Community pharmacists and communication in the time of COVID-19: Applying the health belief model.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Carico RR
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7118622 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Community pharmacists and communication in the time of COVID-19: Applying the health belief model.
Carico Ronald Ron RR Sheppard Jordan J Thomas C Borden CB
Research in social & administrative pharmacy : RSAP 20200326 1
The emergence of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic presents an unprecedented health communications challenge. Healthcare providers should reinforce behaviors that limit the spread of the pandemic, including social distancing and remaining in the home whenever possible. Formal communications toolkits may not be prepared in a timely fashion. Community pharmacists can reinforce mitigation behaviors by applying the health belief model (HBM). This commentary provides an overview of th ...[more]
Similar Datasets
Project description:BackgroundThe emergence of a new pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a unique challenge for public health (all age and sex groups).ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the adolescents' perceptions of preventive behaviors to avoid COVID-19 disease based on the health belief model (HBM).MethodThis cross-sectional study was conducted on 797adolescents (aged between 12 and 18 years old), who were 7th-12th -grade students of 24 randomly selected schools from 28th May to June 28, 2020 in Isfahan, Iran. An online self-administered questionnaire was adapted to measure the adolescents' perceived threats, barriers, benefits, self-efficacy, and cues to action toward protective behaviors.ResultsFindings indicated that the adolescents' mean age was 14.7 (SD = 1.7) and 53.7% of them were female. Regardless of gender difference, there was a significant positive correlation between the adolescents' protective behaviors and their self-efficacy (r = 0.62, P < 0.001), perceived benefit (r = 29, P < 0.001), and perceived severity (r = 0.15, P < 0.001), while there was a significant negative correlation between the adolescents' protective behaviors and their perceived susceptibility (r = -0.11, P < 0.001), as well as their perceived barrier (r = -0.21, P < 0.001). The result of the Hierarchical regression analysis also revealed that the HBM model had a significant predictive power for preventing measures towards coronavirus disease in adolescents (Adj R2 = 0.46, p < 0.001). The results also showed that self-efficacy was the strongest predictor (β = 0.59, P < 0.001) in explaining protective behaviors in adolescents.ConclusionIn the context of coronavirus disease pandemic in adolescents, the health belief model could provide a useful framework for planners to develop educational programs. Moreover, in such a context, strategies to promote self-efficacy in adolescents should be considered more carefully to help them improve their protective behaviors.
| S-EPMC7857029 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to examine correlates of taking a COVID-19 test among late middle-aged and older adults using nationally representative data.MethodsData were obtained from the 2020 Health and Retirement Study midway release COVID-19 module. Our sample was representative of community residing adults aged 51 and over in the United States (n = 2,870).MeasurementsWe regressed taking a COVID-19 test on demographic characteristics, medical comorbidities, and measures related to the health belief model (i.e., perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, cues to action, and perceived barriers) using logistic regression, stratifying the model by 10-year age categories.ResultsConcern about the pandemic was associated with an increase in the likelihood of taking a test among late middle-aged adults. Knowing someone who was diagnosed with COVID-19 was associated with taking a test in most age categories. Financial barriers and knowing someone who died of COVID-19 were not associated with taking a test.ConclusionsHow late middle-aged and older adults perceive the COVID-19 pandemic may significantly influence their likelihood of taking a COVID-19 test.
| S-EPMC8949689 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The COVID-19 outbreak is a global public health crisis which has affected healthcare practice across professions. In the context of this pandemic, there is a need to highlight the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists. Community pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals to the general public and have a lot to offer amid the COVID-19 response. This have led to significant changes in the health systems of many countries. This article seeks to highlight additional roles and activities relating to the public health response that can be undertaken by community pharmacists that could help to reduce pressure on general practice and other areas of the health service.
| S-EPMC7167226 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The COVID-19 outbreak is a global public health crisis which has affected healthcare practice across professions. In the context of this pandemic, there is a need to highlight the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists. Community pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals to the general public and have a lot to offer amid the COVID-19 response. This have led to significant changes in the health systems of many countries. This article seeks to highlight additional roles and activities relating to the public health response that can be undertaken by community pharmacists that could help to reduce pressure on general practice and other areas of the health service.
