Behavioral Insights Informing the Pandemic Response in the City of Moscow

Background. The public response to the coronavirus pandemic, including their uptake of protective measures, was critical for containing the virus, and this required effective interventions, policy decisions, and public communication that took into account the perspectives of the population. The main goal of the study was to explore public perceptions, behaviors, and well-being of the population of Moscow, Russian Federation, to inform the pandemic response. Methods. A survey tool originally developed by the WHO Regional Office for Europe with support from the University of Erfurt, Germany, was adapted to the Moscow (Russian Federation) context. Computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) were conducted using a stratified, two-core sample of landline and mobile phones. Three waves of data collection took place from mid-May 2020 to mid-June 2020: 1) May 13–18, 2020, n = 1019 people; 2) May 26, 2020 – June 1, n = 1000 people; 3) June 16–24, 2020, n = 993 people. Findings. The study identified the awareness of Moscow residents about the coronavirus, their perceptions, understanding of the pandemic situation and behavioral responses to measures taken by the authorities to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Interpretation. Monitoring of public perceptions, behaviors, and well-being allowed a people-centered approach, which took into account population perspectives alongside epidemiological data and economic, cultural, ethical, and structural-political considerations, to become the basis for an effective coronavirus response.