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COVID-19 Information-Seeking and Prevention Behaviors in Florida, April 2020

Supporting Files Public Domain
File Language:
English


Details

  • Journal Article:
    Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD)
  • Personal Author:
  • Description:
    Introduction

    Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surveillance can be enhanced by collecting population-level data on individual prevention measures. We described the use of a state-based, population-level surveillance system on COVID-19 prevention and information-seeking behaviors in Florida during the first month of survey administration.

    Methods

    Beginning in April 2020, respondents of the Florida Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were asked a series of 8 questions about sources of COVID-19 information and prevention behaviors. We analyzed the prevalence of information-seeking and prevention behaviors among respondents who answered at least 1 of the 8 questions (N = 1,004) overall, by demographic characteristics, and by the presence of chronic conditions.

    Results

    Most respondents reported engaging in prevention behaviors, including handwashing (98.2%), reducing or avoiding travel (96.6%), avoiding crowds and public events (96.5%), and keeping household members at home (87.5%); however, the prevalence of prevention behaviors varied significantly by age, sex, and education. The most frequently reported source of COVID-19 information was the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website (40.8%) followed by the Florida Department of Health’s website (32.9%). We found significant differences in information sources across all demographic and chronic condition subgroups. A larger proportion of respondents with chronic conditions (vs without chronic conditions) reported consulting their personal doctor for COVID-19 information.

    Conclusion

    Understanding the uptake and characteristics associated with individual prevention and information-seeking behaviors at the population level facilitates COVID-19 response efforts. The rapid implementation of COVID-19–related questions in the Florida BRFSS provides a useful model for other population-based surveillance systems.

  • Subjects:
  • Source:
    Prev Chronic Dis. 2021; 18
  • ISSN:
    1545-1151
  • Pubmed ID:
    33630730
  • Pubmed Central ID:
    PMC7938963
  • Document Type:
    Journal Article
  • Name as Subject:
    Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (U.S.)
  • Place as Subject:
    Florida
  • Location:
    North America
  • Volume:
    18
  • Collection(s):
  • Main Document Checksum:
    urn:sha-512:1b2cf3ecb50ac1e6630ff8d5576c9827222d55446841db70efdc0a3c8053a8cae1a144f1315e0b6d21989cd2ed6940899cd8f1ae9040c3d558914769ea3d80b6
  • Download URL:
  • File Type:
    Filetype[PDF - 462.91 KB ]

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