| S-EPMC7162785 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundVillage health volunteers (VHVs) engaging in community-based COVID-19 prevention and control measures played a key role in mitigating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand. We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey study to investigate factors affecting VHVs' COVID-19 self-protective behaviors and social distancing in Songkhla Province during the first COVID-19 outbreak. Such information may help to understand how to support VHVs in future pandemics.MethodsA total of 152 VHVs from 13 sub-districts participated in the study, completing a 54-item questionnaire based on the Health Belief Model (HBM). The questionnaire included items assessing susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, self-efficacy, social distancing, and self-protective behavior. Stepwise multiple regression analysis determined which aspects of the HBM could explain VHVs' self-protective behavior.ResultsThe VHV population sampled broadly reflected the main demographic characteristics of the local population, although VHVs were predominantly female. Self-protective behavior was significantly associated with VHVs' role (higher perceived compliance for village leaders than non-leaders) but not with other demographic characteristics. Most VHVs reported high levels of self-efficacy (80.5%), adherence to social distancing measures (70.9%), and engagement in self-protective behavior (72.8%) against COVID-19. However, compliance with hand hygiene appeared to be suboptimal, suggesting room for improvement. Self-efficacy and perceived social distancing showed strong and moderate correlations with self-protective behavior against COVID-19 (r = 0.917, β = 0.819; and r = 0.561, β = 0.173 respectively; p < 0.001). The final HBM-based regression model accounted for 87.2% of the variance in VHVs' self-protective behavior.ConclusionsThis study highlights the importance of VHVs' self-efficacy for achieving self-protective behavior during a COVID-19 outbreak, and suggests that self-efficacy may help to overcome barriers that might otherwise hinder behaviors to mitigate against COVID-19. Policies that support self-efficacy should be implemented in any future pandemic, and steps to support VHVs with hand hygiene compliance and empower non-leaders to increase their self-protective behavior may also be helpful. Whilst the HBM provided a useful framework for interpretation, the final model was driven mainly by self-efficacy.
| S-EPMC10976676 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Physical and social disruptions resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting young adults in higher education. The purpose of this survey research is to unveil COVID-19 related beliefs using the Health Belief Model, and COVID-19 prevention behaviors, including self-reported fruit and vegetable consumption among university students. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 304 male and female undergraduate students from diverse ethnic backgrounds and majors at a New Jersey state university using convenience sampling. Variables measured included frequency of COVID-19 prevention behaviors (e.g.: wearing indoor mask, handwashing), and consumption of fruit and vegetables (dark green and orange vegetables) over the previous week. Health Belief Model constructs were assessed namely perceived susceptibility to COVID-19, severity, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy. Statistical distributions were computed for the entire sample and t-tests were investigated for subgroups of age and sex. The sample mean age was 21.7 (SD = 4.7) years with 222 females (73%) and 82 males (27%), and 46% identified as White, non-Hispanics. Participants consumed a mean of 0.95 cups of fruit, 0.81 cups of green vegetables, and 0.46 cups of orange vegetables. Female students practiced more COVID-19 prevention behaviors with a mean difference of 0.26 (p<0.001), perceived greater severity from the virus (Δ = 0.37, p = 0.002) and had stronger perceptions of benefits (Δ = 0.18, p = 0.041), barriers (Δ = 0.21, p = 0.046), and self-efficacy (Δ = 0.20, p = 0.020) than their male counterparts. Older students (aged 23 and above) adopted more COVID-19 prevention behaviors (Δ = -0.35, p = 0.001) and perceived less barriers (Δ = 0.24, p = 0.047) than their younger peers. Nutrition educators and health professionals need to emphasize the importance of adopting preventive health behaviors among university students as strategies to mitigate the severity of COVID-19. Addressing barriers younger male and female students may elevate their motivation and self-efficacy to enact health behaviors.
| S-EPMC11361559 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundCommunity pharmacists were underutilized in Saudi Arabia. At the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, global healthcare systems experienced significant pressure. To combat the pandemic effectively, there was a need to involve other healthcare providers, such as community pharmacists. As a result, community pharmacists were enlisted to provide vaccines.ObjectivesThis study aims to explore community pharmacists' perceptions about providing COVID-19 vaccines in Saudi community settings.MethodsEthical approval was granted by the Research Ethics Committee of King Faisal University in January 2022. A qualitative methodology was used to explore the opinions of community pharmacists. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via face-to-face qualitative interviewing. Participants were recruited purposively and represented different types of community pharmacy settings.ResultsA total of 15 face-to-face individual interviews were conducted. The cohort included pharmacists who provided the service (n = 5) and those who did not (n = 10). The results showed that providing the service in a community setting was advantageous to patients, community pharmacy sector, and healthcare system. Moreover, the participants identified several barriers to providing the service.ConclusionAlthough providing the service had several advantages to several parties, the identified barriers need to be considered for the service to be provided appropriately.
