1 Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
2 Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Asia Pac J Public Health. 2019 Apr;31(3):246-256. doi: 10.1177/1010539519844082. Epub 2019 Apr 21.
Although vaccination is the first-line strategy controlling and preventing influenza A/H1N1 for older adults, personal protective measures, such as wearing facemasks, are also important preventive behaviors to reduce the risk of becoming infected with influenza A/H1N1 during a pandemic. In the current study, we aimed to explore the belief-related psychological factors of wearing facemasks for influenza A/H1N1 prevention in a sample of Hong Kong older adults. Community-dwelling Chinese adults (N = 137) aged between 65 and 80 years (M = 75.10; SD = 6.49) participated in semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed using theoretical thematic analysis and identified themes were matched deductively within the belief-based processes of the health belief model. Results revealed beliefs that underpinned 4 general dimensions of facemask wearing: (1) perceived susceptibility and seriousness of influenza A/H1N1 pandemic (e.g., influenza A/H1N1 as contagious and lethal), (2) modifying factors (e.g., social responsibility to prevent influenza), (3) cues to action (e.g., seeing others doing it), and (4) perceived benefits and barriers (e.g., protects oneself and others, difficult to breathe). Future interventions can target these beliefs to improve facemask wearing of older adults and, thus, curb preventable infection rates during an influenza A/H1N1 pandemic.
虽然接种疫苗是控制和预防老年人甲型 H1N1 流感的首要策略，但个人防护措施，如戴口罩，也是减少大流行期间感染甲型 H1N1 流感风险的重要预防行为。在本研究中，我们旨在探讨香港老年人群体中与戴口罩预防甲型 H1N1 相关的信念相关心理因素。我们邀请了 137 名年龄在 65 至 80 岁之间（M=75.10；SD=6.49）的社区居住的中国成年人参与半结构式访谈。使用理论主题分析对数据进行分析，并根据健康信念模型的信念基础过程进行演绎匹配。结果揭示了支持戴口罩的 4 个一般维度的信念：（1）对甲型 H1N1 大流行的易感性和严重性的认知（例如，甲型 H1N1 具有传染性和致命性）；（2）修饰因素（例如，对预防流感的社会责任）；（3）行动线索（例如，看到其他人在这样做）；（4）感知收益和障碍（例如，保护自己和他人，呼吸困难）。未来的干预措施可以针对这些信念，以提高老年人戴口罩的意愿，从而在甲型 H1N1 流感大流行期间遏制可预防的感染率。
