Health Sciences, University of Liverpool, Thompson Yates Building, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L69 3GB, UK.
Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
BMC Public Health. 2023 Apr 5;23(1):653. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-15439-8.
Social distancing restrictions to manage the COVID-19 pandemic were put in place from March 2020 in the United Kingdom (UK), with those classed as "highly clinically vulnerable" advised to shield entirely and remain at home. However, personal risk perception has been shown to comprise of various elements beyond those outlined in the national pandemic guidance. It is unclear whether those deemed COVID-19 vulnerable identified as high-risk to COVID-19 and thus complied with the relevant advice. The aim of this research is to explore the perception of risk in catching and spreading COVID-19, amongst individuals from individual households, and vulnerable groups in a region of the UK.
Two individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted, four-weeks apart, with adults living in households in the Liverpool City Region. At the follow-up interview, participants were given the option of using photo-elicitation to guide the discussion. Reflexive thematic analysis was employed to conceptualise themes. The qualitative analysis was underpinned with symbolic interactionism.
Twenty-seven participants (13:14 males:females, and 20 with a vulnerable risk factor to COVID-19) completed a baseline interview, and 15 of these completed a follow-up interview four-weeks later. Following thematic analysis, two overarching themes were conceptualised, with subthemes discussed: theme 1) Confusion and trust in the risk prevention guidance; and theme 2) Navigating risk: compliance and non-compliance with public health guidance.
Participants developed their own understanding of COVID-19 risk perception through personal experience and comparison with others around them, irrespective of vulnerability status. COVID-19 guidance was not complied with as intended by the government, and at times even rejected due to lack of trust. The format in which future pandemic guidance is conveyed must be carefully considered, and take into account individuals' experiences that may lead to non-compliance. The findings from our study can inform future public health policy and interventions for COVID-19 and future pandemics.
2020 年 3 月，英国（UK）开始实施社交距离限制措施以应对 COVID-19 大流行，建议那些被归类为“高度临床易感染”的人完全隔离并留在家里。然而，个人风险感知除了国家大流行指南中所概述的因素之外，还包括其他各种因素。目前尚不清楚那些被认为对 COVID-19 脆弱的人是否被确定为对 COVID-19 高风险，因此是否遵守了相关建议。本研究的目的是探索在英国利物浦地区的个体家庭和弱势群体中，个人对感染和传播 COVID-19 的风险感知。
对居住在利物浦城市地区的家庭中的成年人进行了两次单独的半结构式访谈，间隔四周。在随访访谈中，为参与者提供了使用照片诱发法来指导讨论的选择。采用反思性主题分析来概念化主题。定性分析以符号互动主义为基础。
27 名参与者（13 名男性：14 名女性，20 名有 COVID-19 脆弱风险因素）完成了基线访谈，其中 15 名参与者在四周后完成了随访访谈。经过主题分析，我们概念化了两个总体主题，并讨论了子主题：主题 1）对风险预防指南的困惑和信任；主题 2）规避风险：遵守和不遵守公共卫生指南。
参与者通过个人经验和与周围其他人的比较，形成了自己对 COVID-19 风险感知的理解，而与脆弱性状况无关。COVID-19 指南并未按照政府的意图得到遵守，有时甚至由于缺乏信任而被拒绝。未来大流行指南传达的形式必须仔细考虑，并考虑到可能导致不遵守的个人经验。我们的研究结果可以为 COVID-19 和未来大流行的未来公共卫生政策和干预措施提供信息。
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