Effectiveness of Infection Preventive Behaviors on COVID-19-Like Illness Symptoms During the Winter Third Wave of the Epidemic in Japan: A 2-Month Follow-up Nationwide Cohort Study

• Published in: Asia-Pacific journal of public health 2022-03, Vol.34 (2-3), p.191-198
• Main Authors: Shimizu, Shoichi, Ishimaru, Tomohiro, Nagata, Masako, Hino, Ayako, Tateishi, Seiichiro, Tsuji, Mayumi, Ogami, Akira, Matsuda, Shinya, Fujino, Yoshihisa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cohort Studies; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; Cross-Sectional Studies; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Japan - epidemiology; Prospective Studies; SARS-CoV-2; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 1010-5395; 1941-2479
• DOI: 10.1177/10105395211064437

Although multilayered strategies including preventive behaviors should be adopted to mitigate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission, evidence on the effectiveness of preventive behaviors against COVID-19 remains limited. This Internet-based prospective cohort study collected baseline data in November 2020 and follow-up data in February 2021, during the third wave of the epidemic in Japan. Among the 19 941 included participants, the percentages reporting that they always used a face mask, practiced hand washing/disinfection, gargling, and ensuring proper room ventilation were 85.4%, 36.0%, 51.1%, and 44.6%, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that less frequently practicing hand washing/disinfection (odds ratio [OR] = 1.20), gargling (OR = 1.20), and ensuring proper room ventilation (OR = 1.38) were significantly associated with self-reported COVID-19-like illness (CLI). These results suggest that personal preventive behaviors may be effective in reducing CLI, even when universal masking is practiced.