Risk perception and avoidance of preventive behavior on the COVID‐19 among cancer patients

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Willingness to engage in preventive behaviors against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) depends on people's risk perception. This is especially important in cancer patients who are at risk of complications from the disease. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate avoidance of COVID‐19 preventive behavior of in cancer patients. METHODS: This cross‐sectional analytical study was done with 200 cancer patients who were selected by convenience sampling method. The study was conducted in Imam Khomeini Hospital of Ardabil, Iran from July to August 2020. A researcher‐made questionnaire was used to investigate the risk perception of cancer patients towards COVID‐19 with seven subscales according to the Extended Parallel Process Model. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20 using Pearson correlation and linear regression tests. RESULTS: The mean and standard deviation of the age of 200 participants (including 109 men and 91 women) was 48 ± 17. Results showed that the response efficacy (12.6 ± 2.2) had the highest mean and defensive avoidance (8 ± 2.8) had the lowest mean score among EPPM constructs. Linear regression results showed that fear (β = 0.242, p > 0.001), and perceived severity (β = 0.191, p = 0.008) were significant predictors of defensive avoidance. CONCLUSION: Perceived severity and fear were significant predictors of defensive avoidance, and providing accurate and reliable news and information can be effective in reducing fear and promoting preventive behaviors.