Table 1 Joint display of perceptions and knowledge regarding the COVID-19 pandemic between China and U.S. samples

Barriers to adhering to recommendations

China:

Participants acknowledged recommendations but cited difficulty following them due to restrictions in the physical environment, unconscious habits, demands of daily life

Intent to comply score

(Range: 1–5)

Mean = 4.19

(SD = 0.6)

 < 0.01

While both countries’ intent to follow recommendations was high based on the quantitative analyses, the U.S. intent was higher

Qualitative analyses identified cultural differences in response to cough etiquette recommendations as the primary cause of the difference seen

U.S.:

Participants reported following recommendations themselves but noted that others around them did not follow public health recommendations

Mean = 4.46

(SD = 0.47)

Thoughts and comments on COVID-19 vaccine

China:

Participants express a ‘safety-first’ mentality towards vaccine development

Overall tendency towards COVID-19 vaccination (Range: 1–5)

Mean = 4.25

(SD = 0.36)

0.343

Based on quantitative results, both groups showed very supportive attitudes towards vaccination

Differences driving skepticism was found in qualitative responses

U.S.:

Participants express concern over efficacy of the vaccine due to the fast-track development and deployment

Mean = 4.43

(SD = 0.79)

Perspectives on reopening

China:

Participants report a more global perspective to reopening, citing ‘we’ will all be ‘ok’ if others do better

Trust score towards national/federal government

(Range: 1–5)

Mean = 4.3

(SD = 0.89)

 < 0.001

Quantitative and qualitative responses indicated different outbreak stages two groups were experiencing might have impacted their perceptions towards reopening. By the time of survey, the outbreak was under control in China while U.S. started to surge. U.S. participants had lower overall trust towards the government than their Chinese counterparts, although both samples challenged the timing of reopening

Mean = 2.39

(SD = 1.1)

U.S.:

Participants express widespread concern that the U.S. is reopening too soon and cite the need for a comprehensive plan for reopening from the government with strong political undertone

Trust score towards local government

(Range: 1–5)

Mean = 4.17

(SD = 1)

 < 0.001

Mean = 3.53

(SD = 0.97)

Change of COVID-19 messaging consumptions

China:

Diversifying information sources and turning to new information tools

Have changed ways of consuming COVID-19 related news

(Yes/No)

19%

 < 0.001

Quantitatively, more U.S. participants changed their news consumption because of COVID. Both groups relied primarily on internet sources

Qualitatively, both groups expressed seeking news from a broader array of sources to determine ‘real’ news

U.S.:

Turning to new information sources, being more cautious about information and consuming new more now than prior to pandemic

54%

COVID-19 pandemic related information

China:

Participants were ambiguous in identifying the origins of the COVID-19 virus. Some demonstrated unclear identification of viral origins and/or index case(s)

Overall COVID-19 knowledge Score

(Range: 0–7)

Mean = 4.68

(SD = 1.55)

0.021

Both quantitative and qualitative analyses suggested COVID-19 pandemic related information was not clear to all respondents

Differences were most robust with regards to the origin of virus. This may be related to perceptions rather than knowledge, particularly in the context of the evolving knowledge about the virus

U.S.:

Participants objectively reported their perceptions of COVID-19 pandemic origins- geographically as beginning in Wuhan, China with likely zoonotic transmission

Mean = 5.42

(SD = 0.78)