Dennis Amelia, Joseph Judith, Greenwell Kate, Miller Sascha, Vennik Jane, Dennison Laura, Holt Sian, Bradbury Katherine, Geraghty Adam W A, Little Paul, Yardley Lucy
School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
Primary Care Research Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
PLoS One. 2025 Apr 29;20(4):e0321314. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0321314. eCollection 2025.
Nasal sprays could be used to prevent and manage respiratory tract infections (RTIs). As part of a randomized controlled trial (ISRCTN17936080), participants received one of two nasal sprays (gel-based vs. saline) and a digital intervention. The digital intervention used behaviour change theories to encourage nasal spray use to reduce the severity and occurrences of RTIs. We explored participants' experiences of the digital intervention and nasal spray. We interviewed 31 participants (aged 19-80), sampled from the two nasal spray intervention trial arms across 3 winter seasons (including at the height of COVID-19). We analysed the interviews using thematic analysis and found two themes regarding facilitators and barriers to nasal spray use. The facilitators of nasal spray use revolved around belief in nasal spray efficacy for infection, belief the nasal spray is safe, motivation to avoid infection, sense of control over infection, and how the nasal spray is integrated into lifestyle. Barriers to nasal spray use included the belief the nasal spray is ineffective, belief the nasal spray is unnecessary, and usage difficulties. Overall, the results highlight the role of beliefs, lifestyle integration, and usage difficulties in nasal spray adherence, with implications for future digital interventions, such as addressing concerns about the nasal spray being perceived as medication.
鼻喷雾剂可用于预防和管理呼吸道感染（RTIs）。作为一项随机对照试验（ISRCTN17936080）的一部分，参与者接受了两种鼻喷雾剂（凝胶型与盐水型）之一以及一种数字干预措施。该数字干预措施运用行为改变理论来鼓励使用鼻喷雾剂，以减轻呼吸道感染的严重程度并减少其发生频率。我们探究了参与者对数字干预措施和鼻喷雾剂的体验。我们采访了31名参与者（年龄在19至80岁之间），他们来自两个鼻喷雾剂干预试验组，跨越了3个冬季（包括新冠疫情高峰期）。我们采用主题分析法对访谈进行了分析，发现了关于鼻喷雾剂使用的促进因素和障碍的两个主题。鼻喷雾剂使用的促进因素围绕着对鼻喷雾剂预防感染功效的信念、对鼻喷雾剂安全性的信念、避免感染的动机、对感染的控制感以及鼻喷雾剂如何融入生活方式。鼻喷雾剂使用的障碍包括认为鼻喷雾剂无效、认为鼻喷雾剂不必要以及使用困难。总体而言，研究结果凸显了信念、生活方式融入以及使用困难在鼻喷雾剂依从性方面的作用，这对未来的数字干预措施具有启示意义，比如解决对鼻喷雾剂被视为药物的担忧。
