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AbstractObjectiveMethods and MeasuresResultsConclusionStudies have shown that healthcare innovation adoption is complex. Using Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), an innovation for malaria prevention, the study aimed to understand factors considered in the adoption of healthcare innovations in Africa.Using qualitative methods, we interviewed 10 household heads in Ghana who had freely received LLINs during a malaria campaign. We analyzed our data using a deductive thematic analysis approach utilizing the protection motivation theory (PMT) as our framework.We found that the constructs of PMT: perceived severity, perceived vulnerability, perceived response efficacy, and perceived self-efficacy influenced the adoption of healthcare innovation (i.e. LLINs). We also found that misconceptions about malaria infection and prevention influenced the perceived response efficacy of LLINs which could undermine LLINs usage.The constructs of PMT are important in the decision to use LLINs. Misconceptions about malaria infection and prevention could undermine the decision to use LLINs. Future studies should investigate ways to address these misconceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are growing concerns about security as the usage of computers in academic settings continues to increase. This research aims to investigate the level of awareness among university students regarding security threats associated with ransomware. This study examines students' behaviour and preventive motivation for ransomware attacks, along with the measures taken to mitigate these security threats. The study model combines the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and preventive motivation theory (PMT) with additional threat awareness (TA) variables. The research findings indicate a high level of awareness regarding the dangers. TA has a positive influence on other factors, as indicated by the significant t-values (perceived severity (PS)=4.479, perceived vulnerability (PV)=3.251, response efficacy (RE)=14.344, and self-efficacy (SE)=8.034). This research also demonstrates that subjective norm (SN) and affective responses (AR) have a key impact on behavioural intention (BI). Moreover, two of the preventive motivation factors, PS and PV, significantly contribute to BI, while the other two (RE and SE) did not show a significant contribution to BI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Pesticide poisoning is a major public health problem in Thailand and is the result of intensive inappropriate and unsafe use of pesticides. This analytical cross-sectional study aimed to determine the factors affecting safe pesticide-use behaviors among farm plant agriculturists in northeastern Thailand. Methods The study sample included 427 farm plant agriculturists in Loei Province, northeastern Thailand. Individuals were randomly selected by a multistage random sampling technique. The following data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 8 parts: (1) sociodemographic characteristics, (2) knowledge about pesticide use, (3) perceived severity of impact from pesticide use among farm plant agriculturists, (4) perceived susceptibility to pesticide use, (5) perceived self-efficacy in the modification of safe pesticide-use behaviors, (6) perceived outcome of the modification of safe pesticide-use behaviors, (7) social support, and (8) safe pesticide-use behaviors. Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, and multiple regression analyses were employed for data analysis. Results The majority of participants (79.4%) had high scores for safe pesticide-use behaviors among farm plant agriculturists (scores of 112–150). Factors that significantly affected safe pesticide-use behaviors included knowledge about pesticide use (β = 0.282), social support (β = 0.217), reading information from pesticide labels before pesticide use (β = 0.207), perceived self-efficacy (β = 0.186), female sex (β = -0.140), rice farmer status (β = 0.129), corn farmer status (β = 0.127), perceived susceptibility (β = 0.126), having received information from the internet (β = -0.124), and perceived severity (β = -0.098). Together, these 10 factors were found to explain 32.5% of the safe pesticide-use behaviors among farm plant agriculturists. Conclusions Our findings indicate that there is a need to increase the number of promotional activities related to the safe use of pesticides through social support and training, with the aim of increasing the overall level of knowledge, perceived self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility, and modification of the perceived impact severity of pesticide use. Thus, relevant agencies should promote and support the safe use of pesticides by farm plant agriculturists. Summary This study revealed that the factors affecting safe pesticide-use behaviors among farm plant agriculturists included knowledge about pesticide use, social support, reading pesticide container labels, perceived self-efficacy in the modification of pesticide-use behaviors, sex, rice farmer status, corn farmer status, perceived susceptibility to pesticide use, having received information from the internet, and perceived severity of impact from pesticide use.