| S-EPMC10511797 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Given the negative consequences of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on public health, his study aimed at investigating: (1) the differences between adults with and without chronic illness in buying behavior, vaccination intention, pandemic worry, and the health belief model (HBM) components; (2) the HBM components as mediators of the relationship between pandemic worry and vaccination intention. The sample consisted of 864 adults (66.6% females, M age = 47.61, SD = 9.23), of which 20.5% reported having a chronic illness. Associations between pandemic worry, vaccination intention, and HBM were ascertained using correlation and mediation analyses. Individuals with chronic illness reported a higher level of pandemic worry, higher levels of perceived threat, greater benefits from vaccination, had lower self-efficacy and bought more medicine and sanitary/hygienic products. No significant differences were observed regarding vaccination intention, barriers against vaccination, and changes in food buying behavior. We found that the relationship between pandemic worry and vaccination intention was partially mediated by the perceived threat of disease and the benefits of vaccination. Pandemic worry predicted vaccination intention directly but also through the contribution of the perceived threat of disease and the benefits of vaccination. These findings suggest that presenting evidence of COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and the benefits of having the vaccine (especially for vulnerable groups, such as chronic illness patients) will encourage the population to follow vaccination recommendations.
| S-EPMC8311124 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Rationale, aims and objectivesLittle is known about hesitancy to receive the COVID-19 vaccines. The objectives of this study were (1) to assess the perceptions of healthcare workers (HCWs) and the general population regarding the COVID-19 vaccines, (2) to evaluate factors influencing the acceptance of vaccination using the health belief model (HBM), and (3) to qualitatively explore the suggested intervention strategies to promote the vaccination.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study based on electronic survey data that was collected in Iraq during December first-19th, 2020. The electronic survey was designed using Qualtrics. HBM was followed to develop the survey items. A regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing people accepting vaccination. Thematic analysis for participant comments to an open-ended question.ResultsA total of 1680 completed surveys were received. The mean age of 31.2 ± 9.9 years, 53.0% were female and 47.0% were male. The largest group was HCWs (45.7%), followed by general population (37.5%) and health college students (16.8%). Our findings expressed some hesitancy to receive the COVID-19 vaccine with the acceptance rate of 61.7%. The HCWs perceived significantly higher susceptibility and severity of the COVID-19 infection compared to the general population. The HCWs were significantly more likely than the general population to receive COVID-19 vaccine. Concerns with proper storage was the biggest barrier to vaccine receipt. The regression analysis indicated eight factors that were significantly associated with the willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccine: Preventive measures, perceived benefit, perceived barriers, cue to action, subjective norm, supportive of vaccination in general and having received a flu vaccine before.ConclusionsAwareness campaign can focus on enhancing the vaccine perceived benefit, debunking misconceptions, and increasing the disease perceived severity. Additionally, the public health leaders need to minimize the perceived barriers by providing the vaccines and appeasing people concerns about their storage, effectiveness, and adverse events.
| S-EPMC8242385 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Background: Vaccination is the most effective method for the prevention of COVID-19. However, willingness to be vaccinated is not consistent. This study aimed to explore vaccine cognition, risk perception, and health behavior of COVID-19 in China. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed in Guangdong province, China, including demographic characteristics, health status and preventive behaviors, cognition of COVID-19 vaccination, and the health belief model (HBM). Results: A total of 1640 participants were recruited. The main access to information about COVID-19 and vaccination as through official news and broadcasts (67.3%), social network software (58.7%), and professional popularization (46.2%). The precautions taken were wearing a mask (67.0%) and avoiding gathering together (71.3%). COVID-19 vaccination acceptability was different among different age groups and educational levels (p < 0.001). The major reasons for accepting vaccination included that it was an effective way to prevent COVID-19 (61.8%) and that it was required by working units/schools (51.1%). The fitting effect indexes of the (HBM) Model 2 showed better fitting than those of Model 1. In Model 2, perceived benefits (OR = 3.13, 95% CI: 1.79−5.47), cues to action (OR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.60−3.11), and different occupations (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.04−1.23) were positively correlated with vaccine acceptance; while perceived susceptibility (OR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.30−0.74) and perceived barriers (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.29−0.69) were negative factors associated with vaccine acceptance. Conclusion: Different sociodemographic characteristics lead to differences in acceptance of vaccination, and the publicity and credibility of government play an indispensable role in epidemic control. The establishment of the HBM further predicted that perceived susceptibility to COVID-19, benefits of vaccination, barriers of cognition, and cue to action were the influencing factors of intention and health behaviors.
| S-EPMC9030847 | biostudies-literature