translated to Arabic language and converted to an online form using google forms and after that it was sent to be filled by the parents. Results: About 92% of the respondents said that children should be vaccinated in order to protect them and about 86% of them believed that vaccinations are safe for children in general. Regarding the concerns about vaccination, about 69% of the respondents were concerned about the distress to children of the injection itself and 59% of them were concerned about the increasing number of vaccines recommended for children. Furthermore, about 62% of the respondents were concerned that vaccines are not tested enough for safety. Conclusion: The majority of respondents in this study reported positive attitude but more than half of them expressed some degree of concern regarding children vaccination. Healthcare professionals should play an active role in clarifying these concerns about vaccination with the public. Moreover, they should communicate with parents regarding the vaccinations and provide them with a trusted information about the vaccine.

scholarly journals Public perceptions of the use of gloves by healthcare workers and comparison with perceptions of student nurses

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 123-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennie Wilson ◽  
Aggie Bak ◽  
Andrea Whitfield ◽  
Andrew Dunnett ◽  
Heather Loveday
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Student Nurses ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Survey ◽  
Main Influence

Introduction: There is evidence that non-sterile clinical gloves (NSCG) are over-used by healthcare workers (HCWs) and are associated with cross-contamination. This study aimed to determine attitudes of student nurses and members of the public to the use of NSCG. Methods: Third-year student nurses completed a questionnaire indicating tasks for which they would wear NSCG and influences on their decision. Correlations between tasks were identified using exploratory factor analysis. An online survey of the public was conducted using snowball sampling method. Results: Sixty-seven students completed the questionnaire; they indicated use of NSCG for low-risk tasks and reported their own judgement as the main influence on their decision to wear them. Correlated tasks included ‘perceived to be risky’ or ‘definitive indication for gloves/no gloves’ and ‘related to personal hygiene’. A total of 142 respondents completed the public survey. They reported being uncomfortable with HCW wearing gloves for some personal tasks, e.g. assisting to toilet and dressing, but 94% preferred their use for washing ‘private parts’; 29% had observed inappropriate glove use by HCWs during recent contact with healthcare. Conclusion: Student nurses reported using NSCG routinely for tasks for which they are neither required nor recommended. The public observe inappropriate glove use and are uncomfortable with their use for some personal tasks.

scholarly journals Rapid implementation of cross-sectional study: Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) in a racially and ethnically diverse sample in Illinois

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin J Mermelstein ◽  
Meenakshy Aiyer ◽  
Christine Canfield ◽  
David Chestek ◽  
Judith A Cook ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Ethnically Diverse ◽  
Community Outreach ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Faith Based ◽  
Clinical Registries ◽  
Study Offer

ABSTRACT Little is known about the pattern and course of recovery following acute COVID-19. Increasing numbers of reports describe persistent illness following infection with SARS-COV-2, also known as Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC). This report describes the methods and results of a multi-pronged strategy to rapidly identify and enroll, over a one week period in April 2021, a racially and ethnically diverse sample of individuals and to characterize PASC among a this diverse sample. Participants were recruited through community outreach, clinical registries, and research registries across four cities in Illinois to complete an online survey. We examined presence of symptoms among 246 individuals who were at least three months past testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. Respondents were 70% female; 48% Hispanic/Latinx; 18% Black, and 28% White. Most had mild illness (78% were not hospitalized), and 26% reported they had not yet returned to their usual health within 3 months of their diagnosis. The most prevalent symptoms persisting 3-months following COVID-19 diagnosis included fatigue (20%), difficulty thinking (19%), problems with taste or smell (15%), and muscle or body aches (15%). In a multivariable logistic regression model, older age (40-59 vs. 18-39 years: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.46 [95% confidence interval, 0.24 to 0.90]) and having been hospitalized with COVID-19 (vs. not hospitalized: aOR = 0.28 [0.12 to 0.64]) were independently associated with a lower likelihood of recovery within 3 months. Compromised health continued well beyond the acute phase of COVID-19 in our ethnically diverse sample, especially among older individuals and those who were hospitalized. The partnerships with community- and faith-based organizations developed for the current study offer the potential to broadly disseminate study findings and to further understand and mitigate underlying determinants of risk, severity, and duration of PASC.

scholarly journals Status, causes and consequences of physicians’ self-perceived professional reputation damage in China: a cross-sectional survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Sun ◽  
Jinghui Wang ◽  
Shu’e Zhang ◽  
Yu Shi ◽  
Bei Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
The Public ◽  
Professional Reputation ◽  
Chinese Physicians