Background: Pesticide poisoning is a major public health problem in Thailand and is the result of intensive inappropriate and unsafe use of pesticides. This analytical cross-sectional study aimed to determine the factors affecting safe pesticide-use behaviors among farm plant agriculturists in northeastern Thailand. Methods: The study sample included 427 farm plant agriculturists in Loei Province, northeastern Thailand. Individuals were randomly selected by a multistage random sampling technique. The following data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 8 parts: (1) sociodemographic characteristics, (2) knowledge about pesticide use, (3) perceived severity of impact from pesticide use among farm plant agriculturists, (4) perceived susceptibility to pesticide use, (5) perceived self-efficacy in the modification of safe pesticide-use behaviors, (6) perceived outcome of the modification of safe pesticide-use behaviors, (7) social support, and (8) safe pesticide-use behaviors. Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, and multiple regression analyses were employed for data analysis. Results: The majority of participants (79.4%) had high scores for safe pesticide-use behaviors among farm plant agriculturists (scores of 112–150). Factors that significantly affected safe pesticide-use behaviors included knowledge about pesticide use (β = 0.282), social support (β = 0.217), reading information from pesticide labels before pesticide use (β = 0.207), perceived self-efficacy (β = 0.186), female sex (β = -0.140), rice farmer status (β = 0.129), corn farmer status (β = 0.127), perceived susceptibility (β = 0.126), having received information from the internet (β = -0.124), and perceived severity (β = -0.098). Together, these 10 factors were found to explain 32.5% of the safe pesticide-use behaviors among farm plant agriculturists. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that there is a need to increase the number of promotional activities related to the safe use of pesticides through social support and training, with the aim of increasing the overall level of knowledge, perceived self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility, and modification of the perceived impact severity of pesticide use. Thus, relevant agencies should promote and support the safe use of pesticides by farm plant agriculturists. Summary: This study revealed that the factors affecting safe pesticide-use behaviors among farm plant agriculturists included knowledge about pesticide use, social support, reading pesticide container labels, perceived self-efficacy in the modification of pesticide-use behaviors, sex, rice farmer status, corn farmer status, perceived susceptibility to pesticide use, having received information from the internet, and perceived severity of impact from pesticide use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on the protective motivation theory and parallel response model, in this cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study (N = 212) carried out on a sample of the general public (age 18-65), we aimed to test the potential interaction effects of fear of COVID-19 and conspiracy beliefs about groups benefitting from the COVID-19 pandemic in predicting subjective assessment of the efficacy of three COVID-19 preventive measures. The results have shown that fear of COVID-19 was positively related to a positive assessment of the efficacy of frequent disinfection of hands and surfaces, but only in people who had COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs on an average or high level. However, on all levels of COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs, fear of COVID-19 related positively to a positive assessment of mask wearing and social distancing efficacy, however, to a different extent. We discuss the results in light of the protective motivation theory and the affiliation function of COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs and conforming to the prevention guidelines.

Abstract Background People with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are at high risk for severe outcomes from Covid-19 infection. Researchers exploring ALS and Covid-19 have focused primarily on system response and adaptation. Using Protection Motivation Theory, we investigated how people with ALS and family caregivers appraised and responded to Covid-19 threat, the ‘costs’ associated with pandemic response, and how health professionals and systems can better support people affected by ALS who are facing public health emergencies. Methods Data were drawn from the ‘ALS Talk Project,’ an asynchronous, moderated focus group study. Participants were recruited from regions across Canada. Seven groups met online over 14 weeks between January and July 2020. Fifty-three participants contributed to Covid-19 discussions. Data were qualitatively analyzed using directed content analysis and the constant-comparative approach. Results Participants learned about the Covid-19 pandemic from the media. They rapidly assessed their vulnerability and responded to Covid-19 threat by following recommendations from health authorities, information monitoring, and preparing for worst-case scenarios. Adopting protective behaviors had substantial response costs, including adaptations for medical care and home support workers, threatened access to advance care, and increased caregiver burden. Participants expressed need for ALS-specific, pandemic information from trusted health professionals and/or ALS health charities. Telemedicine introduced both conveniences and costs. Prior experience with ALS provided tools for coping with Covid-19. Threat and coping appraisal was a dynamic process involving ongoing vigilance and adaptation. Findings draw attention to the lack of emergency preparedness among participants and within health systems. Conclusions Clinicians should engage ALS patients and families in ongoing discussions about pandemic coping, strategies to mitigate response costs, care pathways in the event of Covid-19 infection, and changing information about Covid-19 variants and vaccines. Healthcare systems should incorporate flexible approaches for medical care, leveraging the benefits of telemedicine and facilitating in-person interaction as needed and where possible. Research is needed to identify strategies to mitigate response costs and to further explore the interaction between prior experience and coping. Further study is also needed to determine how communication about emergency preparedness might be effectively incorporated into clinical care for those with ALS and other medically vulnerable populations.

