Knowledge of Self-Isolation Rules in the UK for Those Who Have Symptoms of COVID-19: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Louise E Smith; Robert West; Henry W W Potts; Richard Amlȏt; Nicola T Fear; G James Rubin; Susan Michie

doi:10.3390/ijerph20031952

Knowledge of Self-Isolation Rules in the UK for Those Who Have Symptoms of COVID-19: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jan 20;20(3):1952. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20031952.

Authors

Louise E Smith^{1

2}, Robert West³, Henry W W Potts⁴, Richard Amlȏt^{2

5}, Nicola T Fear^{1

6}, G James Rubin^{1

2}, Susan Michie⁷

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RJ, UK.
² NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emergency Preparedness and Response, London SE5 9RJ, UK.
³ Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
⁴ Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London NW1 2DA, UK.
⁵ Behavioural Science and Insights Unit, UK Health Security Agency, London SW1P 3HX, UK.
⁶ Academic Department of Military Mental Health, King's Centre for Military Health Research, London SE5 9RJ, UK.
⁷ Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London, London WC1E 7HB, UK.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate knowledge of self-isolation rules and factors associated with knowledge.

Methods: Repeated cross-sectional online surveys (n ≈ 2000 UK adults) between 9 November 2020 and 16 February 2022 (78,573 responses from 51,881 participants). We computed a composite measure of knowledge of self-isolation rules and investigated associations between knowledge and survey wave, socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, UK nation, index of multiple deprivation), trust in government, and participants' belief that they had received enough information about self-isolation.

Results: In total, 87.9% (95% CI 87.7% to 88.1%, n = 67,288/76,562) of participants knew that if they had symptoms of COVID-19 they should 'self-isolate'. However, only 62.8% (n = 48,058/76,562, 95% CI 62.4% to 63.1%) knew the main rules regarding what that meant. Younger people had less knowledge than older people, and men had less knowledge than women. Knowledge was lower in people living in England versus in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The pattern of association between knowledge and trust in government was unclear. Knowledge was lower in people living in a more deprived area and those who did not believe they had enough information about self-isolation. Knowledge was lower in December 2020 to January 2021, compared with before and after this period.

Conclusions: Approximately 63% of UK adults between November 2020 and February 2022 appeared to know the main rules regarding self-isolation if symptomatic with COVID-19. Knowledge was lower in younger than older people, men than women, those living in England compared with Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, and those living in more deprived areas.

Keywords: COVID-19; knowledge; regulations; self-isolation; understanding.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
COVID-19* / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
England
Female
Humans
Male
Surveys and Questionnaires
Wales

Grants and funding

This work was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Services and Delivery Research program (11/46/21). L.E.S., R.A. and G.J.R. are supported by the National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Emergency Preparedness and Response, a partnership between the UK Health Security Agency, King’s College London and the University of East Anglia. R.A. is also supported by the NIHR HPRU in Behavioral Science and Evaluation, a partnership between the UK Health Security Agency and the University of Bristol. H.W.W.P. has received funding from Public Health England and NHS England. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR, UK Health Security Agency, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) or the Ministry of Defense. Surveys were commissioned and funded by the DHSC (no grant number), with the authors providing advice on the question design and selection. Preliminary results were made available to DHSC and the UK’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies.