Objective  To examine the status quo of haze-related health protective behaviors among citizens in Beijing city for providing evidences to develop targeted health education strategies and intervention measures.

  Methods  In November 2018, we distributed a self-designed questionnaire about cognition on haze-related health risk and protective behaviors via internet to all members of official account of Dongcheng District Center for Disease Control and Prevention registered in Beijing city. All voluntary responses were collected two weeks after the distribution.

  Results  A total of 15 698 questionnaires were distributed and 15 334 valid response questionnaires were received, with a response rate of 97.7%. Of all the respondents, 93.5% and 92.4% reported decreased going out and physical exercise under smog weather; 96.2% and 86.1% reported wearing mask when going out and using air purifiers at home under smog weather condition, respectively. The proportion of reporting haze-related health protective behaviors was significantly higher among the respondents aged 18 – 44 years, females, and the college students (all P < 0.05) and the proportion was positively correlated significantly with the level of cognition on health hazards of haze and the concern about haze weather condition (P < 0.05 for all).

  Conclusion  The prevalence rate of haze-related health protective behaviors is relatively high among citizens in Beijing city but health education on cognition and protection of haze condition still needs to be promoted in key population groups.