Identifying and addressing psychosocial determinants of adherence to physical distancing guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic - project protocol

Hannah Durand; Simon L Bacon; Molly Byrne; Eanna Kenny; Kim L Lavoie; Brian E McGuire; Jenny Mc Sharry; Oonagh Meade; Robert Mooney; Chris Noone; Laura L O'Connor; Kate O'Flaherty; Gerard J Molloy

doi:10.12688/hrbopenres.13090.2

Identifying and addressing psychosocial determinants of adherence to physical distancing guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic - project protocol

HRB Open Res. 2020 Dec 14:3:58. doi: 10.12688/hrbopenres.13090.2. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Hannah Durand¹, Simon L Bacon^{2

3}, Molly Byrne¹, Eanna Kenny¹, Kim L Lavoie^{2

4}, Brian E McGuire¹, Jenny Mc Sharry¹, Oonagh Meade¹, Robert Mooney⁵, Chris Noone¹, Laura L O'Connor¹, Kate O'Flaherty⁶, Gerard J Molloy¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, H91 EV56, Ireland.
² Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre, Hôpital Sacré-Cœur de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, QC H4J 1C5, Canada.
³ Department of Health, Kinesiology & Applied Physiology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, QC H4B 2A7, Canada.
⁴ Department of Psychology, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, QC H2L 2C4, Canada.
⁵ Communications, Department of Health, Government of Ireland, Dublin, D02 XW14, Ireland.
⁶ Health and Wellbeing, Department of Health, Government of Ireland, Dublin, D02 XW14, Ireland.

Abstract

Optimising public health physical distancing measures has been a critical part of the global response to the spread of COVID-19. Evidence collected during the current pandemic shows that the transmission rate of the virus is significantly reduced following implementation of intensive physical distancing measures. Adherence to these recommendations has been poorer than adherence to other key transmission reduction behaviours such as handwashing. There are a complex range of reasons that are likely to predict why people do not or only partially adhere to physical distancing recommendations. In the current project we aim to address the following research questions: (1) What are the psychosocial determinants of physical distancing for the general public and for key socio-demographic sub-groups (e.g., young adults, older adults, etc.)?; (2) Do current Government of Ireland COVID-19 physical distancing communications address the determinants of physical distancing?; and (3) How can communications be optimised and tailored to sub-groups to ensure maximum adherence to guidelines? These will be addressed by conducting three work packages (WPs). In WP1, we will work closely with the iCARE international study, which includes a large online survey of public responses to measures established to reduce and slow the spread of COVID-19, including physical distancing. We will analyse Irish data, comparing it to data from other countries, to identify the key psychosocial determinants of physical distancing behaviour. This will be followed by a qualitative study to explore in depth the barriers and facilitators of physical distancing behaviour among the Irish public (WP2). In WP3, we will conduct a content analysis and evidence mapping of current government messaging around physical distancing, to ensure the findings from this research feed into the development of ongoing communication and future messaging about physical distancing.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; behaviour change; physical distancing; social distancing.

Grants and funding

This research is funded by the Health Research Board and the Irish Research Council through the COVID-19 Pandemic Rapid Response Funding Call under grant number COV19-2020-097 awarded to Dr Gerard J. Molloy. Various organisations have contributed funds to the MBMC to support the iCARE study, full details of which can be found at https://mbmc-cmcm.ca/covid19.