Impact of local COVID-19 incidence on health care personnel risk perception and social activity.

BACKGROUND

Risk perceptions and social activities shaped SARS-CoV-2 transmission. However, most related studies are cross-sectional, often neglecting correlated outcomes and dropout bias. We assessed relationships between local COVID-19 incidence levels and health care personnel (HCP) risk perceptions and social activity count.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort study using monthly surveys (December 2021-May 2022) at an academic health care system (n = 1,590 HCP). COVID-19 incidence was categorized into 4 levels, from low to high. Five risk perception measures (scaled 1-4) and activity count were modeled simultaneously using a Bayesian joint model to estimate the impact of incidence on risk perception and behavior.

RESULTS

COVID-19 incidence was associated with various risk perception measures and activity count. Strongest risk perception associations were perceived risk of infection and risk while unmasked indoors in public, with score increases of 0.60 (95% credible interval [CI]: 0.51, 0.69) and 0.62 (95% CI: 0.52, 0.71), respectively, during high incidence. Individuals reported 0.68 (95% CI: -0.88, -0.47) fewer social activities during high incidence levels.

CONCLUSIONS

During the Omicron surge, HCP adjusted their risk perceptions and behaviors in response to changing risk and placed high value on the protective effects of masking. These findings can inform communication strategies during future outbreaks.