Population anxiety and positive behaviour change during the COVID-19 epidemic: Cross-sectional surveys in Singapore, China and Italy

Jane M Lim; Zaw Myo Tun; Vishakha Kumar; Sharon Quaye; Vittoria Offeddu; Alex R Cook; May Oo Lwin; Shaohai Jiang; Clarence C Tam

The questionnaire comprised eight sections with questions on knowledge, sources of solicited and unsolicited information, self-efficacy and information needs, anxiety, confidence in authorities, acceptance of quarantine measures, behavioural changes in response to the epidemic, and socio-demographic characteristics. The knowledge section included questions regarding possible modes of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, personal protective measures and locally implemented public health control measures. For individuals who had actively sought information about the novel coronavirus, we asked what the main sources of information were and which they thought were the most trustworthy. We also asked about whether participants had received unsolicited information about the novel coronavirus, what type of information it was, and whether and why it was shared with others.