Infection control in the home: a qualitative study exploring perceptions and experiences of adhering to protective behaviours in the home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to explore people's experiences and perceptions of implementing infection control behaviours in the home during the COVID-19 pandemic, guided by an online behavioural intervention.

DESIGN

Inductive qualitative study.

SETTING

UK public during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirteen people took part in telephone interviews, and 124 completed a qualitative open-text survey. All were recruited from the public. Most survey participants were aged over 60 years, while interview participants were more distributed in age. Most reported being at increased risk from COVID-19, and were white British.

INTERVENTION

Online behavioural intervention to support infection control behaviours in the home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DATA COLLECTION

Telephone think-aloud interviews and qualitative survey data.

DATA ANALYSIS

The think-aloud interview data and qualitative survey data were analysed independently using inductive thematic analysis. The findings were subsequently triangulated.

RESULTS

Thematic analysis of the telephone interviews generated seven themes. The themes identified from the survey data mapped well onto the interview analysis. Isolating and social distancing at home were less acceptable than cleaning and handwashing, influenced by the need for intimacy with household members. This was especially true in the absence of symptoms and when perceived risk was low. People felt more empowered when they understood that even small changes, such as spending time apart, were worthwhile to reduce exposure and lessen viral load.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study provided valuable insight into the acceptability and feasibility of protective behaviours, and how public health guidance could be incorporated into a behaviour change intervention for the public during a pandemic.