scholarly journals Correction: Assessment of the Effectiveness of Identity-Based Public Health Announcements in Increasing the Likelihood of Complying With COVID-19 Guidelines: Randomized Controlled Cross-sectional Web-Based Study

10.2196/29603 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. e29603
Author(s):  
Alexander S Dennis ◽  
Patricia L Moravec ◽  
Antino Kim ◽  
Alan R Dennis

10.2196/25762 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. e25762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander S Dennis ◽  
Patricia L Moravec ◽  
Antino Kim ◽  
Alan R Dennis

Background Public health campaigns aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 are important in reducing disease transmission, but traditional information-based campaigns have received unexpectedly extreme backlash. Objective This study aimed to investigate whether customizing of public service announcements (PSAs) providing health guidelines to match individuals’ identities increases their compliance. Methods We conducted a within- and between-subjects, randomized controlled cross-sectional, web-based study in July 2020. Participants viewed two PSAs: one advocating wearing a mask in public settings and one advocating staying at home. The control PSA only provided information, and the treatment PSAs were designed to appeal to the identities held by individuals; that is, either a Christian identity or an economically motivated identity. Participants were asked about their identity and then provided a control PSA and treatment PSA matching their identity, in random order. The PSAs were of approximately 100 words. Results We recruited 300 social media users from Amazon Mechanical Turk in accordance with usual protocols to ensure data quality. In total, 8 failed the data quality checks, and the remaining 292 were included in the analysis. In the identity-based PSA, the source of the PSA was changed, and a phrase of approximately 12 words relevant to the individual’s identity was inserted. A PSA tailored for Christians, when matched with a Christian identity, increased the likelihood of compliance by 12 percentage points. A PSA that focused on economic values, when shown to individuals who identified as economically motivated, increased the likelihood of compliance by 6 points. Conclusions Using social media to deliver COVID-19 public health announcements customized to individuals’ identities is a promising measure to increase compliance with public health guidelines. Trial Registration ISRCTN Registry 22331899; https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN22331899.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander S Dennis ◽  
Patricia L Moravec ◽  
Antino Kim ◽  
Alan R Dennis

BACKGROUND Public health campaigns aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 are important in reducing disease transmission, but traditional information-based campaigns have received unexpectedly extreme backlash. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate whether customizing of public service announcements (PSAs) providing health guidelines to match individuals’ identities increases their compliance. METHODS We conducted a within- and between-subjects, randomized controlled cross-sectional, web-based study in July 2020. Participants viewed two PSAs: one advocating wearing a mask in public settings and one advocating staying at home. The control PSA only provided information, and the treatment PSAs were designed to appeal to the identities held by individuals; that is, either a Christian identity or an economically motivated identity. Participants were asked about their identity and then provided a control PSA and treatment PSA matching their identity, in random order. The PSAs were of approximately 100 words. RESULTS We recruited 300 social media users from Amazon Mechanical Turk in accordance with usual protocols to ensure data quality. In total, 8 failed the data quality checks, and the remaining 292 were included in the analysis. In the identity-based PSA, the source of the PSA was changed, and a phrase of approximately 12 words relevant to the individual’s identity was inserted. A PSA tailored for Christians, when matched with a Christian identity, increased the likelihood of compliance by 12 percentage points. A PSA that focused on economic values, when shown to individuals who identified as economically motivated, increased the likelihood of compliance by 6 points. CONCLUSIONS Using social media to deliver COVID-19 public health announcements customized to individuals’ identities is a promising measure to increase compliance with public health guidelines. CLINICALTRIAL ISRCTN Registry 22331899; https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN22331899.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyoko Yoshioka-Maeda ◽  
Takafumi Katayama ◽  
Misa Shiomi ◽  
Noriko Hosoya ◽  
Hitoshi Fujii ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The promotion of local healthcare planning is crucial to assist public health nurses in improving community health inequities. However, there is no effective educational program for developing relevant skills and knowledge among these nurses. Therefore, this study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a newly developed web-based self-learning program, designed to promote the involvement of public health nurses in the local healthcare planning process. Methods: This pilot randomized control trial will randomly allocate eligible public health nurses to intervention and control wait-list groups [1:1]. The intervention group will be exposed to six web-based learning modules from July to October 2021. After collecting post-test data, the wait-list group will be exposed to the same modules to ensure learning equity. We will then evaluate the primary outcomes by implementing a validated and standardized scale designed to measure public health policy competencies both at baseline and post-intervention, while secondary outcomes will be measured on an action scale to demonstrate the necessity of healthcare activities. The third outcome will be knowledge and skills related to local healthcare planning by public health nurses. Participants will also provide feedback on both trial feasibility and the web-based self-learning program itself, which will help us identify improvement points for continual refinement. Feedback will be given through free descriptions. Discussion: This pilot study will assess the feasibility and preliminary effects of a web-based self-learning program designed to develop the competencies of public health nurses involved in local healthcare planning. We will examine all outcome scales and data collection procedures in preparation for a future definitive randomized controlled trial. This will provide preliminary data for an intervention aimed at improving relevant competencies among public health nurses who are tasked with resolving health inequities in their respective communities through local health planning. Trial registration: The protocol for this study was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry and approved by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (No. UMIN000043628, March 23, 2021).


