Perception-based influence factors of intention to adopt COVID-19 epidemic prevention in China

Background The researches investigating the influence factors of epidemic prevention are not only scarce, but also provide a gap in the domain of perception-based influence factors of intention to adopt COVID-19 epidemic prevention. Objective This work has attempted to examine the perception-based influence factors of individuals’ intention to adopt COVID-19 epidemic prevention in a modified behavioral framework. Theoretical framework A behavioral framework composed of the theory of reasoned action and the theory of planned behavior is developed to incorporate some additional perception-based influence factors. Methods A partial least square-based path analysis has been employed to estimate the path coefficients of those factors in terms of drivers, barriers, and neutral factors based on questionnaire data of 302 respondents from six universities and two hospitals in China. Results Among the perception-based influence factors, governments’ guidelines on epidemic prevention is found to be the most important and influential factor, which was followed by risk perception. Finally, attitude towards epidemic prevention exhibited the least degree of impact on individuals’ intention to adopt epidemic prevention. Moral norms did not show any contribution to individuals’ intention to adopt epidemic prevention. Conclusion Concerning importance ranking, the governments’ guidelines on epidemic prevention, risk perception, and epidemic knowledge are revealed as the top three drivers of individuals’ intention to adopt epidemic prevention, while the perceived feasibility to adopt epidemic prevention is found to be a barrier. Moreover, moral norms is identified to have an insignificant influence on individuals’ intention to adopt epidemic prevention. Given the empirical results, dissemination of Governments’ guidelines on epidemic prevention, proper risk perception, and knowledge about epidemic would help prevent the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak within China and worldwide. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Examined perception-based influence factors of individuals’ intention to adopt epidemic prevention. • Theory of planned behavior and theory of reasoned actions are modified to introduced new factors. • Governments’ guidelines on epidemic prevention, risk perception, and epidemic knowledge are the top three drivers. • Perceived feasibility is revealed a barrier to adopt COVID-19 epidemic prevention. • Moral norms showed an insignificant role in adoption of COVID-19 epidemic prevention.