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The Relation between Perceived and Actual Understanding and Adherence: Results from a National Survey on COVID-19 Measures in Belgium

Author

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  • Kirsten Vanderplanken

    (Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), Institute of Health and Society, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium)

  • Stephan Van den Broucke

    (Psychological Sciences Research Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium)

  • Isabelle Aujoulat

    (Centre for Health Promotion Knowledge Transfer (RESO), Institute of Health and Society, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium)

  • Joris Adriaan Frank van Loenhout

    (Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), Institute of Health and Society, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium)

Abstract

To reduce the spread of COVID-19 among the population, Belgium has implemented various infection prevention and control measures over time. This study investigated the extent to which understanding of the COVID-19 measures contributed to adherence, and which personal characteristics were considered risk factors for lower adherence. It consisted of a large online survey among a sample of the population ( n = 2008), representative of citizens of Belgium in terms of gender, age, province and socio-economic status. The survey was conducted in September 2020, and included questions on perceived and actual understanding of COVID-19 protective measures in place during that time, as well as past and future adherence to those measures. The results showed that both perceived and actual understanding contributed significantly to past as well as future adherence. Risk factors for perceived understanding included being male and belonging to a younger age group, while risk factors for actual understanding were speaking French (versus Dutch) and belonging to a lower socio-economic level. Communication about COVID-19 measures should put more focus on trying to improve the understanding of the measures, instead of only making them known, particularly for those who are less health literate and as such at risk of poor understanding.

Suggested Citation

  • Kirsten Vanderplanken & Stephan Van den Broucke & Isabelle Aujoulat & Joris Adriaan Frank van Loenhout, 2021. "The Relation between Perceived and Actual Understanding and Adherence: Results from a National Survey on COVID-19 Measures in Belgium," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-10, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:19:p:10200-:d:645230
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paolo Roma & Merylin Monaro & Laura Muzi & Marco Colasanti & Eleonora Ricci & Silvia Biondi & Christian Napoli & Stefano Ferracuti & Cristina Mazza, 2020. "How to Improve Compliance with Protective Health Measures during the COVID-19 Outbreak: Testing a Moderated Mediation Model and Machine Learning Algorithms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-17, October.
    2. Md Arif Billah & Md Mamun Miah & Md Nuruzzaman Khan, 2020. "Reproductive number of coronavirus: A systematic review and meta-analysis based on global level evidence," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(11), pages 1-17, November.
    3. Katarina Giritli Nygren & Anna Olofsson, 2020. "Managing the Covid-19 pandemic through individual responsibility: the consequences of a world risk society and enhanced ethopolitics," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(7-8), pages 1031-1035, August.
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    1. Febe Brackx & Fien Vanongeval & Yessika Adelwin Natalia & Geert Molenberghs & Thérèse Steenberghen, 2022. "The Effect of Transborder Mobility on COVID-19 Incidences in Belgium," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-25, August.

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