*Article* **Intention-Based Critical Factors Affecting Willingness to Adopt Novel Coronavirus Prevention in Pakistan: Implications for Future Pandemics**

**Munir Ahmad 1, Nadeem Akhtar 2,3,\*, Gul Jabeen 4,5, Muhammad Irfan 6,7, Muhammad Khalid Anser 8, Haitao Wu 6,7 and Cem I¸sık <sup>9</sup>**

	- <sup>3</sup> Pakistan Center, North Minzu University, Yinchuan 750001, China <sup>4</sup> Research Institute of Business Analytics and Supply Chain Management, College of Management,
	- Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; guljabeen@ncepu.edu.cn
	- <sup>5</sup> School of Economics and Management, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
	- <sup>6</sup> School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; irfansahar@bit.edu.cn (M.I.); haitao.kungfuer@gmail.com (H.W.)
	- <sup>7</sup> Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
	- <sup>8</sup> School of Public Administration, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710000, China; mkhalidrao@xauat.edu.cn
	- <sup>9</sup> Faculty of Tourism, Anadolu University, 26470 Tepeba¸sı-Eski¸sehir, Turkey; cemisik@anadolu.edu.tr
	- **\*** Correspondence: nadeem@scnu.edu.cn; Tel.: 86-155-2102-4890

**Abstract:** Since human beings have a long tradition of coexistence with pandemics, which may profoundly impact them, adopting preventive measures is crucial for humankind's survival. This study explores the intention-based critical factors affecting the willingness of individuals to adopt pandemic prevention. To this end, a representative sample of 931 Pakistanis filled in an online questionnaire. However, only 828 questionnaires were found to be complete and valid for path modeling analysis. The core findings are as follows: Firstly, peer groups' beliefs, self-efficacy, perceived risk, pandemic knowledge, ease of pandemic prevention adoption, and risk-averse behavior are revealed as driving forces of the individuals' willingness to adopt pandemic prevention. Contrastingly, a lack of trust in political will and mythical attitude towards pandemics are uncovered as inhibitors. Nevertheless, moral values depict a neutral role. Secondly, the peer groups' beliefs are highest ranked, followed by the lack of trust in political will and a mythical attitude towards pandemic prevention. Finally, moral values are determined as the lowest-ranked critical factor. Based on these results, the government should promote awareness campaigns on lethality and fatality of the pandemic at both centralized and decentralized levels to win people's trust at the grass-roots level and overcome the mythical attitude of individuals at all societal levels. Besides, access to personal protective gears should be made feasible since an easier pandemic prevention adoption would increase the individuals' willingness to adopt such preventative measures.

**Keywords:** intention-based critical factors; novel coronavirus; pandemic prevention; COVID-19; hybrid theoretical framework; path modeling; Pakistan
