%0 Journal Article
%@ 2561-326X
%I JMIR Publications
%V 6
%N 1
%P e34966
%T COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors and Health Literacy, Information Evaluation, and Decision-making Skills in Japanese Adults: Cross-sectional Survey Study
%A Nakayama,Kazuhiro
%A Yonekura,Yuki
%A Danya,Hitomi
%A Hagiwara,Kanako
%+ Department of Nursing Informatics, Graduate School of Nursing Science, St. Luke’s International University, 10-1, Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0044, Japan, 81 3 5550 2284, nakayama@slcn.ac.jp
%K coronavirus
%K COVID-19
%K health literacy
%K health information
%K decision-making
%K health promotion
%K prevention
%K behavior
%K survey
%K evaluation
%D 2022
%7 24.1.2022
%9 Original Paper
%J JMIR Form Res
%G English
%X 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: β=.11; information evaluation: β=.13; decision-making: β=.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. 
%M 34982036
%R 10.2196/34966
%U https://formative.jmir.org/2022/1/e34966
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/34966
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34982036