TY  - JOUR
AU  - Tetteh, Emmanuel Kwabena
AU  - Combs, Todd
AU  - Geng, Elvin Hsing
AU  - McKay, Virginia Ruth
PY  - 2022
DA  - 2022/9/30
TI  - Public Health Information Seeking, Trust, and COVID-19 Prevention Behaviors: Cross-sectional Study
JO  - J Med Internet Res
SP  - e37846
VL  - 24
IS  - 9
KW  - COVID-19
KW  - public health
KW  - health communication
KW  - trust and mistrust
KW  - disease prevention
KW  - health measure
KW  - health information
KW  - cross-sectional study
KW  - Health Belief Model
AB  - Background: Preventative health measures such as shelter in place and mask wearing have been widely encouraged to curb the spread of the COVID-19 disease. People’s attitudes toward preventative behaviors may be dependent on their sources of information and trust in the information. Objective: The aim of this study was to understand the relationship between trusting in COVID-19 information and preventative behaviors in a racially and politically diverse metropolitan area in the United States. Methods: We conducted a web-based cross-sectional survey of residents in St. Louis City and County in Missouri. Individuals aged ≥18 years were eligible to participate. Participants were recruited using a convenience sampling approach through social media and email. The Health Belief Model and the Socioecological Model informed instrument development, as well as COVID-19–related questions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We performed an ordinary least squares linear regression model to estimate social distancing practices, perceptions, and trust in COVID-19 information sources. Results: Of the 1650 eligible participants, the majority (n=1381, 83.7%) had sought or received COVID-19–related information from a public health agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or both. Regression analysis showed a 1% increase in preventative behaviors for every 12% increase in trust in governmental health agencies. At their lowest levels of trust, women were 68% more likely to engage in preventative behaviors than men. Overall, those aged 18-45 years without vulnerable medical conditions were the least likely to engage in preventative behaviors. Conclusions: Trust in COVID-19 information increases an individual’s likelihood of practicing preventative behaviors. Effective health communication strategies should be used to effectively disseminate health information during disease outbreaks. 
SN  - 1438-8871
UR  - https://www.jmir.org/2022/9/e37846
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/37846
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36084197
DO  - 10.2196/37846
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/37846
ER  -