Uncovering Physical and Attitudinal Barriers to Adherence to Precautions for Preventing the Transmission of COVID-19 and Anxiety Level of People in Wuhan: 2 Months After the Lockdown.
BACKGROUND
Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak, was locked down on January 23, 2020. We aimed to investigate the barriers to the physical prevention, negative attitudes, and anxiety levels.


METHODS
A online cross-sectional survey was conducted with the people living in Wuhan between March 12th and 23rd, 2020.


RESULTS
Of a total of 2411 complete responses, the mean and standard deviation for the total physical prevention barriers score was 19.73 (standard deviation ± 5.3; range 12-45) out of a possible score of 48. Using a cut-off score of 44 for the State-Trait Inventory score, 79.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 78.2-81.5) of the participants reported moderate to severe anxiety during the early phase of the outbreak, and 51.3% (95% CI 49.2-53.3) reported moderate to severe anxiety after the peak of coronavirus disease 2019 was over (during the study period). Comparing anxiety levels in the early phase of the outbreak and after the peak of the outbreak, 58.5% (95% CI 56.5-60.5) recorded a decreased anxiety. Females reported a higher likelihood of having decreased levels of anxiety than males (odds ratio = 1.78, 95% CI 1.48-2.14). Low negative attitudes score were associated with a higher decrease in anxiety (odds ratio = 1.59, 95% CI 1.33-1.89).


CONCLUSIONS
The attitudinal barriers to prevention of transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 are more prominent than physical prevention barriers after the peak of coronavirus disease 2019. High anxiety levels even after the peak warrant serious attention.
['Lin|Yulan|Y|', 'Alias|Haridah|H|', 'Luo|Xiao|X|', 'Hu|Zhijian|Z|', 'Wong|Li Ping|LP|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D001007:Anxiety D000086382:COVID-19 D002681:China D003140:Communicable Disease Control D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D005260:Female D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D010349:Patient Compliance D011634:Public Health D011790:Quarantine D000086402:SARS-CoV-2 D055815:Young Adult
physical barriers adherence prevention new coronavirus