Pre-outbreak determinants of perceived risks of corona infection and preventive measures taken. A prospective population-based study

Peter G. van der Velden; Miquelle Marchand; Boukje Cuelenaere; Marcel Das

To prevent and reduce infection by the new coronavirus (COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2) health organizations such as the WHO, governmental health agencies and journals offer information about possible preventive measures [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . To target and implement interventions to stimulate preventive behaviour against infection, more insight is needed in how people perceive the risks of being infected by this new coronavirus, if they use of preventive measures, and especially which (pre-outbreak) factors determine the perceived risks and measures taken [6] . However, to the best of our knowledge to date peer-reviewed population-based studies assessing the perceived risks of corona infection, measures and their determinants are absent. Aim of the present population-based study conducted is to shed light on this gap of scientific knowledge.