Ng T K C, Fong B Y F, Law V T S, Tavitiyaman P, Chiu W K
Division of Science, Engineering and Health Studies, College of Professional and Continuing Education, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Division of Social Sciences, Humanities and Design, College of Professional and Continuing Education, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Hong Kong Med J. 2025 Apr;31(2):119-129. doi: 10.12809/hkmj2311274. Epub 2025 Apr 7.
The mandatory mask-wearing requirement, which had been in place for nearly 1000 days in Hong Kong, was lifted on 1 March 2023. Little is known about the intention to continue wearing a mask after the removal of the mandate in the city. This study aimed to examine predictors of mask-wearing intention after the mandate was lifted, using the protection motivation theory (PMT) and the theory of planned behaviour (TPB).
A conceptual model was developed to depict the relationships between the constructs of PMT and TPB in predicting continued mask-wearing intention after the removal of the mandate. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire from 8 to 20 March 2023. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was utilised to examine relationships between the constructs.
In total, 483 responses were included in the data analysis. Perceived severity (β=0.089; P=0.017), perceived self-efficacy (β=0.253; P<0.001), subjective norms (β=0.289; P<0.001), and attitude (β=0.325; P<0.001) had significant positive effects on the intention to continue wearing a mask. In contrast, the perceived reward of maladaptive behaviours had a significant negative effect on mask-wearing intention (β=-0.071; P=0.012). Perceived vulnerability, perceived response efficacy, perceived response cost, and perceived behavioural control were not significantly associated with mask-wearing intention.
The findings indicate that attitude towards continued mask-wearing was the strongest predictor of mask-wearing intention, followed by subjective norms and perceived self-efficacy. Insights from this study may inform public health policymaking regarding mask-wearing practices in future health crises.
香港实施了近1000天的强制佩戴口罩规定于2023年3月1日解除。对于香港在解除强制规定后继续佩戴口罩的意愿，目前所知甚少。本研究旨在运用保护动机理论（PMT）和计划行为理论（TPB），探讨解除强制规定后佩戴口罩意愿的预测因素。
构建了一个概念模型，以描述PMT和TPB的各构成要素在预测解除强制规定后继续佩戴口罩意愿方面的关系。于2023年3月8日至20日通过在线问卷进行了一项横断面研究。采用偏最小二乘结构方程模型来检验各构成要素之间的关系。
数据分析共纳入483份回复。感知严重性（β=0.089；P=0.017）、感知自我效能（β=0.253；P<0.001）、主观规范（β=0.289；P<0.001）和态度（β=0.325；P<0.001）对继续佩戴口罩的意愿有显著的正向影响。相比之下，适应不良行为的感知回报对佩戴口罩意愿有显著的负向影响（β=-0.071；P=0.012）。感知易感性、感知反应效能、感知反应成本和感知行为控制与佩戴口罩意愿无显著关联。
研究结果表明，对继续佩戴口罩的态度是佩戴口罩意愿的最强预测因素，其次是主观规范和感知自我效能。本研究的见解可为未来健康危机中有关佩戴口罩做法的公共卫生政策制定提供参考。
