Main COVID-19 information sources in a culturally and linguistically diverse community in Sydney, Australia: A cross-sectional survey.

Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: Ireland NLM ID: 8406280 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1873-5134 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 07383991 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Patient Educ Couns

Publication: Limerick : Elsevier
Original Publication: Princeton, N.J. : Excerpta Medica, c1983-

COVID-19*/epidemiology ; Health Literacy*; Australia/epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Language

Objective: Describe COVID-19 information-seeking experiences for culturally and linguistically diverse groups in Sydney, Australia.
Methods: Cross-sectional survey, translated into 11 languages; participants recruited from March 21 to July 9, 2021. Regression models identified factors associated with difficulty finding easy-to-understand COVID-19 information.
Results: Across 708 participants (88% born overseas, 31% poor English proficiency), difficulty finding easy-to-understand COVID-19 information was rated 4.13 for English (95%CI: 3.85-4.41) and 4.36 for non-English language materials (95%CI: 4.07-4.66) (1 easy to 10 hard). Participants who were older (p < 0.001), had inadequate health literacy (p < 0.001), or poor English proficiency (p < 0.001) found it harder to find easy-to-understand English-language COVID-19 information. Those who had greater difficulty finding easy-to-understand non-English COVID-19 information were younger (p = 0.004), had poor English proficiency (p < 0.001), were university-educated (p = 0.05), and had spent longer living in Australia (p = 0.001). They were more likely to rely on friends and family for COVID-19 information (p = 0.02). There was significant variation in information-seeking experiences across language groups (p's < 0.001).
Conclusions: Easy-to-understand and accessible COVID-19 information is needed to meet the needs of people in culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Practice Implications: COVID-19 communication efforts must involve working alongside these communities to leverage existing communication channels and tailor messages.
(Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

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Keywords: COVID-19; Cultural diversity; Ethnicity; Health information; Health literacy; Social media

Date Created: 20220404 Date Completed: 20220628 Latest Revision: 20230214

20240105

PMC8966120

10.1016/j.pec.2022.03.028

35369997