This study aims at investigating handwashing behavior during COVID-19 pandemic. It was hypothesized that social-cognitive and emotional predictors as well as COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates within the country would be associated with handwashing behavior in the general population of adults in 14 countries.
This observational study aims at testing the adherence to handwashing guidelines (the World Health Organization, WHO, 2020) at two measurement points, spanning 1 month. Adults from the general population in 14 countries (Poland, Australia, Canada, China, France, Gambia, Germany, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Switzerland) will provide self-report data on handwashing behavior and its social-cognitive predictors (perceived effectiveness of handwashing, risk perception, outcome expectancy, self-efficacy, intention, planning, and action control), anxiety, as well as COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates within the country.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
6,079
Observational data collection only, accounting for COVID-19 morbidity and mortality levels within each country
the University of Melbourne
Melbourne, Australia
University of New Brunswick
Fredericton, Canada
Peking University
Beijing, China
Handwashing adherence
The 12-item self-report measure of adherence to handwashing guidelines across situations (e.g., after visiting public spaces, after touching garbage, etc.) based on the guidelines issued by the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The responses are provided on a 4-point scale, ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). Higher scores indicate better outcomes (the higher level of adherence to handwashing guidelines).
Time frame: 1 month
Frequency of handwashing
The 1-item self-report measure of the frequency of handwashing (for at least 20 seconds, all surfaces of the hands) daily. The responses are provided on a 4-point scale, ranging from 1 (less than once) to 5 (more than 10 times). Higher scores indicate better outcomes (the higher frequency of handwashing).
Time frame: 1 month
Self-efficacy
4 self-efficacy questionnaire items; mean item score ranging from 1 to 4, higher scores indicate stronger self-efficacy
Time frame: 1 month
Risk perception
3 questionnaire items to assess risk perception; mean item score ranging from 1 to 5, higher scores indicate higher risk perception
Time frame: 1 month
Outcome expectancy
4 items assessing positive (1 item) and negative (1 items) outcome expectancies; mean item scores ranging from 1 to 4, higher scores indicate more positive outcome expectancies
Time frame: 1 month
Intention
2 questionnaire items assessing intention to adhere to handwashing recommendations; mean item scores ranging from 1 to 4, higher scores indicate stronger intention to wash hands (for at least 20 seconds, all surfaces of the hands)
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
University of Bordeaux
Bordeaux, France
Freie Universität Berlin
Berlin, Germany
Bar-Ilan University
Ramat Gan, Israel
University of Padova
Padua, Italy
Perdana University
Serdang, Malaysia
SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities
Wroclaw, Lower Silezia, Poland
University of Lisbon
Lisbon, Portugal
...and 4 more locations
Time frame: 1 month
Planning
2 questionnaire items assessing action planning (1 item) and coping planning (1 item); mean item scores ranging from 1 to 4, higher scores indicate a higher level of self-reported planning
Time frame: 1 month
Action control
3 questionnaire items assessing a facet of action control, namely self-monitoring; mean item scores ranging from 1 to 4, higher scores indicate a higher level of self-reported monitoring of handwashing behavior
Time frame: 1 month
Perceived effectiveness of hand hygiene
1 questionnaire item assessing perceptions of handwashing as an effective means of preventing coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infection; item scores ranging from 1 to 4, higher scores indicate a higher level of perceived effectiveness of hand hygiene
Time frame: 1 month
Anxiety
7-item self-report scale (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, GAD-7) scale to assess anxiety symptoms; mean item scores ranging from 1 to 4, higher scores indicate a higher level of generalized anxiety
Time frame: 1 month
Country-level COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates
The daily cumulative numbers for COVID-19 morbidity and mortality in the study countries. Published daily as the Situation Report by World Health Organization, starting on 21 January 2020. Higher numbers indicate the higher cumulative COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates in the country.
Time frame: 60 days