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Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research

Date Submitted: Nov 15, 2021
Date Accepted: Dec 30, 2021
Date Submitted to PubMed: Jan 4, 2022

The final, peer-reviewed published version of this preprint can be found here:

COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors and Health Literacy, Information Evaluation, and Decision-making Skills in Japanese Adults: Cross-sectional Survey Study

Nakayama K, Yonekura Y, Danya H, Hagiwara K

COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors and Health Literacy, Information Evaluation, and Decision-making Skills in Japanese Adults: Cross-sectional Survey Study

JMIR Form Res 2022;6(1):e34966

DOI: 10.2196/34966

PMID: 34982036

PMCID: 8822428

Association between Covid-19 preventive behaviors and health literacy, information-evaluation ,and decision-making skills in Japanese adults

  • Kazuhiro Nakayama; 
  • Yuki Yonekura; 
  • Hitomi Danya; 
  • Kanako Hagiwara

ABSTRACT

Background:

Health literacy is important for the prevention of COVID-19. Research in Japan shows that health literacy is related to skills in evaluating information and decision making (not necessarily limited to health information). Such basic skills are important, particularly when individuals encounter new health issues for which there is insufficient evidence.

Objective:

This study aimed to determine the extent to which COVID-19 preventive behaviors were associated with health literacy and skills in evaluating information and making decisions.

Methods:

An online questionnaire survey was conducted using a Japanese Internet research company. A total of 3,914 valid responses were received. The measures comprised eight items on COVID-19 preventive behaviors, health literacy items (European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire), five items on information evaluation, and four items on the decision-making process. Pearson correlations between these variables were calculated. Multivariate analyses were also conducted using COVID-19 preventive behavior score as a dependent variable.

Results:

COVID-19 preventive behaviors were significantly correlated with health literacy, information evaluation, and the decision-making process (.23, .24, .30, respectively). The multiple linear regression analysis results showed that the standardized regression coefficients for each were .11, .13, and .18; the highest value was for decision-making skills.

Conclusions:

Although comprehensive health literacy is necessary for COVID-19 preventive behaviors, the skills to evaluate a wide range of information and to make appropriate decisions are no less important. Opportunities for people to acquire these skills should be available at all times.


 Citation

Please cite as:

Nakayama K, Yonekura Y, Danya H, Hagiwara K

COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors and Health Literacy, Information Evaluation, and Decision-making Skills in Japanese Adults: Cross-sectional Survey Study

JMIR Form Res 2022;6(1):e34966

DOI: 10.2196/34966

PMID: 34982036

PMCID: 8822428

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