Florida Department of Health, Public Health Research Unit, Division of Community Health Promotion, Tallahassee, Florida.
Public Health Research, Division of Community Health Promotion, Florida Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #A24, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1712. Email:
Prev Chronic Dis. 2021 Feb 25;18:E17. doi: 10.5888/pcd18.200575.
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.
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.
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.
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.
通过收集个人预防措施的人群水平数据，可以增强对 2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）的监测。我们描述了在佛罗里达州 COVID-19 预防和信息搜索行为的基于州的人群水平监测系统的使用情况，该系统在调查管理的第一个月内进行。
从 2020 年 4 月开始，佛罗里达州行为风险因素监测系统的受访者被问及有关 COVID-19 信息和预防行为的 8 个问题。我们分析了至少回答了 8 个问题中的 1 个问题的受访者（N = 1,004）的信息搜索和预防行为的流行率，按人口统计学特征和慢性疾病的存在情况进行了分析。
大多数受访者报告采取了预防措施，包括洗手（98.2％），减少或避免旅行（96.6％），避免人群和公共活动（96.5％）以及让家庭成员留在家里（87.5％）；但是，预防行为的流行率在年龄，性别和教育程度上有很大差异。报告 COVID-19 信息的最常见来源是疾病控制与预防中心的网站（40.8％），其次是佛罗里达州卫生部的网站（32.9％）。我们发现，在所有人口统计学和慢性疾病亚组中，信息来源都存在差异。有慢性疾病的受访者（与没有慢性疾病的受访者相比）报告更多地咨询私人医生以获取 COVID-19 信息。
了解人群中个人预防和信息搜索行为的采用情况和特征有助于 COVID-19 应对工作。在佛罗里达州 BRFSS 中快速实施与 COVID-19 相关的问题为其他基于人群的监测系统提供了有用的模型。
