6. Ulusal 3. Uluslararası Kültürlerarası Hemşirelik Kongresi, Ankara, Turkey, 21 - 22 December 2021, pp.1-2
The study was conducted to profoundly examine the COVID-19 perceptions of individuals over 65 years during the lockdown using the Health Belief Model (HBM). In the study which was carried out via the case study that is a design of the qualitative research method, a study group which was a type of improbable sampling and was created via criterion was chosen. 13 individuals who were present in a province in Turkey participated in the study between September and October 2021. The data were collected using a semi-structured interview form via an audio recorder for 10 days. The interview form included 13 questions based on the HBM components. The interviews were conducted face-to-face in a quiet room by receiving audio records and consents from the participants. They more often expressed the COVID-19 perceived susceptibility as virulent disease, getting the disease, contaminating the disease, and death. In perceived severity, they stated that they would get the disease and die. In perceived benefits, they mentioned harmful, stressful and isolating impacts of lockdown measures, as well as their perceived benefits. They mainly associated perceived barriers with prevention of basic and healthcare needs and defined self-efficacy as being patient, successful and obeying the rules. They stressed that fear of becoming sick, family and surroundings, fear of transmitting the disease and media-expert informing were effective as health motivation resources and mentioned the positive impacts of media and surroundings for cues to action, as well as negative impacts of inadequate number of participants. It was found that there were many factors affecting the COVID-19 perceptions of elderly people during the lockdown and their perceptions were crucial for improving preventive healthcare behaviors.