Covid-19 Risk Perception in a Sample of Iranian Population

Abstract

"How people behave in an emergency depends on many social, cultural, and contextual factors. This study aimed to determine the COVID-19 risk perception in Iranian people. This study was descriptive. The study population was the assistant of patients who had come to Baqiyatallah Hospital in 2021. The number of participants was 500. The study tool was the COVID-19 risk assessment questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS-22 software. The mean risk perception score was 2.78(±0.6) on a 7-point scale. The lowest and highest mean of the predictors of risk perception in COVID-19 was trust in government and personal efficacy, respectively. There was a significant difference between men and women in the mean of collective efficacy (P= 0.032). Social knowledge (p=0.007), trust in science (p=0.001), and trust in medical professionals (p=0.050) in positive direct experience people were significantly more than in people with negative direct experience of COVID-19. The most important predictors of risk perception in the COVID-19 epidemic were gender, education, social knowledge, and trust in science (P<0.05). People's perception of the risk of COVID-19 depends on several various factors, the most important factors were gender, level of education, social knowledge, and people's trust in science. "