Abstract Background Conflict between physicians and patients is an increasingly serious problem, leading to the disrepute attached to Chinese physicians’ social image and position. This study assesses the status of physicians’ self-perceived professional reputation damage and explains it’s the adverse outcomes including withdrawal behavior and workplace well-being. Moreover, potential causes of Chinese physicians’ disrepute have been outlined. Methods Primary data were collected through a cross-sectional online survey of physicians from 10 provinces in China, who were invited to complete an anonymous survey from December 2018 to January 2019. A total of 842 physicians (effective response rate: 92.22%) were recruited as participants. Results About 83% of the participants self-perceived professional reputation damage from the sense of the public opinion concept. Approach half of participants exhibited the idea of turnover intention (47.3%) and one or more symptoms of burnout (46.4%). About 74.9% of the participants experienced a degree of stress. Additionally, three out of five participants reported low-level subjective well-being. More than 70% of the participants disapproved of their offspring becoming a physician. Four factors leading to physicians’ damaged professional reputations are those addressed: conflict transfer, cognitive bias, improper management, and individual deviance. Stigmatised physicians are more likely to practice high-frequent defensive medicine (β = 0.172, P <0.001), intend to leave the profession (β = 0.240, P <0.001), disapprove of their children becoming physicians (β = 0.332, P<0.001) and yield worse levels of workplace well-being, including high levels of perceived stress (β = 0.214, P <0.001), increasing burnout (β = 0.209, P <0.001), and declining sense of well-being (β = − 0.311, P<0.001). Conclusion Chinese physicians were aware of damaged professional reputations from the sense of the public opinion concept, which contributes to increasing withdrawal behaviors and decreasing workplace well-being—a worsening trend threatening the entire health system. This novel evidence argues a proposal that Chinese health policy-makers and hospital administrators should promote the destigmatization of physicians immediately.

scholarly journals Physician related barriers towards insulin therapy at primary care centres in Trinidad: a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shastri Motilal
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Insulin Therapy ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
The Public

Abstract Background Physician related factors with respect to insulin therapy can contribute to diabetes mellitus (DM) mismanagement. Patient related factors have been previously explored in a Trinidad survey. The main objective of this study was to explore primary care physicians’ (PCPs) related barriers towards insulin therapy. Methods A cross-sectional study on a convenience sample of PCPs in the public primary care system was done using an online survey. Results Of the 170 PCPs contacted, 75 (44%) responded. There were 47 females (62.7%) and 28 males (37.3%) with a mean age of 35.9 yrs. Nearly 40% of physicians admitted that the education given to patients was inadequate to allow initiation of insulin therapy. Half the respondents admitted to insufficient consultation times and inadequate appointment frequency to allow for intensification of insulin therapy. Forty percent of PCPs admitted that HbA1c results were unavailable to guide their management decisions. Only 6.7% of physicians said they had access to rapid acting insulin, while 5.3% said they had access to insulin pens. Conclusion PCPs in Trinidad treating diabetes at the public primary care clinics face several barriers in administering proper insulin therapy. Addressing these factors can improve glycemic control in this population.

scholarly journals Physical assessment in pharmacy practice: Perspectives from pharmacists, nonpharmacist health care providers and the public

2021 ◽  
pp. 171516352110049
Author(s):  
Christine Leong ◽  
Leila Soufi
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Vital Signs ◽  
Pharmacy Practice ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Physical Assessment ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Future

Background: Physical assessment in pharmacy practice is not a new concept, yet the idea is still unfamiliar to many people. Canadian pharmacy graduates are expected to be trained in physical examination as it relates to drug therapy. However, standard delivery of course content in this area has not been clearly established, and previous publications have reported low uptake of this practice despite formal training. To aid the future development of a physical assessment course for pharmacists that is relevant to practice and will contribute to patient care, it is important to gather insight from practising pharmacists, health care providers and the public. Objective: To determine the type of physical assessment skills that would be of value to pharmacy practice and the benefits and barriers of these skills in practice from the perspectives of pharmacists, health care providers and the public. Methods: This was a cross-sectional online survey of pharmacists, nonpharmacist health care providers and the public. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to describe data. Results: A total of 348 respondents (98 pharmacists, 154 nonpharmacist health care providers, 96 public) completed the survey. Most (64%) nonpharmacist providers were physiotherapists or occupational therapists (only 6.5% physicians). Most respondents felt that performing basic vital signs was relevant to pharmacy practice (79% pharmacists, 69% other providers, 79% public) and felt confident and comfortable about pharmacists using these skills. Palpation, percussion and auscultation were rated less favourably (<50% for most respondents). Nonpharmacist providers tended to be less favourable than pharmacist and public respondents. Seven themes related to benefits and 13 themes related to disadvantages of pharmacists performing physical assessment were identified. Conclusion: These findings provide insight into opinions about the value of pharmacists performing physical assessments. Consensus recommendations on performance expectations to improve recognition of pharmacists in this area is needed in the future. Can Pharm J (Ott) 2021;154:xx-xx.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document