Barriers and facilitators to the uptake of personal protective behaviours in public settings
What stops people from behaving in ways they have been told will protect them from COVID-19 in public places?
This review looks at what makes it more or less likely for people to adopt current advice to protect themselves, particularly in crowded settings by:
- Wearing masks
- Keeping social distance
- Using available hand sanitiser
- Sneezing or coughing into elbow
- Ensuring flow of air in enclosed spaces
The research we studied shows that the people more likely to follow this advice are:
- Older
- Female
- More educated
- Non-white
- Better paid
- Trust more in government
- Feel COVID-19 is more of a risk
- Get their information from TV, radio and newspapers
- Feel more vulnerable
- Have a greater belief that these measures will protect them
- Are more prone to worry
The people less likely to follow the advice are those who use social media for their health advice and/or believe in conspiracy theories
The reasons people don’t socially distance or wear masks are:
- Negative effect of doing so
- Fear of disapproval of others
- Lack of knowledge or understanding of consequences
- Lack of means
- Beliefs about how disease is passed on
- Their own sense of vulnerability
- Feeling, or thinking they will feel, uncomfortable or embarrassed
There is no indication that being required to take these actions by law makes any difference.
The review identified specific groups who are more or less likely to follow advice to protect themselves and this can be used to tailor guidance and advice.
We cannot assume that these findings will be relevant going forward as the evidence reviewed is limited and relates to other pandemics or the first wave of COVID-19. It is generally acknowledged that people are less likely to take some of these actions to protect themselves as time goes on.
More work is needed on what will encourage people to take protective actions over the duration of the pandemic.
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