JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The Japanese government recommended a range of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to control COVID-19. These included hand washing, face mask wearing, social distancing, staying at home, and the use of ventilation. In particular, citizens were recommended to avoid the so-called ‘3Cs’: ‘closed spaces’; ‘crowded places’; and ‘close-contact’ settings. A digital contact tracing application, COVID-19 Contact-Confirming Application (COCOA), was developed. In contrast to some other OECD countries, adoption of NPIs was voluntary.

Objective:

What influences the adoption of non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI) control measures for COVID-19 in Japan?

Methods:

Using a broadly representative online survey selected by quota, we examine antecedents of NPI adoption. The adoption of NPIs is analyzed using ordinary least squares multiple regression . The use of the contract tracing application (COCOA) is analyzed using an ordered logistic regression model by maximum likelihood estimation. This is due to the ordinal scale of the variable.

Results:

The adoption of NPIs is predicted by confidence in public health scientists, and a favoring of infection control over economic and social costs. Trust in government does not predict NPI use. Perceived risk of infection does not increase NPI use. Education and income are not significant, although females and older respondents demonstrate greater compliance. For the adoption of the phone tracking application, trust in government is important, as is urban residence. Confidence in public health scientists is not, contra to a body of research elsewhere

Conclusions:

We show voluntary compliance – if skillfully led by trusted scientific experts and in accord with societal norms – can be effectively achieved. Second, digitalization in the public sector must balance tradeoffs between perceived usefulness and privacy. This may be resolved if trust in government can be developed and maintained.