SNIP project: The Social enviroNment and Infection Prevention behavior

To prevent the spread of infectious diseases, contact-restrictive preventive measures and other non-pharmaceutical measures can be highly effective and were advised during the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of such measures is primarily dependent on the adherence to these measures by citizens (i.e., their behavior). This behavior is influenced by individual factors (e.g., attitude, risk perception) and the environment. The social environment includes the interpersonal relations (social network) and community in which a person is embedded, and resources and support the person has access to. Its influence on behavior is potentially significant, but largely understudied.

While a healthy living environment is high on the public health agenda, attention for the social environment is lagging behind in public health including in infectious diseases control. There is a knowledge gap on which social environment aspects, how and in whom are important in infection prevention behaviors, and knowledge is lacking on how to harness the influencial social environment factors. Knowledge is unavailable for citizens living in vulnerable neighbourhoods, who are disproportionally affected both by unhealthy behaviour and by chronic-and-infectious diseases. The SNIP project responds to these gaps, by developing quantitative and in depth-qualitive knowledge together with citizens in South Limburg, a region with relatively many vulnerable areas. SNIP develops actionable knowledge on the role of the social environment in promoting adherence to infection-preventive behaviors, such as contact-restrictive and general infection-hygiene measures.

Participants in this project are independently living people of middle and older age (40+). In WP1 these are participants in an ongoing cohort study \-the SaNAE study-, and in WP2 participants are citizens living in a vulnerable area with lower socioeconomic position. The SNIP project focuses on diversity, in terms of age and sex, and accounting for social, medical, and socioeconomic vulnerability.

SNIP studies which social environment aspects influence, how, and in whom, adherence /and support-base for infection prevention measures, such as contact-restricting and other non-pharmaceutical infection prevention behaviours. Further, SNIP explores mechanisms by which these influences work, and which levers and strategies, according to citizens, would harness the beneficial effects of the social environment to promote infection prevention behaviors in a pandemic. Therefore, WP1 employs quantitative research (multivariable regression techniques) consolidating available empirical data from the longitudinal SaNAE cohort study, and WP2 employs in depth qualitative participative research with citizen science (group model building) in vulnerable neigborhoods in South Limburg. The SNIP-team is multidisciplinary, with partners from psychology, health promotion, sociology, and epidemiology.

Results of the research are co-created with citizens and professionals, and ‘translated’ into actionable and understandable knowledge for diverse stakeholders. Outputs are quantitative knowledge on the influence of the social environment on infection prevention behavior and support-base, and qualitative knowledge on mechanisms to which the impact of the social environment can be strengthened to promote infection prevention-behavior. We develop a toolbox for (policy) professionals, that includes actionable knowledge on these issues, to be used in preparing, and when installing measures (and accompanying campaigns) and that include the social environment to contribute to population health. Therefore, outputs and deliverables are disseminated to policy, practice, science, and general public, by various channels and communication methods to generate impact.

Researchers on the project: Olga Schiepers and Lisanne Steijvers (postdocs), Suzanne Hanssen (research assistant), Rik Crutzen and Matty Crone (prof.), Nicole Dukers (PI) (Health Promotion, Maastricht University)

Other team members: the co-creators who are citizens and practice professionals

Funded by ZonMW
https://projecten.zonmw.nl/nl/project/de-rol-van-de-sociale-omgeving-het-naleven-van-infectie-preventie-maatregelen-snip-project

Started 2024 (ongoing)