Accepted for/Published in: Interactive Journal of Medical Research
Date Submitted: Dec 22, 2023
Date Accepted: Sep 25, 2024
Evolution of Citizen Responses to Government Restrictions in Switzerland During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Repeated Cross-Sectional Online Surveys
ABSTRACT
Background:
Good communication between health authorities and citizens is key for adherence to preventive measures during a pandemic.
Objective:
As anxiety can influence behaviour, we aimed to evaluate associations between worry levels in the Swiss population and citizens’ adherence to government restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods:
Observational study with four cross-sectional online surveys of adults in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland. Questionnaires were distributed through social media and websites during four periods: survey 1 (S1) 17.04-14.05.2020; S2) 15.05-22.06.2020; S3) 30.10-02.12.2020; and S4) 18.06-30.12.2021. On visual analogue scales from 0 to 100, participants reported worry, self-adherence to pandemic restrictions and their perceived adherence in others. We used multivariable linear regression, adjusting for age, gender, health literacy and education to assess associations between self-reported worry, adherence and each study period, controlling for demographic factors.
Results:
We collected 7106 responses. After excluding 2383 questionnaires (incomplete, age <18 years, residence outside Vaud), 4723 (66%) were analysed (mean age 47, 64% women). Mean worry across the 4 periods was 42% and significantly higher in women, young people and during S1 and S3, corresponding to peaks in COVID-19 incidence when federal restrictions were also better followed (self-reported and perceived adherence of others). Education and high health literacy did not influence worry levels. A 10-point increase in personal adherence score was associated with a 2.9-point increase in worry score after adjusting for period, gender, age, education, and health literacy (P<.001).
Conclusions:
Higher worry levels during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with increased self-reported and perceived adherence of others to federal restrictions. Authorities should consider population worry levels in the planning and design of pandemic communication. Adapting communication to population subgroups should be considered for future health crises.
Citation
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