[
    {
        "id": "osp-2350",
        "type": "article-journal",
        "title": "Public Health Messages for Social Behavior Change in the Wake of COVID-19: A Qualitative Study",
        "author": [
            {
                "family": "Al Araimi",
                "given": "Fannah Al Fannah"
            },
            {
                "family": "Langrial",
                "given": "Sitwat Usman"
            },
            {
                "family": "Al Awaidy",
                "given": "Salah T."
            }
        ],
        "URL": "https://omanscience.com/en/articles/public-health-messages-for-social-behavior-change-in-the-wake-of-covid-19-a-qualitative-study",
        "language": "en",
        "issued": {
            "date-parts": [
                [
                    2021
                ]
            ]
        },
        "container-title": "Oman Medical Journal",
        "DOI": "10.5001/omj.2021.98",
        "publisher": "Oman Medical Specialty Board",
        "ISSN": "1999-768X",
        "abstract": "Objectives: We sought to study the impact of public health messages on social and behavioral change among recovered patients and the general population in response to coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) in Oman. Methods: Four focus group discussions among recovered COVID-19 patients were organized and conducted via video conference to collect their insights on public health messages. Upon culmination of each discussion, we held debrief sessions with a particular focus on the responses and making notes of comments. Qualitative themes were also recorded at the end of each focus group. Results: All 40 participants were COVID-19 recovered cases. The participants' mean age was 33.4±28.5 years, and 70.0% (n = 28) were males. We observed a generally positive attitude towards public health messages. However, it was stressed that the nature of such behavioral change posed a significant risk for psychological health. Lack of social interaction, for example, led to lower motivation, a sense of losing the meaning of life, and personal distress. While all participants acknowledged and appreciated the government authorities' efforts in disseminating and educating the masses on such a large scale using different modes of message delivery, all showed a serious concern as to whether they will be able to continue coping with the ongoing situation. Conclusions: The participants' responses suggest that public health messaging brought a significant social change in Oman. However, this conclusion cannot be generalized. Further, there is a continued need for strong public health policies with a particular focus on psychological health."
    }
]