@Article{info:doi/10.2196/34966,
author="Nakayama, Kazuhiro
and Yonekura, Yuki
and Danya, Hitomi
and Hagiwara, Kanako",
title="COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors and Health Literacy, Information Evaluation, and Decision-making Skills in Japanese Adults: Cross-sectional Survey Study",
journal="JMIR Form Res",
year="2022",
month="Jan",
day="24",
volume="6",
number="1",
pages="e34966",
keywords="coronavirus; COVID-19; health literacy; health information; decision-making; health promotion; prevention; behavior; survey; evaluation",
abstract="Background: Health literacy is important for the prevention of COVID-19 transmission. Research in Japan shows that health literacy is related to skills in evaluating information and decision-making (skills that are not necessarily limited to information about health). Such basic skills are important, particularly when individuals encounter new health issues for which there is insufficient evidence. Objective: We aimed to determine the extent to which COVID-19 preventive behaviors were associated with health literacy and skills in evaluating information and making decisions. Methods: A web-based questionnaire survey was conducted using a Japanese internet research company. The measures comprised 8 items on COVID-19 preventive behaviors, health literacy items (European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire), 5 items on information evaluation, and 4 items on decision-making process. Pearson correlations between these variables were calculated. Multivariable analyses were also conducted using the COVID-19 preventive behavior score as a dependent variable. Results: A total of 3914 valid responses were received.COVID-19 preventive behaviors were significantly correlated with health literacy (r=0.23), information evaluation (r=0.24), and decision-making process (r=0.30). Standardized regression coefficients (health literacy: $\beta$=.11; information evaluation: $\beta$=.13; decision-making: $\beta$=.18) showed that decision-making process contributed the most. Conclusions: Although comprehensive health literacy is necessary for COVID-19 preventive behaviors, the skills to evaluate a wide range of information and to make appropriate decisions are no less important. Opportunities for people to acquire these skills should be available at all times. ",
issn="2561-326X",
doi="10.2196/34966",
url="https://formative.jmir.org/2022/1/e34966",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/34966",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34982036"
}