Ng, Diana-Leh-Ching and Jamalludin, Mohd Amirulikhmar and Gan, Xhi-Yan and Ng, Siew-Yoong and Rasidin, Muhammad Zulhusni Mohamad and Felix, Beverlyn Anak and Jagang, Nicholas M. and Sindeh, Woweham and Rahim, Mohd Abdul Hafiz Mohd Abdul and Tan, Seng-Beng and Chai, Chee-Shee (2023) Public's Willingness to Perform COVID-19 Self- Testing During the Transition to the Endemic Phase in Malaysia - A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 16. pp. 2505-2519. ISSN 1179-1594, DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S439530.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
Introduction: Malaysia entered the transition to the endemic phase of Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) on 1st April 2022. This study aims to determine the public's willingness to perform COVID-19 self-testing. Factors that influenced their willingness were also assessed.Methods: A nationwide, cross-sectional, and population-based study was conducted online in Malaysia from 28th April 2023 to 4th June 2023. Individuals aged 18 years and above were enrolled through the snowball sampling method. Data were analyzed by using the Chi-Square test, independent t-test, and binary logistic regression.Results: One thousand four hundred fifty-three responses were included in the analysis. Of these respondents, 89.3% were willing, 4.1% were reluctant, and 6.6% remained hesitant to perform COVID-19 self-testing, The common reasons given by those willing to perform COVID-19 self-testing included being able to self-isolate (99.0%) and seek treatment (96.3%) earlier if tested positive. The common reasons against COVID-19 self-testing included the belief that COVID-19 is equivalent to the common flu (91.7%) and having received the COVID-19 vaccine (78.3%). The isolation policy for COVID-19 was the most significant consideration for those who were still hesitant (85.4%). Women adjusted odds ratios (OR): 2.1, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI): 1.44-3.00, p < 0.001], individuals with tertiary education (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.32-3.26, p = 0.002), those vaccinated against COVID-19 (OR: 8.1, 95% CI: 2.63-24.82, p < 0.001), and individuals with prior experience of COVID-19 self-testing (OR: 4.2, 95% CI: 2.84-6.12, p < 0.001) showed a significantly higher willingness to engage in COVID-19 self-testing. Conclusion: The public exhibited a high willingness to perform COVID-19 self-testing during the transition to the endemic phase in Malaysia. Future strategies to promote COVID-19 self-testing uptake in Malaysia should focus on vulnerable groups, address the common concerns among those hesitant and reluctant, and highlight the advantages of COVID-19 self-testing.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Funders: | Universiti Malaysia Sarawak |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | COVID-19; self-testing; endemic; willingness; hesitant; Malaysia |
| Subjects: | R Medicine > R Medicine (General) |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Medicine > Medicine Department |
| Depositing User: | Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim |
| Date Deposited: | 12 Sep 2025 03:25 |
| Last Modified: | 12 Sep 2025 03:25 |
| URI: | http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/50494 |
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