People' responsibilities and adaptation in the struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Aim: In this study, it was aimed to determine the individual responsibilities that the public should fulfill in the struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic and develop a scale in this regard; to identify the extent to which Turkish society complies with this responsibility. Material and Methods: First, the briefings of the members of the COVID-19 Science Board, formed by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey were scanned on the web, and a 'COVID-19 Individual Responsibilities Scale' comprising 45 statements was established, which includes personal precautions. As a result, 6,770 surveys were taken into consideration. The appropriate number of people was reached from seven regions of Turkey, most of them from the Central Anatolia region (n=3,068). Results: As a result of the analyses, 13 statements were removed from the scale, and the remaining 32 phrases were collected under seven factors. Of the seven dimensions identified, the most acceptable to the public is the use of mask. This one is followed by application to health institutions and hand hygiene. The least adaptable dimensions of the people are healthy lifestyle and home hygiene. Discussion: Perhaps the most effective weapon against the spread of the virus, the physical distance protection dimension, was ranked fifth. The study findings reveal that the 'COVID-19 Individual Responsibilities Scale' can be used for similar studies.