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 672-676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric T. Hyde ◽  
John D. Omura ◽  
Janet E. Fulton ◽  
Andre Weldy ◽  
Susan A. Carlson

Purpose: Wearable activity monitors (wearables) have generated interest for national physical activity (PA) surveillance; however, concerns exist related to estimates obtained from current users willing to share data. We examined how limiting data to current users who are willing to share data associated with PA estimates in a nationwide sample. Design: Cross-sectional web-based survey. Setting: US adults. Subjects: In total, 942 respondents. Measures: The 2018 Government & Academic Omnibus Survey assessing current wearable use, willingness to share data with various people or organizations, and PA levels. Analysis: Estimated the prevalence of current wearable use; current users’ willingness to share data with various people or organizations; and PA levels overall, among current users, and among current users willing to share their data. Results: Overall, 21.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 19.1-24.5) of US adults reported currently using a wearable. Among current users, willingness to share ranged from 40.1% with a public health agency to 76.3% with their health-care provider. Overall, 62.2% (95% CI: 58.9-65.3) of adults were physically active. These levels were similar between current users (75.0%, 95% CI: 68.3-80.7) and current users willing to share their data (75.3%, 95% CI: 67.9-81.5). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that using data from wearable users may overestimate PA levels, although reported willingness to share the data may not compound this issue.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paavilainen Eija ◽  
Helminen Mika ◽  
Flinck Aune ◽  
Lehtomäki Leila

Objectives. To describe how Finnish public health nurses identify and intervene in child maltreatment and how they implement the National Clinical Guideline in their work.Design and Sample. Cross-sectional survey of 367 public health nurses in Finland.Measures. A web-based questionnaire developed based on the content areas of the guideline: identifying, intervening, and implementing.Results. The respondents reported they identify child maltreatment moderately (mean 3.38), intervene in it better (4.15), and implement the guideline moderately (3.43, scale between 1 and 6). Those with experience of working with maltreated children reported they identify them betterP<0.001, intervene betterP<0.001, and implement the guideline betterP<0.001than those with no experience. This difference was also found for those who were aware of the guideline, had read it, and participated in training on child maltreatment, as compared to those who were not aware of the guideline, had not read it, or had not participated in such training.Conclusions. The public health nurses worked quite well with children who had experienced maltreatment and families. However, the results point out several developmental targets for increasing training on child maltreatment, for devising recommendations for child maltreatment, and for applying these recommendations systematically in practice.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine J Kaylor-Hughes ◽  
Mat Rawsthorne ◽  
Neil S Coulson ◽  
Sandra Simpson ◽  
Lucy Simons ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Regardless of geography or income, effective help for depression and anxiety only reaches a small proportion of those who might benefit from it. The scale of the problem suggests a role for effective, safe, anonymized public health–driven Web-based services such as Big White Wall (BWW), which offer immediate peer support at low cost. OBJECTIVE Using Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) methodology, the aim of this study was to determine the population reach, effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and barriers and drivers to implementation of BWW compared with Web-based information compiled by UK’s National Health Service (NHS, NHS Choices Moodzone) in people with probable mild to moderate depression and anxiety disorder. METHODS A pragmatic, parallel-group, single-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) is being conducted using a fully automated trial website in which eligible participants are randomized to receive either 6 months access to BWW or signposted to the NHS Moodzone site. The recruitment of 2200 people to the study will be facilitated by a public health engagement campaign involving general marketing and social media, primary care clinical champions, health care staff, large employers, and third sector groups. People will refer themselves to the study and will be eligible if they are older than 16 years, have probable mild to moderate depression or anxiety disorders, and have access to the Internet. RESULTS The primary outcome will be the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale at 6 weeks. We will also explore the reach, maintenance, cost-effectiveness, and barriers and drivers to implementation and possible mechanisms of actions using a range of qualitative and quantitative methods. CONCLUSIONS This will be the first fully digital trial of a direct to public online peer support program for common mental disorders. The potential advantages of adding this to current NHS mental health services and the challenges of designing a public health campaign and RCT of two digital interventions using a fully automated digital enrollment and data collection process are considered for people with depression and anxiety. CLINICALTRIAL International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN): 12673428; http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN12673428/12673428 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6uw6ZJk5a)


Author(s):  
Raymond Langsi ◽  
Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu ◽  
Piwuna Christopher Goson ◽  
Emmanuel Kwasi Abu ◽  
Khathutshelo Percy Mashige ◽  
...  

Mental health and emotional responses to the effects of COVID-19 lockdown in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are of serious public health concern and may negatively affect the mental health status of people. Hence, this study assessed the prevalence of mental health symptoms as well as emotional reactions among sub-Saharan Africans (SSAs) and associated factors among SSAs during the COVID-19 lockdown period. This was a web-based cross-sectional, a study on mental health and emotional features from 2005 respondents in seven SSA countries. This study was conducted between April 27 and May 17, 2020 corresponding to the lockdown period in most SSA countries. Respondents aged 18 years and above and the self-reported symptoms were feeling anxious, being worried, angry, bored and frustrated. These were the main outcomes and were treated as dichotomous variables. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the factors associated with these symptoms. We found that over half (52.2%) of the participants reported any of the mental health symptoms in SSA and the prevalence of feeling bored was 70.5% followed by feeling anxious (59.1%), being worried (57.5%), frustrated (51.5%) and angry (22.3%) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multivariate analysis revealed that males, those aged &gt;28 years, Central and Southern Africans, those who were not married, the unemployed, those living with more than six persons in a household, had higher odds of mental health and emotional symptoms. Similarly, people who perceived low risk of contracting the infection, and those who thought the pandemic would not continue after the lockdown had higher odds of mental health and emotional symptoms. Health care workers had lower odds for feeling angry than non-healthcare workers. During COVID-19 lockdown periods in SSA, about one in two participants reported mental health and emotional symptoms. Public health measures can be effectively used to identify target groups for prevention and treatment of mental health and emotional symptoms. Such interventions should be an integral component of SSA governments&rsquo; response and recovery strategies of any future pandemic.


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