Changes in Infectious Disease-Specific Health Literacy in the Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Period: Two-Round Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

Publication date: Aug 30, 2024

Infectious disease-specific health literacy (IDSHL) is a crucial factor in the development of infectious diseases. It plays a significant role not only in mitigating the resurgence of infectious diseases but also in effectively averting the emergence of novel infections such as COVID-19. During the 3 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, China primarily adopted nonpharmaceutical interventions, advocating for people to avoid crowded places and wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Consequently, there has been a dearth of research concerning IDSHL and its corresponding focal points for health education. This study aimed to (1) evaluate the changes in IDSHL scores between 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic) and 2022 (the postepidemic period of COVID-19) and (2) explore the risk factors affecting IDSHL using a multivariate logistic regression analysis. This study used 2-round cross-sectional surveys, conducted in 2019 and 2022, respectively, in 30 counties in Zhejiang Province, China. Multiple-stage stratified random sampling was used to select households, and a Kish grid was used to identify participants. An identical standardized questionnaire consisting of 12 closed-ended questions was used to measure IDSHL scores before and after the COVID-19 pandemic (2019 and 2022). Standard descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t tests, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the data. The 2-round cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2019 and 2022 yielded, out of 19,366 and 19,221 total questionnaires, 19,257 (99. 44% response rate) and 18,857 (98. 11% response rate) valid questionnaires, respectively. The correct response rate for the respiratory infectious diseases question “When coughing or sneezing, which of the following is correct?” increased from 29. 10% in 2019 to 37. 92% in 2022 (χ^21=332. 625; P

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Concepts Keywords
China Adolescent
Coughing Adult
Literacy China
Postepidemic Communicable Diseases
COVID-19
COVID-19
Cross-Sectional Studies
factors
Female
health education
Health Literacy
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pandemics
postpandemic
survey
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH Infectious Disease
pathway REACTOME Infectious disease
disease MESH COVID-19 Pandemic
disease MESH infections

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