The perception of mask-wearing, an effective part of a comprehensive public health strategy to prevent the spread of COVID-19, has become an intense talking point in American discourse.
Because messaging has a large impact on community adherence to public health guidance, many agencies are now seeking the most effective strategies to communicate the importance of wearing a mask during the pandemic. Experts at UNC-Chapel Hill have published a new study that suggests positive messages could be critical to supporting this effort.
“As science evolved during the pandemic, it became clear wearing masks were going to be a critical step,” said Allison Lazard, PhD, associate professor at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media. “But there just isn’t much out there for evidence-based messaging, especially not for what might motivate people in North Carolina to wear face coverings.”
The study was led by Lazard and Victoria Shelus, doctoral student in health behavior at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and the Carolina Population Center. Published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the study conducted six virtual focus groups with residents in N.C. to gain a better understanding of when and why they are using face coverings, as well as potential insights for messaging that might improve rates of usage.
Read more at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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