A Theoretical Qualitative Investigation Exploring Illness Perceptions and Decision-Making About COVID-19 in an Ethnically Diverse UK-Based Sample

PURPOSE: The primary aim of the present investigation was to explore perceptions, experiences, and decision-making relating to the COVID-19 illness as the UK entered into a phase of “living safely with COVID-19”. A secondary aim was to explore how perceptions around the COVID-19 vaccine might vary by ethnicity. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: We adopted a qualitative approach with a diverse sample of UK-based participants. One-hundred-and-ninety-three individuals completed an online survey measuring perceptions towards COVID-19 with questions conceptualized through the Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation. RESULTS: Through deductive thematic analysis we identified one overarching theme in our data, “The transition back to normal routines”, with four themes illustrating individuals’ perceptions and experiences with COVID-19: 1) “Living with the uncertainty”, 2) “Concern for others”, 3) “The multiple consequences of COVID-19”, and 4) “Sense of control”, with the sub-theme of “Should I vaccinate, should I not vaccinate?”. CONCLUSION: Findings from the present investigation provide key insights for understanding how people’s perceptions of COVID-19 during this transition period might impact their decisions and behavior moving forward. Specifically, findings suggest some prevailing concerns around catching the virus, while no strong qualitative evidence for concerns over long COVID were identified in this sample, the responsibility felt by individuals towards taking their own precautionary measures in light of the easing of all national restrictions, and some potential differences in perceptions towards the vaccine between individuals from different ethnic backgrounds.