%0 Journal Article
%@ 2292-9495
%I JMIR Publications
%V 10
%N 
%P e39919
%T Perceived Effectiveness of COVID-19 Preventive Practices and Behavioral Intention: Survey of a Representative Adult Sample in the United States
%A Bagasra,Anisah
%A Allen,Christopher T
%A Doan,Sara
%+ Department of Psychological Science, Kennesaw State University, 440 Bartow Ave, Kennesaw, GA, 30144, United States, 1 470 578 5254, Abagasra@kennesaw.edu
%K health promotion
%K health communication
%K health risk behavior
%K behavioral intention
%K public health
%K COVID-19
%K vaccination
%K prevention
%K health education
%D 2023
%7 10.10.2023
%9 Original Paper
%J JMIR Hum Factors
%G English
%X Background: Using existing models of behavioral health promotion, specifically the Extended Parallel Process Model, previous research has identified factors that may impact engagement in preventive health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic such as perceived threat, perceived susceptibility to the threat, perceived severity, and perceived efficacy. Objective: This study aims to examine the role of perceived effectiveness of COVID-19 preventive behaviors, perceived susceptibility, perceived threat, and perceived severity of COVID-19 in participants’ intentions to engage in Centers for Disease Control (CDC)–recommended individual health behaviors in the first year of the pandemic. Methods: In October 2020, a representative sample of 506 US adults completed a web-based survey through the RAND American Life Panel. Results: The study primarily found that participants who perceived that CDC-recommended health practices were effective had stronger intentions to engage in those practices. The second strongest correlate was participants’ perceived severity of COVID-19 across the United States. Perceived effectiveness of recommended practices accounted for the largest variance in behavioral intention. However, analysis of individual behaviors indicated a mismatch in the behaviors perceived to be the most effective (avoiding sick people and mask-wearing) and those participants indicated intention to engage in (throwing away used tissues, avoiding sick people, and coughing into their elbows) in the next 30 days. Conclusions: The authors recommend tailoring public health messaging to address the perceived threat of COVID-19 and self-efficacy. Thus, health promotion efforts should emphasize the effectiveness of CDC-recommended practices while highlighting the pandemic’s severity. Additionally, rebuilding trust in public health messaging and messengers is necessary to increase perceived self-efficacy. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, health messaging must continue to promote and build trust in CDC-recommended health practices and educate regarding the efficacy of vaccination and other preventive behaviors. 
%M 37815862
%R 10.2196/39919
%U https://humanfactors.jmir.org/2023/1/e39919
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/39919
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37815862