Compared with the nucleic acid amplification test (NATT), the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) rapid antigen self‐testing (RAST) has advantages in speed and convenience. However, little is known about people's acceptance and influencing factors for SARS‐CoV‐2 RAST. A cross‐sectional study was conducted from April 21 to 30, 2022 in China. The χ2 test and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify the influencing factors. The structural equation model was used to test the extended protective motivation theory (PMT) model hypotheses. Among the total of 5107 participants, 62.5% were willing to accept the SARS‐CoV‐2 RAST. There were significant differences in acceptance among different residences (p < 0.001), educational level (p < 0.001), occupation (p < 0.001), monthly income (p < 0.001), travel frequency (p < 0.05), and feelings about NATT (p < 0.001). Response efficacy (β = 0.05; p = 0.025) and self‐efficacy (β = 0.84; p < 0.001) had a positive effect, while response cost showed a negative effect (β = −0.07; p < 0.001). The public's major concerns about SARS‐CoV‐2 RAST are its reliability, testing method, price, and authority. Overall, a moderate intention to use SARS‐CoV‐2 RAST was found among the Chinese population. The extended PMT can be used for the prediction of intention to accept the RAST. We need to take measures to increase people's acceptance of SARS‐CoV‐2 RAST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the factors influencing government employees' cybersecurity behavior in Malaysia. The country is considered the most vulnerable in Southeast Asia. Applying the protection motivation theory, this study addresses the gap by investigating how government employees behave toward corresponding cyberrisks and threats. Using partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), 446 respondents participated and were analyzed. The findings suggest that highly motivated employees with high severity, vulnerability, response efficacy, and self-efficacy exercise cybersecurity. Incorporating the users' perceptions of vulnerability and severity facilitates behavioral change and increases the understanding of cybersecurity behavior's role in addressing cybersecurity threats—particularly the impact of the threat response in predicting the cybersecurity behavior of government employees. The implications include providing robust information security protection to the government information systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jiaxiu Liu,1,2 Ruibin Deng,1 Bing Lin,1 Hong Pan,1 Yuwen Gao,1 Jianghong Dai,3 Hao Liang,4 Ailong Huang,5 Xiaoni Zhong1 1School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Medical Information, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Xinjiang Medical University, Xinjiang, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People’s Republic of China; 5Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology on Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Xiaoni ZhongSchool of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, 1 Yixue Road, Chongqing, 400016, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 13308368059Email zhongxiaoni@cqmu.edu.cnBackground: Men who have sex with multiple men (MSMM) belong to a high-risk group for HIV infection, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective measure to prevent the infection. However, few studies on PrEP adherence by MSMM in China exist. We aimed to explore the protective motivation-related factors for PrEP adherence in an HIV-negative MSMM population in Western China and to provide a reference for future risk management and effective prevention strategies.Methods: Data were collected from a 2-year follow-up cohort study of PrEP in MSM in China. Rogers’ protective motivation theory (PMT) was used to study the PrEP adherence of MSMM, and logistic regression was performed to analyze the influencing factors of PrEP adherence.Results: A total of 496 MSMM were included in the study: 299 (60.28%) of them in the good adherence group and 197 (39.72%) in the poor adherence group. The threat assessment scores of the good and poor adherence groups were 2.15 ± 0.59 and 2.06 ± 0.47, respectively, and the response assessment scores were 2.81 ± 0.62 and 2.74 ± 0.62, respectively. Poor PrEP adherence was associated with on-demand PrEP medication (OR=0.670), students at school (OR=1.837), occasional condom use (OR=1.621), and good HIV knowledge (OR= 0.659). The higher the threat assessment score, the higher the susceptibility; and the lower the response cost, the stronger the protection motivation and the less likely MSMM were to have poor adherence.Conclusion: On-demand PrEP medication is more conducive to adherence. Preventive management should focus on MSMMs who are students at school, those who occasionally use condoms, and those with poor HIV knowledge. Improving threat perception and susceptibility, and controlling and reducing the response cost can effectively improve PrEP adherence, and the subsequent application of PMT during intervention research can provide a reference for HIV prevention in MSMM.Keywords: MSM, multiple sexual partners, PrEP, adherence, protective motivation theory, Western China

