A recent study published in the Journal of Emergency Management and Disaster Communication studied the impact of access to information regarding emergency behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study examined disease knowledge, dynamic news, government measures, and media in the context of how guidelines and information were communicated to the general public. The researchers analyzed preventative behaviors and their correlation with perceived risk among the general public, highlighting the profound effects media, misinformation, and public perception have on adhering to guidelines. The study notes that past research excluded the effects of information access during large-scale health crises, instead focusing on common infectious diseases.
A survey representative of the Chinese population was conducted with 802 participants. Given the prevalence of Chinese technology, media, and misinformation throughout the pandemic, researchers ensured that the survey targeted the primary sources of information that the general public sought during times of crisis. The survey included targeted questions such as, “How often do you access the following COVID-19-related information?” Additionally, the survey measured disease knowledge, news consumption, social updates, and more.
To ensure accurate results, researchers prioritized respondent credibility, information credibility, and the perceived effectiveness of COVID-19 prevention measures. The researchers used descriptive statistics to analyze socio-demographic characteristics, as well as a structural equation model (SEM).
The study found that access to dynamic news, disease knowledge, and government measures increased the perceived severity of the COVID-19 virus in China. On the other hand, social media usage was linked with heightened perceived susceptibility to COVID-19. Both perceived severity and media credibility were linked with preventive behaviors during the pandemic. Researchers noted that media credibility often served as a connection between access to information and such behaviors.
The researchers stated that future studies will focus on information access and its relationship to health behaviors in a longitudinal study setting, specifically how individuals’ perspectives and viewpoints can change over time.
By Justin Goldberg