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. 2023 Oct 27;20(21):6987.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph20216987.

Preventing Zoonoses: Testing an Intervention to Change Attitudes and Behaviors toward More Protective Actions

Marielle Stel  1 , Nicole Banach  1
Affiliations

Preventing Zoonoses: Testing an Intervention to Change Attitudes and Behaviors toward More Protective Actions

Marielle Stel et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Zoonotic outbreaks are considered one of the most important threats to public health. Therefore, it is important to educate people on how to prevent zoonotic infections. The purpose of this research was to investigate an intervention aimed at changing people's attitudes and behaviors toward more protective actions. In two studies (NStudy1 = 402; NStudy2 = 706), participants received an intervention based on previous literature in which knowledge about zoonoses, protective actions they could take, and a fear appeal were provided. In the control condition, no intervention was given. Subsequently, we measured participants' risk knowledge, attitudes and behavioral intentions to reduce zoonotic risks, and fear. The results showed that the intervention heightened participants' zoonotic knowledge and affected their attitudes and behavioral intentions (Studies 1 and 2) and a behavioral decision (Study 2) to reduce zoonotic risks. Moreover, our designed intervention proved more effective than the World Health Organization informative message on zoonoses (Study 2). In terms of theory, this is the first experimental demonstration that a general zoonotic risk communication message changed attitudes and behaviors toward more protective actions. In terms of policy, this research showed that a basic information message for the broader public has the potential to reduce zoonotic risks.

Keywords: animals; attitudes; behavior change; disease prevention; health communication; protective behaviors; public health; risk knowledge; zoonoses.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure A1
Figure A1
Intervention message of Studies 1 and 2.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of the sequence of events for both studies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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