Understanding stakeholder beliefs, attitudes and responses to COVID-19 infection prevention and control (IPC): a multimodal qualitative study

Collaborators

Outcomes for Australia

This project will identify concerns and misconceptions about COVID-19 infection prevention and control (IPC) in our frontline carers and individuals in quarantine. This will inform future strategies to enhance IPC policies and practices in multiple community and healthcare settings.

Background

The information and attitudes conveyed by employers, public health authorities, politicians, (social and mainstream) media and ‘experts’ are variable and often contradictory or confusing to healthcare workers, paramedics and institutional carers (eg. of children or the elderly), also known as ‘frontline carers’.

How these messages are perceived can affect the confidence and behaviours of frontline carers and, potentially, their safety and the safety of those they care for. Altered perceptions of messages can create adverse affects such as inconsistent attitudes/responses to recommendations about IPC and inconsistent understanding of the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), especially masks and P2/N95 respirators.

The attitudes and experiences of individuals in quarantine is also vitally important to understand.

Objectives

  • Understand the attitudes, beliefs and concerns about COVID-19 IPC methods and policies in frontline carers and individuals in quarantine.
  • Develop more effective communication strategies that will lead to more positive responses and compliance with IPC advice by frontline carers, during COVID-19 and other emergencies.

Read about other COVID-19 projects funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council

Related Research Areas

  • Clinical research and infection prevention