Abstract Background We aimed to investigate the association between institution trust and public responses to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Methods An Internet-based, cross-sectional survey was administered on 29 January 2020. A total of 4393 adults ≥18 y of age and residing or working in the province of Hubei, central China were included in the study. Results The majority of the participants expressed a great degree of trust in the information and preventive instructions provided by the central government compared with the local government. Being under quarantine (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.35 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.80 to 3.08]) and having a high institutional trust score (OR 2.23 [95% CI 1.96 to 2.53]) were both strong and significant determinants of higher preventive practices scores. The majority of study participants (n=3640 [85.7%]) reported that they would seek hospital treatment if they suspected themselves to have been infected with COVID-19. Few of the participants from Wuhan (n=475 [16.6%]) and those participants who were under quarantine (n=550 [13.8%]) expressed an unwillingness to seek hospital treatment. Conclusions Institutional trust is an important factor influencing adequate preventive behaviour and seeking formal medical care during an outbreak.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, China, preventive, institutional trust, Hubei, treatment-seeking behaviour,