Background and purpose: The global prevalence and morbidity of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are high. Preventive behaviors are proven to reduce the damage caused by the disease. There is a paucity of information on determinants of preventive behaviors in response to COVID-19 in Mazandaran province, north of Iran. So, we aimed to evaluate protection motivation theory (PMT) in promoting preventive behaviors of COVID-19 in Mazandaran province. Materials and methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 1220 individuals participated. They were selected via social networks using convenience sampling in 2020. Data were collected online using a demographic questionnaire and a valid and reliable scale based on PMT. Data analysis was done using Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression in SPSS V24. Results: Mean age of the participations was 39.34±8.74 years. Regression model showed perceived threat (ß =0.033, P =0.007), perceived costs (ß=0.039, P=0.045), perceived self-efficacy (ß =0.116, P>0.001), and perceived fear (ß=0.131, P>0.001) as the significant predictors of COVID-19 preventive behaviors. This model accounted for 78% of the variance in these behaviors. Conclusion: According to constructs of the PMT associated with protection against COVID-19, educational programs and health promotion based on the theory and benefiting from social networks could be helpful in increasing the motivation of people towards protective behaviors of COVID-19.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the psychological cognitive factors of weight management during pregnancy based on protective motivation theory (PMT). Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Participants were recruited at the Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China. Sample: A sample of 533 pregnant women was enrolled in the study. Measures: Measures was a self-design questionnaire, comprising of demographics, cognition of weight management during pregnancy, and weight management behavior during pregnancy. Analysis: Structural equation modeling was used to examine the weight management's cognitive factors, path relationships, and the influence of maternal characteristics. Results: Self-efficacy cognition could promote gestational weight management behavior (b =.22, P <.001), but response cost cognition hindered gestational weight management (b = −.21, P <.001). Parity moderated pregnant women's self-efficacy cognition (diff b =.24, P <.01), where the self-efficacy of nullipara promoted weight management behaviors, but the self-efficacy of multipara had no significant effect. Also, the response cost factors stably existed in primipara and multipara groups, with multipara, being positively affected by response efficacy (b =.15, P <.05). Conclusion: Findings highlight the need for psychological and cognitive interventions. Intervention strategies that focus on enabling women to correctly understand response cost and make an active response, improve self-efficacy cognition especially among primipara, and strengthening multipara's response efficacy among pregnant are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are at high risk for severe outcomes from Covid-19 infection. Researchers exploring ALS and Covid-19 have focused primarily on system response and adaptation. Using Protection Motivation Theory, we investigated how people with ALS and family caregivers appraised and responded to Covid-19 threat, the 'costs' associated with pandemic response, and how health professionals and systems can better support people affected by ALS who are facing public health emergencies. Methods: Data were drawn from the 'ALS Talk Project,' an asynchronous, moderated focus group study. Participants were recruited from regions across Canada. Seven groups met online over 14 weeks between January and July 2020. Fifty-three participants contributed to Covid-19 discussions. Data were qualitatively analyzed using directed content analysis and the constant-comparative approach. Results: Participants learned about the Covid-19 pandemic from the media. They rapidly assessed their vulnerability and responded to Covid-19 threat by following recommendations from health authorities, information monitoring, and preparing for worst-case scenarios. Adopting protective behaviors had substantial response costs, including adaptations for medical care and home support workers, threatened access to advance care, and increased caregiver burden. Participants expressed need for ALS-specific, pandemic information from trusted health professionals and/or ALS health charities. Telemedicine introduced both conveniences and costs. Prior experience with ALS provided tools for coping with Covid-19. Threat and coping appraisal was a dynamic process involving ongoing vigilance and adaptation. Findings draw attention to the lack of emergency preparedness among participants and within health systems. Conclusions: Clinicians should engage ALS patients and families in ongoing discussions about pandemic coping, strategies to mitigate response costs, care pathways in the event of Covid-19 infection, and changing information about Covid-19 variants and vaccines. Healthcare systems should incorporate flexible approaches for