Covid-19: Public perceptions and behaviours

Over the coming months, I’ll be posting a series of articles on issues arising from, and responses to, Covid-19 in the UK and beyond. This is the third article in the series. Here I discuss public perceptions and behaviours in response to Covid-19. This picks up on a point raised in the first article – the need to consider different types of data, including place based data, in building local resilience and recovery including the need to reflect and embed lived experience in policy responses.

Data provides a critical tool in tackling Covid-19. Survey and polls offer important insights, as do a range of other approaches which can support policy makers, and frontline services including local authorities, to better understand what the real needs are at national and local levels, and how best to address them.

This webinar on public perceptions and behaviours was chaired by Harry Evans from NHS Improvement. Panellists included:

• Mike Lawrie – Ipsos MORI
• Rachel Burkitt – Ipsos MORI
• Dan Wellings – Kings Fund

It was one of a series of ‘huddles’ aimed at data analysts. My interest in the use of data in health and care comes from an understanding of its value – for personal and public good; and with it, the opportunities and costs. Working alongside John Kellas, we’ve supported local health and care analysts in Bristol and developed an open knowledge base, Advancing Analytics and AI in health and care.

Ipsos MORI began polling on issues related to Covid-19 in early February. There was a clear recognition of the potential societal impact of Covid-19. For further detail on the polling, including methodology, see Public opinion on the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

One thing is clear from the polling, that in the last six weeks or so, we have changed how we act and how we interact; we value the efforts of those responding especially the NHS; but we remain cautious about ending lockdown and expect the impact of the virus to last some time yet.

The aim of the polling is to seek to understand public attitudes, and how they are changing over time, in response to Covid-19. This is one part of a wider picture of the role and need for social research to help support the health and care response, and government policy responses.

Public perceptions and behaviours

Perceptions

And from this work, a number of interesting results have emerged. While many of the results are not particularly surprising, it does offer important insight in how people are feeling, how effective the government response is viewed, and gives some indication of future intentions.

Highlights include:

• that concerns about Covid-19 have remained high, though there are signs it has passed its peak;
• that Covid-19 is viewed as the most important issue since unemployment in the 1980s;
• our primary concern is about finances, outweighing concerns about our individual health. This is leading to people considering spending less and saving more;
• during the early days of the crisis in the UK, there was a sharp uptick in support for the UK’s Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. This could well reflect the ‘rallying cry’ for action. However, recent polling suggests that this level of support has markedly dropped; but,
• On a more positive note, support for the NHS is growing in terms of its ability to deal with those becoming ill as a result of Covid-19.

Behaviours

In addition to perceptions, some of our behaviours are also changing. Some results to note:

• of those who have spoken to a doctor remotely, 48% of those who had an appointment in the previous week of this particular survey had done so for the first time. This move to telemedicine is particularly noticeable for under 35s, and in London. It appears that many are content with telehealth approaches at least for one-off consultations;
• on digital privacy, there’s been a marked shift. Last year 67% of respondent were concerned about the use of their data. This was perhaps a result of the wider ‘techlash’. At present, 65% of people would support mobile phone service providers giving the government people’s mobile phone data to track those who have either been diagnosed with Covid-19 or in contact with; and,
• our willingness to wear facemasks is behind many other countries, but this figure may change dramatically if government advised it, and for many, this advice will be critical.

Views on ending lockdown

We’re less likely to believe that businesses and the economy should be opened up without Covid-19 being contained. This stands in contrast to many other countries. Many will also be nervous about leaving their homes when lockdown ends. Many will feel uncomfortable with aspects of returning to normal, like visiting friends and family.

The long term impact

The polls reveal pessimism about how quickly the economy will recover. There seems a view that it will lead to lasting changes in how we live our lives, the economy, and how we work.

Wider research requirements

These polls offer us important insights into the perception and behaviours of the nation as a whole. However, they do only tell part of the story. This led to a wide ranging discussion on the value a range of data, both quantitative and qualitative.

Dan Wellings from the Kings Fund flagged the importance of starting to look at how views can be segmented by factors such as age and location. And some of these findings will need careful evaluation going forward. This led to a wider discussion about the importance of local insight and how we capture a range of voices. For example, moving forward, it will be essential to capture a wide range of views to understanding what’s happening to people in their homes and the wider community, and to listen to a range of voices.

The Kings Fund, an independent charitable organisation working to improve health and care in England, are providing leadership support and analysis on Covid-19. And there are many challenges to be met, including addressing the sharp drop in A&E attendances, attitudes towards and knowledge of the social care landscape, and the need for place based messaging to enable responses to local needs and differing population cohorts. As part of this, there’s a real need to determine how we understand unmet need including mental health. These and other points are laid out in the Kings Fund letter to the Health and Social Care Committee.

Ipsos MORI are doing some further work with the Health Foundation to better understand how Covid-19 is changing how we use A&E.

This crisis has heightened political and public awareness of social care, and with it, the distressing challenges that Covid-19 has brought. This is a funding issue. It is also an issue about the integration of health and social care – an ambition of numerous governments. Perhaps now is the time to think radically, and have conversations that lead to real change.

And picking up on the inequalities agenda will be critical. We know that older men, members BAME communities, and those with underlying health conditions, are at higher risk from Covid-19. Messaging is important here and requires evidence at national and local levels to understand key drivers of behaviour.

Conclusion

Data on public perceptions and behaviours are critical in tacking the health and care, and wider social and economic, implications of Covid-19. We need national and placed based approaches, as well as a good understanding of the value that data brings.