Materials
Participants completed questionnaires that were developed specifically for this study (see Additional file
1). These questionnaires addressed “Knowledge and perceptions about coronavirus” and “Views on testing for coronavirus”. The respondents indicated their level of agreement with each statement on a 4-point Likert scale from ‘strongly disagree’ to ‘strongly agree’. Based on the initial responses, factor analysis consolidated the variables into discrete, coherent sub-scales (see Additional file
2 for further details). Scores from these scales were the primary variables in all subsequent analyses (see Additional file
3 for breakdown of variables).
Part 1: Knowledge and Perceptions about coronavirus included the following sub-scales:
Confidence that taking action is effective (4 items, α = .651) reflects a person’s confidence in actions being effective in terms of protecting themselves and others from coronavirus.
Perceived severity and threat (5 items, α = .793) encompasses the participant’s beliefs about the ability of coronavirus to cause severe health problems or to represent a serious threat to them or to others.
Personal susceptibility (3 items, α = .776) denotes the extent to which participants perceived themselves to be at risk of coronavirus due to their health status or age.
Worry about economic implications (3 items, α = .696) reflects participant concerns about personal finances and the long-term impacts of the virus on their job prospects and the economy.
Impact of coronavirus on specific demographic groups (5 items, α = .686) indicates the participant’s perceptions about the particular impacts on coronavirus on people over the age of 70 years old, ethnic communities, and/or people with underlying health conditions.
Positive impacts on self and society (2 items, α = .717) encompasses beliefs that the virus has had a positive impact on the participant’s life and will have a positive impact on society in the future.
Worry about the health and social impacts on self and family (4 items, α = .452) indicates the extent to which the participant worries about contracting coronavirus and its likely impacts on self and family.
Part 2: Views on testing for coronavirus included the following sub-scales:
Negative views about widespread testing (4 items, α = .847) denotes whether widespread testing was considered by participants to be a waste of time and resources.
Importance of testing “by need” (5 items, α = .814) indicates how important participants felt it was to prioritise testing for themselves if they show symptoms, or for vulnerable people or those who work with vulnerable people.
Testing considered as an effective protective measure (4 items, α = .804) reflects the extent to which participants believe that testing could protect them or others from being infected by the coronavirus.
Trust in government approach to testing (4 items, α = .795) indicates how much the participant trusts the government’s COVID testing strategy.
Willingness to be tested (2 items, α .814) indicates the extent to which participants would consider getting tested for coronavirus.
Trust in doctor’s advice about testing (3 items, α = .576) indicates whether participants trust their doctors to inform them if they needed to get tested.
Beliefs that testing can indicate immunity (2 items, α = .554) indicates whether participants believe testing will tell them if they have immunity from coronavirus and whether they have had coronavirus previously.
Worries about testing outcome (2 items, α = .556) reflects the participant’s worries about the results of coronavirus testing, including being a future burden on their family.