Table 5.
Multiple regression model of factors associated with difficulty finding information about COVID-19 that is easy to understanda.
| Predictor |
English-language information (1 not at all difficult to 10 extremely difficult) |
Non-English language information (1 not at all difficult to 10 extremely difficult) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean difference (95% CI) | P value | Mean difference (95% CI) | P value | |
| Gender | ||||
| Male | Reference | Reference | ||
| Female | 0.31 (−0.06 to 0.69) | 0.10 | -0.51 (−1.02 to 0.01) | 0.05 |
| Age group | < 0.001 | 0.004 | ||
| 18–29 | Reference | Reference | ||
| 30–49 | 0.27 (−0.33 to 0.88) | 0.37 | -1.27 (−2.18 to −0.3) | 0.01 |
| 50–69 | 0.29 (−0.43 to 1.01) | 0.43 | -1.71 (−2.72 to −0.6) | < 0.001 |
| > 70 | 1.69 (0.74–2.64) | < 0.001 | -2.23 (−3.47 to −0.9) | < 0.001 |
| English-language proficiency | ||||
| Low | Reference | Reference | ||
| High | -1.90 (−2.51 to −1.29) | < 0.001 | -1.61 (−2.29 to −0.9) | < 0.001 |
| Health literacy | ||||
| Inadequate | Reference | |||
| Adequate | -1.43 (−2.03 to −0.82) | < 0.001 | 0.13 (−0.53 to 0.79) | 0.70 |
| Education | ||||
| Less than bachelor degree | Reference | Reference | ||
| Bachelor degree or above education | -0.17 (−0.71 to 0.37) | 0.54 | 0.77 (0.00–1.53) | 0.05 |
| Risk perception (0 low to 10 high) | 0.03 (−0.05 to 0.11) | 0.42 | -0.08 (−0.19 to 0.03) | 0.15 |
| Years living in Australia | 0.55 | 0.001 | ||
| 5 years or less | Reference | Reference | ||
| 6–10 years | 0.13 (−0.52 to 0.79) | 0.69 | 0.93 (0.09–1.76) | 0.03 |
| More than 10 years | -0.16 (−0.77 to 0.46) | 0.61 | 1.24 (0.48–2.00) | < 0.001 |
| Born in Australia | -0.43 (−1.24 to 0.39) | 0.30 | 1.96 (0.73–3.19) | 0.002 |
| Language^ | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | ||
| Information source† | ||||
| Official Australian source/public broadcaster | -0.09 (−0.54 to 0.36) | 0.68 | 0.05 (−0.53 to 0.63) | 0.87 |
| Australian commercial source | -0.51 (−0.94 to −0.08) | 0.02 | 0.27 (−0.31 to 0.86) | 0.36 |
| Social media | -0.36 (−0.81 to 0.08) | 0.11 | 0.01 (−0.53 to 0.55) | 0.98 |
| Friends or family living in Australia | -0.23 (−0.69 to 0.23) | 0.33 | 0.70 (0.11–1.28) | 0.02 |
| Community | 0.28 (−0.18 to 0.74) | 0.24 | 0.00 (−0.66 to 0.66) | 0.99 |
| Overseas information source | 0.31 (−0.29 to 0.91) | 0.31 | 0.02 (−0.72 to 0.75) | 0.96 |
Notes. Both outcome variables ranged from 1 (not at all difficult) to 10 (extremely difficult). A negative mean difference indicates that predictor was associated with less difficulty finding easy-to-understand COVID-19 information. A positive mean difference indicates the predictor was associated with greater difficulty for this task.
Individual comparisons for language group not presented, p value refers to main effect of language;
Information sources entered as separate variables as participants could select more than one.
These models also control for IRSAD decile (as a linear variable) and date of survey completion (binary variable, before/after 23 June when restrictions in Greater Sydney were imposed). 1 respondent indicated ‘other/prefer not to say’ and is not included in weighted analysis;