University students' perceptions of airborne infection control: exploratory study using Q methodology

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Health Behavior

Background:

• International cooperation is vital for pandemic prevention, yet university students pose challenges for infection control due to overconfidence, poor hygiene, and active social lives.
• Their misperceptions and behaviors elevate infection risks within universities and the wider community.
• Understanding student perceptions of airborne infection is crucial for developing effective public health policies and educational programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and categorize the subjective perceptions of airborne infection among university students in South Korea.
• To identify distinct viewpoints on airborne infection management within this demographic.

Main Methods:

• Q-methodology was employed, involving 40 university students from diverse majors.
• Participants ranked 33 statements about airborne infection perceptions on a seven-point Likert scale.
• Data were analyzed using PC-QUANL for principal component analysis to extract perception types.

Main Results:

• Four distinct perception types emerged: Government responsibility (Type I), Personal responsibility in self-management (Type II), Strict external management (Type III), and Comprehensive countermeasures management (Type IV).
• These four types collectively explained 45.6% of the variance in perceptions.
• Type I (Government responsibility) was the most dominant, accounting for 27.7% of the variance.

Conclusions:

• This study clarifies diverse university student perceptions regarding airborne infection.
• Findings provide a foundation for creating targeted health education, media strategies, and public health policies.
• Improving airborne infection management requires addressing these varied student viewpoints.