Tweet
Emerg Infect Dis
. 2021 Jan 25;27(4).
doi: 10.3201/eid2704.203328. Online ahead of print.
Dynamic Public Perceptions of the Coronavirus Disease Crisis, the Netherlands, 2020
Marion de Vries, Liesbeth Claassen, Margreet J M Te Wierik, Susan van den Hof, Anne E M Brabers, Judith D de Jong, Danielle R M Timmermans, Aura Timen
- PMID: 33493429
- DOI: 10.3201/eid2704.203328
Abstract
A key component of outbreak control is monitoring public perceptions and public response. To determine public perceptions and public responses during the first 3 months of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in the Netherlands, we conducted 6 repeated surveys of ≈3,000 persons. Generalized estimating equations analyses revealed changes over time as well as differences between groups at low and high risk. Overall, respondents perceived the risks associated with COVID-19 to be considerable, were positive about the mitigation measures, trusted the information and the measures from authorities, and adopted protective measures. Substantial increases were observed in risk perceptions and self-reported protective behavior in the first weeks of the outbreak. Individual differences were based mainly on participants' age and health condition. We recommend that authorities constantly adjust their COVID-19 communication and mitigation strategies to fit public perceptions and public responses and that they tailor the information for different groups.
Keywords: 2019 novel coronavirus disease; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; attitude; communication; coronavirus disease; disease outbreaks; health behavior; knowledge; perception; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; the Netherlands; trust; viruses; zoonoses.