Developing and testing behavioral interventions to prevent contamination and spread of COVID-19

Introduction and objective The COVID-19 pandemic has had major consequences for Dutch society. During the pandemic, a lot of research has been done to monitor and explain behavior, but little research has been done into the effect of interventions to encourage compliance with measures. We are investigating how compliance with COVID-19 rules of conduct can be encouraged to prevent contamination and spread of SARS-CoV-2. The project focuses on measures that are always important, with a low-risk scenario (testing, hygiene) and high-risk scenario (keeping distance, face masks). Plan of approach Three research methods are used: 1. Analysis of existing video recordings. We examine previously collected video observations in Amsterdam to investigate, among other things, the effect of warning signs regarding keeping your distance and wearing a face mask (mouth and nose mask); 2. Online experiments. We compare eight different information strategies that have been little researched/compared in the COVID-19 context; 3. Experiments at universities, in residential areas and shopping areas. We focus on the little-researched effect of communication (via different media/channels) combined with environmental interventions, which should make certain behavior easier (e.g. free and visible self-testing, clear stickers/posters at locations of hand gel and soap dispensers). ). If a high-risk scenario arises again during the research period, we will compare the effect of different warning signs in Amsterdam. The project shows which communication strategies are most effective to encourage compliance with the COVID-19 rules of conduct. The research also examines whether communication strategies together with environmental interventions have additional value. The results are shared with policymakers and behavioral and communications staff from ministries, municipalities, and GGDs, among others, and are also useful for future outbreaks of the coronavirus.