Problems caused by the novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and its mutations have brought challenges in pandemic control for all countries worldwide. The present study examines the mediating roles of fear of COVID-19 and trust in the healthcare system in the association between individual’s risk perception and performing preventive COVID-19 behaviours among Iranians. A cross-sectional study design was used to collect data from 3652 residents of Qazvin province in Iran from 3 February to 15 April 2021 using a multistage stratified cluster sampling method. Participants responded to an online questionnaire concerning their fear of COVID-19, risk perception, trust in the healthcare system, and preventive COVID-19 behaviours. Small to medium positive interrelationships were observed between the variables of the study. Fear of COVID-19, trust in the healthcare system or both (fear of COVID-19 and trust in the healthcare system) mediated the association between an individual’s risk perception and performing preventive COVID-19 behaviours. The study demonstrated there are at least four ways through which an individual’s risk perception can influence preventive COVID-19 behaviours. Therefore, clinicians, health communicators, and researchers may capitalize on these findings to enhance preventive COVID-19 behaviours to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 infection.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Fear of COVID-19, Risk perception, trust in the healthcare system, preventive COVID-19 behaviours, 【초록키워드】 pandemic, Mutation, cross-sectional, Infection, Novel coronavirus, Iran, Health, Study design, Cluster, fear, questionnaire, association, Healthcare system, Clinicians, medium, help, participant, problem, positive, variable, researcher, mitigate, country, spread of COVID-19, ENhance, was used, caused, demonstrated, concerning, stratified, 【제목키워드】 Trust, fear, Perception, System,