Norovirus on cruise ships: Motivation for handwashing?. (September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fisher, Jeffrey J.; Almanza, Barbara A.; Behnke, Carl; Nelson, Douglas C.; Neal, Jay
• Is Part Of: International journal of hospitality management. Volume 75(2018)
• Page Start: 10
• Page End: 17
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Subjects: Norovirus -- Outbreak -- Handwashing -- Cruise -- Protection motivation; Hotel management -- Periodicals; Restaurant management -- Periodicals; Food service management -- Periodicals; Hôtels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Restaurants -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Services alimentaires -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Food service management; Hotel management; Restaurant management; Periodicals; 647.94
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhm.2018.02.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0278-4319

Abstract

Highlights: Nearly 28% of respondents indicated they had no prior knowledge of norovirus; therefore, cruise operators need to make educating passengers a priority. The protection motivation theory was found to explain 58% of the variability in handwashing intention. The simulated norovirus outbreak had a significant impact on passengers' handwashing intention. The activities avoided during a simulated norovirus outbreak suggests that passengers understand the importance of distancing themselves from sick passengers to avoid person-to-person transmission of norovirus. Health communications should emphasize the importance of not coming onboard with an illness as well as effective handwashing for the prevention of norovirus transmission. Abstract: The cruise industry is the fastest growing segment of the travel industry. Concurrent with its growth is the challenge of mitigating the risk associated with illness outbreaks onboard ships. Norovirus is the leading cause of shipboard illnesses. This study examined the efficacy of the protection motivation theory (PMT) for predicting passengers' intentions toward handwashing in the context of norovirus disease incidence. The results of this study indicated that people were willing to engage in protection motivation in order to avoid the communicated threat. The threat appraisal construct and coping appraisal construct were both analyzed. Overall, the protection motivation theory explained 58% of the variability in handwashing intention. The coping appraisal construct significantly predicted handwashing intention. The strongest predictor for handwashing intention was cost . Furthermore, this study revealed a need for continued educational efforts directed at passengers because almost one-third of respondents indicated that they had no prior knowledge of norovirus.