To investigate the risk perception and psychobehavioral responses of the general public towards the outbreak, The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care conducted an online survey from 24January 2020 to 5 February 2020 and completed data analysis from 1,168 respondents. Below are the main findings:
1. Risk perception
Responses indicated the public has a high perceived susceptibility (88%) which they think may have a high chance of being infected; and high perceived severity (98%) over the novel coronavirus.
98% of respondents were worried about the outbreak. The anxiety level, measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, was borderline abnormal (8.82). (Generally speaking, 7 or below = Normal; 8-10 = Borderline abnormal; 11-21 = Abnormal).
2. Information sources
Nearly all respondents (99.5%) were alert to the disease progression and actively searched for related information, such as number of confirmed cases and treatments (over 80%). The most trusted information sources were doctors (85%) and broadcast (56%).
3. Preventive measures
About 90% of respondents have enhanced personal hygiene practices, including wearing masks, cleaning hands and better coughing and sneezing etiquette and avoid travelling to Mainland China.
For social-distancing precautionary measures, e.g. restricting mass gatherings, staying at home, avoid taking public transportation, although they were considered useful in preventing COVID-19, only 36%-86% of respondents actually adopted them.
Press release of the study is available in https://www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk/en/press_detail.php?id=3234&t=cu-medicine-announces-the-community-response-study-results-during-the-early-phase-of-the-covid-19-outbreak-in-hong-kong
香港COVID-19爆發初期的社區反應︰風險感知，信息接觸和預防措施 研究
為了解本港市民對是次疫情的風險認知及心理行為反應，中大醫學院公共衞生及基層醫療學院於2020年1月24日至2月5日，以問卷訪問1,168名市民，主要結果如下：
風險認知：
市民對疫情的風險認知屬於高水平，88% 受訪者自覺有很大機會感染新型冠狀病毒；認為新型冠狀病毒可致嚴重徵狀的受訪者比例亦達98%
98% 受訪者對新型冠狀病毒疫情表示憂慮；受訪者的平均憂慮指數為8.82分*，反映他們的憂慮已達臨界點
* HADS-A 評分 (0-7分= 正常; 8-10分= 臨界異常; 11-21分= 異常)
資訊來源
差不多所有(99.5%)受訪者都會留意疫情的最新發展，當中有8成會主動尋找有關資訊，如有多少人確診，及如受感染後應如何處理。最多受訪者認為來自醫生的疫情資訊最可信，達85% ；其次是新聞廣播，達56%。而只有16%的受訪者應為官方資料可靠
預防措施
近90%受訪者加強了個人衞生，如戴口罩、潔手及注重咳嗽和打噴嚏時的禮儀，並避免前往內地
避免乘搭公共交通工具、避免社交活動及避免外出等保持社交距離的措施，雖被視作有效預防感染卻較難實踐，只有36%至86%受訪者能夠做到
初步研究總結︰
香港市民對自我預防保護措施的依從性很高，最常見的行為是戴口罩，而在社交疏遠方面則少得多，因此應更着重減少團體社交活動以減少感染傳播的可能性
香港市民焦慮水平普遍偏高
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其他與這項研究的連結︰
RTHK Channel 31 - 左右紅藍綠-如何加強防疫以減低社區爆發風險？
RTHK - 中大調查：疫情下只有半數受訪市民避免社交活動
Hong Kong Headline - 中大調查指近90%市民對疫情感焦慮近臨界點 專家倡關商場減傳播
Hong Kong Economic Times - 中大發現有患者由發病至接受隔離遲了14天 若有更多感染源頭不明病例應進一步關閉商場
端傳媒科技 - 一名病人會傳染多少人？疫情會爆發？病毒數學模型的建立和困難