COVID-19 Preventive Behavior and Digital Media: A Bibliometric Study

Abstract

COVID-19 preventive behavior is crucial for reducing the spread of COVID-19 infection. During the pandemic, digital media can be used to educate on the behavior. Therefore, it is imperative to study COVID-19 preventive behavior and digital media. Despite extensive examinations on this matter, a distinct lack of bibliometric exploration has been observed. This study involves a bibliometric analysis utilizing data obtained from the Scopus database. Following a comprehensive search and screening procedure, our research examined a total of 68 articles. The findings indicate that Liu, Romer, and Jamieson emerge as the most influential researchers in the realm of studies focused on COVID-19 preventive behavior and digital media. The US and China are observed as the most referenced countries for research on COVID-19 preventive behavior and digital media. The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, PLoS ONE, and the Journal of Medical Internet Research stand out as the three most productive and referenced journals in studies relating to this research topic. Concerning the state of the art, fundamentally, existing research refers to five major topics: the influence of Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) factors, the influence of COVID-19 coverage (infodemiology), the influence of media exposure/information and Health Belief Model (HBM) factors, the influence of e-health literacy, knowledge, and attitude, and the role of digital media in public health intervention strategy to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In conclusion, this bibliometric study sheds light on the multifaceted landscape of COVID-19 preventive behavior and digital media research. By delving into researcher analyses, preferred publication outlets, and the topical state of the art, this study contributes a novel perspective to the existing literature.