Patient’s knowledge And behavior oN the COVID-19 disease and as DEterMInants of Contamination

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the most serious respiratory virus pandemic since the 1918 H1N1 influenza pandemic. In the absence of a COVID-19 vaccine, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are crucial to reduce virus transmission. The importance to adhere to the interventions, imposed by the government, is considered crucial. Knowledge on contamination risks and on the severity, the possible consequences, the chance on recovery and long-term consequences of the disease will differ between individuals. Risk behavior will influence adherence to interventions such as case isolation, home quarantine, social distancing (especially of those over 70 years of age), avoiding mass gathering and social distancing.
We hypothesize that patient’s knowledge on the COVID-19 virus infection and (risk) behavior will be related to infection risk to COVID-19 virus.

Aim: The primary aim is to study patient’s knowledge of the disease and their risk behavior. The secondary aim is to relate the level of this knowledge and risk behavior (sticking to NPI’s) to contamination.

Method: We will include at least 170 patients (2 groups, difference in illness perception of 20%, 90% power and alpha 0.05) consecutive patients subject to COVID-19 infection screening at the emergency room. After giving informed consent, patients will be asked to fill out questionnaires (on an iPad with disposable cover) on knowledge of the disease, on patients health and on risk behavior. The relation between disease insight and risk behavior will be investigated in the COVID-19 positive group and will be compared to both, the COVID-19 negative group and to historical data in literature. The study is not burdensome to the patient and is feasible on the short term.

Results: The results of the questionnaires will be presented descriptively and will be correlated to contamination risks. The results of the study will putatively substantiate the importance of adhering to imposed interventions. The outcome of this study will be able to support government campaigns in providing information to citizens.

We hypothesize that COVID-19 positive patients have less illness perception and more risk behavior.

The time point is the end of the study: 21-08-2020
Primary outcome: illness perception (questionnaire)
Secondary outcome: risk behavior (questionnaire)

Questionnaires