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

Kazuhiro Nakayama; Yuki Yonekura; Hitomi Danya; Kanako Hagiwara

doi:10.2196/34966

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

JMIR Form Res. 2022 Jan 24;6(1):e34966. doi: 10.2196/34966.

Authors

Kazuhiro Nakayama¹, Yuki Yonekura¹, Hitomi Danya¹, Kanako Hagiwara¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Nursing Informatics, Graduate School of Nursing Science, St. Luke's International University, Tokyo, Japan.

PMID: 34982036
PMCID: PMC8822428
DOI: 10.2196/34966

Abstract

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

Objective: We 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: A web-based questionnaire survey was conducted using a Japanese internet research company. The measures comprised 8 items on COVID-19 preventive behaviors, health literacy items (European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire), 5 items on information evaluation, and 4 items on decision-making process. Pearson correlations between these variables were calculated. Multivariable analyses were also conducted using the COVID-19 preventive behavior score as a dependent variable.

Results: A total of 3914 valid responses were received.COVID-19 preventive behaviors were significantly correlated with health literacy (r=0.23), information evaluation (r=0.24), and decision-making process (r=0.30). Standardized regression coefficients (health literacy: β=.11; information evaluation: β=.13; decision-making: β=.18) showed that decision-making process contributed the most.

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.

Keywords: COVID-19; behavior; coronavirus; decision-making; evaluation; health information; health literacy; health promotion; prevention; survey.

©Kazuhiro Nakayama, Yuki Yonekura, Hitomi Danya, Kanako Hagiwara. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org), 24.01.2022.