medical care, leveraging the benefits of telemedicine and facilitating in-person interaction as needed and where possible. Research is needed to identify strategies to mitigate response costs and to further explore the interaction between prior experience and coping. Further study is also needed to determine how communication about emergency preparedness might be effectively incorporated into clinical care for those with ALS and other medically vulnerable populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: The global prevalence and morbidity of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are high. Preventive behaviors are proven to reduce the damage caused by the disease. There is a paucity of information on determinants of preventive behaviors in response to COVID-19 in Mazandaran province, north of Iran. So, we aimed to evaluate protection motivation theory (PMT) in promoting preventive behaviors of COVID-19 in Mazandaran province. Materials and methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 1220 individuals participated. They were selected via social networks using convenience sampling in 2020. Data were collected online using a demographic questionnaire and a valid and reliable scale based on PMT. Data analysis was done using Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression in SPSS V24. Results: Mean age of the participations was 39.34±8.74 years. Regression model showed perceived threat (ß =0.033, P =0.007), perceived costs (ß=0.039, P=0.045), perceived self-efficacy (ß =0.116, P>0.001), and perceived fear (ß=0.131, P>0.001) as the significant predictors of COVID-19 preventive behaviors. This model accounted for 78% of the variance in these behaviors. Conclusion: According to constructs of the PMT associated with protection against COVID-19, educational programs and health promotion based on the theory and benefiting from social networks could be helpful in increasing the motivation of people towards protective behaviors of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) framework was used to examine whether information about the role of exercise in preventing maternal-fetal disease served as a meaningful source of exercise motivation. Design: Pregnant women (n = 208) were randomly assigned into one of three conditions: PMT, attention control, and noncontact control. Women in the PMT group read a brochure about the benefits of exercise during pregnancy incorporating the major components of PMT; perceived vulnerability (PV), perceived severity (PS), response efficacy (RE), and self-efficacy (SE). Participants in the attention-control condition read a brochure about diet. Following treatment, all participants completed measures of their beliefs toward maternal-fetal disease and exercise, goal intention (GI), and implementation intention (IMI). One week later, a measure of self-reported exercise behavior was collected. Main Outcome Measures: Main outcome measures were PMT variables (PV, PS, RE, and SE), GI, IMI, and follow-up physical activity. Results: Participants assigned to the PMT-present group reported significantly higher PS, RE, SE, GI, and increased exercise behavior. PS, RE, and SE predicted GI, GI predicted IMI, and IMI predicted exercise behavior. Conclusion: Information grounded in PMT is effective in influencing pregnant women's beliefs and intentions as well as changing their initial behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has had a significant negative impact on socio-economic factors and the earth's ecology. To cope with climate change, many countries have employed various policies and measures to reduce damage due to climate change. For individual residents, adaptation behaviour is vital for reducing individual welfare losses. This research analysed how psychological determinants and other external factors influence residents' intention to adapt to climate change. We proposed an extended protection motivation theory (PMT) model, developed a reliable scale and conducted a nationwide field survey. We interviewed 1402 residents in 29 provinces, and 874 valid questionnaires were collected, providing data that were used in a structural equation model. The results show that our model can serve as a reliable framework for analysing the determinants of residents' intention to adapt to climate change. Policy is the most important factor for stimulating the formation of residents' adaptation intention. Risk appraisals and adaptation appraisals have positive and significant impacts on the intention of residents to adopt climate change adaptation behaviour. Information and climate perception do not directly influence residents' behavioural intentions but indirectly affect their intentions through the process of risk appraisal and adaptation appraisal. Corresponding policy suggestions are made that may be helpful for the formulation of adaptation policies. • An analytical framework for adaptation behaviour is established based on PMT model. • Policy is the most important determinants of residents' adaptation intention. • Psychological factors have a stronger influence on intention than external factors. • Recommendations about the formulation of adaptation policies are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]