Knowledge, Perceptions, and Preferred Information Sources Related to COVID-19 Among Central Pennsylvania Adults Early in the Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Cross-Sectional Survey

The Article in Brief

Knowledge, Perceptions, and Preferred Information Sources Related to COVID-19 Among Central Pennsylvania Adults Early in the Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Cross-Sectional Survey

Robert P. Lennon, and colleagues

Background Penn State University researchers conducted a survey in late March 2020, which was completed by almost 6,000 adults enrolled in a central Pennsylvania health care system.

What This Study Found The survey suggests that knowledge about COVID-19 and adherence to behavioral recommendations was generally high among those surveyed. Early concern for COVID-19 outmatched concern for influenza, though researchers believe respondents may have been less focused on their perceived likelihood of contracting COVID-19 and more concerned with its severe impact on their health. Additionally, they found that when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began advising social distancing recommendations in the early months of the pandemic, a majority of surveyed adults believed in the effectiveness of social distancing and intended to follow CDC guidelines. Health agency websites like the CDC were most frequently identified as “trusted sources” for COVID-19 information, as opposed to the substantial distrust in COVID-19 information from mass media and politicians.

Implications        

• These findings highlight the importance of consistent messaging from trusted sources that reaches diverse groups.