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. 2020 Aug 21;22(8):e19995. doi: 10.2196/19995

Table 1.

Measurement of study variables.

Variable and items Cronbach α Range
Preventive behaviors: how frequently are you engaging in the following behaviors? .72 1-5

Wearing masks


Washing hands


Sanitizing clothes or other items


Sneezing into your elbows


Staying at home (avoid going out)

Intervening behaviors: please indicate whether or not you have persuaded your social others such as families and friends to:a N/Ab 0-5

Wear masks


Wash hands


Sanitize clothes or other items


Stay at home (avoid going out)


Sneeze into elbows

Barriers .84 1-5

It is hard to buy masks.


It is difficult to get sanitizers.

Benefits .87 1-5

Wearing face masks can help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.


Using sanitizers can help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Self-efficacy .85 1-5

How confident are you at your preventing behaviors toward the coronavirus?


How confident are you that you will not be infected with the coronavirus?

Emotional support N/A 1-5

During the outbreak of coronavirus, my friends or family have provided me with emotional support when I need it, such as talking over problems.

Patient-centered communication .94 1-5

In general, my feelings were taken seriously.


I was given a chance to ask all the health-related questions.


My health care providers made sure I understand the things I needed to do to take care of my health.


My health care providers explained things in a way that I could understand.

Media literacy .84 1-5

I look for more information before I believe something I see in messages.


It is important to think twice about what messages say.


I think about the purpose behind messages I see.


I think about the truthfulness of messages before I accept them as believable.

Social media: how frequently do you receive coronavirus-related news or information from the following media channels? .62 1-5

Weibo


Wechat messages


Wechat public news accounts


QQ messages or Qzone

Traditional media .76 1-5

TV


Broadcast


Newspapers

Internet news channels other than social media N/A 1-5

News apps, news on websites, or other format of news on the internet other than social media

aThe response was dichotomous.

bN/A: not applicable.