Evaluation of Citizen Epidemic Prevention Information Literacy in the Post-Epidemic Era in Mainland China

Improving citizen epidemic prevention information literacy is one of the most cost-efficient and important measures to improve people’s epidemic prevention abilities to effectively deal with future public health crises. Epidemic prevention information literacy is beneficial to improve individuals’ ability to deal with public health crises in the future. By summarizing related domestic and international research, and utilizing an empirical methodology, we constructed an epidemic prevention information literacy assessment model with good reliability, validity, and model fit. The model is composed of four indicators: (1) “epidemic prevention information awareness”; (2) “epidemic prevention information knowledge”; (3) “epidemic prevention information ability”; (4) “epidemic prevention information morality”. We used the model to assess the epidemic prevention information literacy of Chinese citizens. The results showed the following: (1) the overall level of the epidemic prevention information literacy of Chinese citizens was comparatively high, however, its development was unbalanced, and the capability and moral levels of the epidemic prevention information were comparatively low; (2) the four dimensions of the epidemic prevention information literacy were different in terms of the citizens’ education levels and locations. We analyzed the probable causes of these problems, and we propose specific corresponding countermeasures. The research provides a set of methods and norms for the evaluation of citizen epidemic prevention information literacy in the post-epidemic era.