Dataset Information

Variations in Early-Stage Responses to Pandemics: Survey Evidence from the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan.

ABSTRACT: During the initial phase of pandemics, swift behavioral responses by individuals, such as social distancing, can temper the speed and magnitude of further infections. However, individual choices in this period are often made in the absence of reliable knowledge and coordinated policy interventions, producing variation in protective behaviors that cannot be easily deduced from that in later periods. Using unique monthly panel survey data, we examine variations in the association between changes in infections and risky behavior, particularly the frequencies of face-to-face conversations and dining out, between January to March 2020. We find that the increase in confirmed cases is negatively associated with the likelihood of these behaviors. However, high school graduates are less responsive than university graduates. We provide evidence that this can be attributed to their lower perception of infection risk, while we cannot fully rule out the roles of income opportunity costs. These results point to the benefits of interventions incorporating nudges to raise individuals' risk perceptions during the initial phase of pandemics. We also discuss the potential efficacy of such interventions in later periods of pandemics.

Supplementary information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41885-021-00103-5.

SUBMITTER: Shoji M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8629334 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Variations in Early-Stage Responses to Pandemics: Survey Evidence from the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan.

Shoji Masahiro M Cato Susumu S Iida Takashi T Ishida Kenji K Ito Asei A McElwain Kenneth Mori KM

Economics of disasters and climate change 20211129 2

During the initial phase of pandemics, swift behavioral responses by individuals, such as social distancing, can temper the speed and magnitude of further infections. However, individual choices in this period are often made in the absence of reliable knowledge and coordinated policy interventions, producing variation in protective behaviors that cannot be easily deduced from that in later periods. Using unique monthly panel survey data, we examine variations in the association between changes i ...[more]

PMID: 34870077

Similar Datasets

Project description:ObjectiveTo examine risk perceptions and behavioural responses of the UK adult population during the early phase of the COVID-19 epidemic in the UK.DesignA cross-sectional survey.SettingConducted with a nationally representative sample of UK adults within 48 hours of the UK Government advising the public to stop non-essential contact with others and all unnecessary travel.Participants2108 adults living in the UK aged 18 years and over. Response rate was 84.3% (2108/2500). Data collected between 17 March and 18 March 2020.Main outcome measuresDescriptive statistics for all survey questions, including number of respondents and weighted percentages. Robust Poisson regression used to identify sociodemographic variation in: (1) adoption of social distancing measures, (2) ability to work from home, and (3) ability and (4) willingness to self-isolate.ResultsOverall, 1992 (94.2%) respondents reported at least one preventive measure: 85.8% washed their hands with soap more frequently; 56.5% avoided crowded areas and 54.5% avoided social events. Adoption of social distancing measures was higher in those aged over 70 years compared with younger adults aged 18-34 years (adjusted relative risk/aRR: 1.2; 95% CI: 1.1 to 1.5). Those with lowest household income were three times less likely to be able to work from home (aRR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.24 to 0.45) and less likely to be able to self-isolate (aRR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.88 to 0.96). Ability to self-isolate was also lower in black and minority ethnic groups (aRR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.79 to 1.0). Willingness to self-isolate was high across all respondents.ConclusionsAbility to adopt and comply with certain non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) is lower in the most economically disadvantaged in society. Governments must implement appropriate social and economic policies to mitigate this. By incorporating these differences in NPIs among socioeconomic subpopulations into mathematical models of COVID-19 transmission dynamics, our modelling of epidemic outcomes and response to COVID-19 can be improved.

Project description:BackgroundThe number of people undergoing cancer screening decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic may have affected the willingness and motivation of undergoing cancer screening by those eligible for it.ObjectiveThis study aims to clarify the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the intention to undergo cancer and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) screening.MethodsWe performed a web-based survey on the intention to undergo screening among 1236 men and women aged 20-79 years. The numbers of participants by sex and 10-year age groups were equal. The survey was conducted in January 2021, during which the government declared a state of emergency because of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. Emergency declarations were issued in 11 prefectures among all the 47 prefectures in Japan.ResultsIn total, 66.1% (817/1236) of the participants felt anxious about undergoing screening due to COVID-19. More women than men were anxious about undergoing screening. By modality, EGD had the highest percentage of participants with anxiety due to COVID-19. Regarding the intention to change the participants' appointment for screening, the most common strategies were to book an appointment for a time during nonpeak hours, postpone the appointment to a later date, and change the mode of transportation. In addition, 35.8% (442/1236) of the participants were willing to cancel this year's screening appointment. Among the 1236 participants, 757 (61.2%) were scheduled for screening in 2020. Of the 757 participants in this subgroup, 68% (n=515) did not change the schedule, 6.1% (n=46) cancelled, and 26% (n=197) made some changes, including changing the appointment date, hospital, or mode of transportation. Among the 296 participants scheduled for EGD screening, 18.9% (n=56) made some changes, 5.7% (n=17) cancelled on their own, and 2.7% (n=8) cancelled on the hospital's order. Based on the previous screening results, the percentage of participants who felt anxious about EGD due to the COVID-19 pandemic was higher in the order of those who had not undergone screening and those who were judged to be in need of further examination in screening but did not visit a hospital for it. In the logistic regression analysis, the factors associated with anxiety about EGD screening due to the COVID-19 pandemic were "viral infection prevention measures," "waiting time," "fees (medical expenses)," "mode of transportation," "worry about my social position if I contracted COVID-19," and "perceived the risk of gastric cancer." However, "residence in declared emergency area" was not associated with EGD anxiety due to COVID-19.ConclusionsExcessive anxiety about COVID-19 may lead to serious outcomes, such as a "decreasing intention to undergo EGD screening," and it is necessary to thoroughly implement infection prevention measures and provide correct information to examinees.

Dataset Information

Variations in Early-Stage Responses to Pandemics: Survey Evidence from the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan.

Supplementary information

Publications

Variations in Early-Stage Responses to Pandemics: Survey Evidence from the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets