The acceptance of SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen self-testing: A cross-sectional study in China.

Compared with the nucleic acid amplification test (NATT), the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) rapid antigen self-testing (RAST) has advantages in speed and convenience. However, little is known about people's acceptance and influencing factors for SARS-CoV-2 RAST. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 21 to 30, 2022 in China. The χ2 test and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify the influencing factors. The structural equation model was used to test the extended protective motivation theory (PMT) model hypotheses. Among the total of 5107 participants, 62.5% were willing to accept the SARS-CoV-2 RAST. There were significant differences in acceptance among different residences (p < 0.001), educational level (p < 0.001), occupation (p < 0.001), monthly income (p < 0.001), travel frequency (p < 0.05), and feelings about NATT (p < 0.001). Response efficacy (ß = 0.05; p = 0.025) and self-efficacy (ß = 0.84; p < 0.001) had a positive effect, while response cost showed a negative effect (ß = -0.07; p < 0.001). The public's major concerns about SARS-CoV-2 RAST are its reliability, testing method, price, and authority. Overall, a moderate intention to use SARS-CoV-2 RAST was found among the Chinese population. The extended PMT can be used for the prediction of intention to accept the RAST. We need to take measures to increase people's acceptance of SARS-CoV-2 RAST.

Dual-Path Effect of Mortality Salience Induced by COVID-19 on Food Safety Behavior in China.

During the pandemic, the mortality salience of COVID-19 has affected everyone. The public is extremely sensitive to food safety, especially cold chain food and imported food. This research is based on the terror management theory, protective motivation theory, and self-construal theory. It proposes an integrated dual-path framework to explore the different mechanisms that mortality salience has on food safety behavior. The result of three experiments verified our conjectures. First, mortality salience positively affects individuals' food safety behavior. More importantly, we found the dual-path mechanism that underlies the effect, that is, the mediating of self-protective motivation and prosocial motivation. In addition, different self-construals make the confirmed effect clear. These findings provide implications for the government to protect public food safety and health.

Covid-19 threat and coping: application of protection motivation theory to the pandemic experiences of people affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: People with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are at high risk for severe outcomes from Covid-19 infection. Researchers exploring ALS and Covid-19 have focused primarily on system response and adaptation. Using Protection Motivation Theory, we investigated how people with ALS and family caregivers appraised and responded to Covid-19 threat, the 'costs' associated with pandemic response, and how health professionals and systems can better support people affected by ALS who are facing public health emergencies. METHODS: Data were drawn from the 'ALS Talk Project,' an asynchronous, moderated focus group study. Participants were recruited from regions across Canada. Seven groups met online over 14 weeks between January and July 2020. Fifty-three participants contributed to Covid-19 discussions. Data were qualitatively analyzed using directed content analysis and the constant-comparative approach. RESULTS: Participants learned about the Covid-19 pandemic from the media. They rapidly assessed their vulnerability and responded to Covid-19 threat by following recommendations from health authorities, information monitoring, and preparing for worst-case scenarios. Adopting protective behaviors had substantial response costs, including adaptations for medical care and home support workers, threatened access to advance care, and increased caregiver burden. Participants expressed need for ALS-specific, pandemic information from trusted health professionals and/or ALS health charities. Telemedicine introduced both conveniences and costs. Prior experience with ALS provided tools for coping with Covid-19. Threat and coping appraisal was a dynamic process involving ongoing vigilance and adaptation. Findings draw attention to the lack of emergency preparedness among participants and within health systems. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should engage ALS patients and families in ongoing discussions about pandemic coping, strategies to mitigate response costs, care pathways in the event of Covid-19 infection, and changing information about Covid-19 variants and vaccines. Healthcare systems should incorporate flexible approaches for medical care, leveraging the benefits of telemedicine and facilitating in-person interaction as needed and where possible. Research is needed to identify strategies to mitigate response costs and to further explore the interaction between prior experience and coping. Further study is also needed to determine how communication about emergency preparedness might be effectively incorporated into clinical care for those with ALS and other medically vulnerable populations.

COVID-19-induced negative emotions and the impacts on personal values and travel behaviors: A threat appraisal perspective

Based on the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), this paper aims to examine the role of negative emotions and their impacts on personal value orientations and protective travel behaviors during COVID-19. Data were collected among Chinese Generation Z who have shared the cataclysmic experience of COVID-19 in their formative years. A multimethod approach was adopted with focus group discussions to explore prominent changes in personal values during COVID-19, followed by a quantitative study. The serial mediation analysis supported the sequential internalization of negative emotions and personal values induced from COVID-19 threat appraisals, which in combination, imposed indirect effects on travel avoidance behavior. An extended model suggested that fear is positively related to the values of altruism and hedonism, while mild negative emotions are associated with target orientation. Altruism was found to enhance travel avoidance propensity while target orientation attenuated such propensity. The findings shed light for both academia and the industry.

Psychometric Properties of the COVID-19 Protective Motivation Scale in Peruvians During the Health Emergency.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 protective motivation scale (EMP-COVID-19) has been developed for the assessment of protective motivation. This study aims to examine the psychometric properties of the EMP-COVID-19 for its application in the Peruvian community. METHODS: This is an observational, cross-sectional, instrumental design study, 483 adults (≥18 years) participated in the study, in 2 samples of 81 and 402 participants from the different macro-regions of Peru through an online survey using non-probabilistic sampling. Content validation was performed through expert judgment. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to evaluate the factor model of the EMP-COVID-19 was performed with the first sample. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to verify the goodness of fit of the analysis found in the EFA was performed with the second sample. The examination of convergent and discriminant validity included peer evaluations of each EMP-COVID-19 dimension. Finally, the reliability of the instrument was evaluated using Cronbach's Alpha coefficient. RESULTS: The 3-factor related model presents better fit indices (CFI = 0.99; TLI = 0.99; RMSEA = 0.077 [90% CI 0.069-0.085]) versus a unidimensional model (CFI = 0.91; TLI = 0.90; RMSEA = 0.206 [90% CI 0.199-0.213]). The scale present convergent and discriminant validity in all the dimensions Threat Appraisal (AVE = .57), Coping Appraisal (AVE = .81), and Response Costs (AVE = .67). The Coping Appraisal (α = .97; ω = .97), Threat Appraisal (α = .88; ω = .74), and Response Costs (α = .80; ω = .76) dimensions were also found to have adequate reliability indices. CONCLUSIONS: The EMP-COVID-19 scale demonstrated adequate reliability and validity based on internal structure in the study sample.