Application of the protection motivation theory to understand determinants of compliance with the measure of banning gathering size >4 in all public areas for controlling COVID-19 in a Hong Kong Chinese adult general population.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Restriction of gathering size in all public areas is a newly and commonly exercised governmental social distancing policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its effectiveness depends on the general public's compliance. This study applied the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) to investigate determinants (i.e., perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, perceived response efficacy, and perceived self-efficacy) of compliance with the social distancing policy of banning gathering of >4 people in all public areas (BG4PA) in the Hong Kong general adult population.

Methods

300 participants were interviewed through a population-based telephone survey during April 21-28, 2020.

Results

The compliance rate of BG4PA was high (78%). Adjusted for the background factors, m

SUBMITTER: Yu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9089903 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature