Behavioral insights for containing the COVID-19 pandemic: Some practices in China

Abstract

Although China's central and local governments do not have behavioral insights teams, they nonetheless incorporated strategies consistent with behavioral science research when they instituted plans to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. They made it easy for the public to implement health-protective behaviors; eliminated financial barriers to obtaining treatment; set the most stringent protocols as the default to protect health care professionals; simplified decisionmaking about which groups of people needed to self-isolate (thereby enhancing the efficiency of infection-control programs); and provided timely, tailored mental health services to those in need of psychological assistance. Adopting similar practices might help other countries contain the COVID-19 pandemic and enhance future pandemic preparedness and resiliency.