ABSTRACT

Portugal was hit by COVID-19 on the 2^nd of March 2020. For almost two months, the country was confined due to the declaration of the emergency state. The confinement was always conveyed by the media, who clearly guided citizens toward preventive behaviors and so became a means of fighting this pandemic by helping the country stay home. Several authors recognize the importance of health communication and health literacy in fighting COVID-19. In a public health crisis like this, media are important actors in the promotion of health and prevention of disease, and they can have a central role in behavior change. To further understand how the media guided citizens toward preventive behaviors we applied a questionnaire survey to Portuguese journalists. More than 90% assumed citizens’ behavior guidance. Journalists’ perceptions about their work reflect a true concern with the promotion of health literacy, and their assumption of a public service mission was crucial in people’s adherence to confinement. Health literacy achieved its maximum during this confinement period, not only because these were extraordinary times but also because Portuguese journalists had an exemplar behavior.

摘要

葡萄牙于 2 日受到 COVID-19 的^袭击2020 年 3 月。将近两个月的时间，该国因宣布进入紧急状态而受到限制。限制总是由媒体传达，他们明确引导公民采取预防行为，因此成为通过帮助该国留在家中来抗击这种流行病的一种手段。几位作者认识到健康传播和健康素养在抗击 COVID-19 中的重要性。在这样的公共卫生危机中，媒体是促进健康和预防疾病的重要参与者，它们可以在行为改变方面发挥核心作用。为了进一步了解媒体如何引导公民采取预防行为，我们对葡萄牙记者进行了问卷调查。90%以上承担了市民的行为引导。记者对其工作的看法反映了他们对促进健康素养的真正关注，他们承担公共服务使命对于人们坚持隔离至关重要。健康素养在这段禁闭期达到了最高水平，这不仅是因为这是非常时期，还因为葡萄牙记者的行为堪称典范。