2021 Theses Doctoral

Evaluating “Our COVID-19 Knowledge Test” as a Brief Online E-Health Intervention With African American Adults: Identifying Predictors of High COVID-19 Knowledge and Self-Efficacy for COVID-19 Risk Reduction Behaviors

Williams-Gunpot, Delia M.

The sample (N=188) was 100% Black (N=188), 83.5% female N=(157), with mean age of 43.16 (min=18, max=72, SD 12.567). Some 81.4% (n=153) were working full- or part-time during the pandemic with low-moderate work-related risks for COVID-19 transmission (mean =2.56, min=0, max=7, SD= 2.102). The sample had a moderate household size (mean=2.64, min=1, max=6, SD= 1.363) with low levels of multi-generational living, as 10.6% (n=20) had seniors living with them. For risk of COVID-19 transmission within the home, there was a low-moderate risk (mean=1.668; min=1, max= 4, SD=.699).

Only 19.1% (n=36) had COVID-19 in the past year. Both physical health status and mental/emotional health status declined during the pandemic. They had moderate mental distress (mean= 1.94; min=0; max=3, SD=1.066) in the past year—with depression (70.7%, n=133), anxiety (78.2%, n=147), and trauma (45.2%, n=85), while 43% (N=81) sought counselling. They had moderately good social support (mean = 2.71; min=0, max=4, SD=1.172), and a good quality of life (mean=4.05, min=1, max=6, SD=1.073). They reported moderately high medical mistrust (mean=3.273; min=1.50, max=5.00, SD=.7615), and 58.7% (N=127) did or would vaccinate. Scores on the new Our COVID-19 Knowledge Test (OCKT-44) produced a mean of 40.34 (min=23, max=44, SD=3.092) for excellent knowledge, and 83.8% (N=155) of would recommend the OCKT-44 to others. Using paired t-tests, the experience of taking the OCKT-44 (with all true answers) demonstrated a positive impact on both COVID-19 Knowledge and COVID-19 Prevention Self-Efficacy.

Using backward stepwise regression, controlling for social desirability, the significant predictors of a high Level of COVID-19 Knowledge Based on Our Covid-19 Knowledge Test (OCKT-44) Score were: if had COVID-19—yes (b =1.026, SEB=.431, p = .018); and, if has been/will be vaccinated—yes (b=.912 SEB=.405, p=.026)—with this model (R 2=.0.060, Adj R 2 =0.044) only explaining 4.4% of the variance. Second, significant predictors, controlling for social desirability, for the a high Level of Self-Efficacy for COVID-19 Risk Reduction Post-OCKT-44-Test-Taking were: gender—female (b =-.363, SEB=.157, p = .022); born in the U.S.—No (b=-.253 SEB=.117, p=.032); children—No (b = -.216, SEB=.052, p= .045); and, higher Quality of Life (b=.127 SEB=.052, p=.016)—with this model explaining (R 2=0.330, and the Adj R 2 =0.083) only 8.3 % of the variance.

Qualitative data amplified and expanded upon the quantitative data findings.