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The community's attitude towards swine flu and pandemic influenza
Author(s) -
Seale Holly,
McLaws MaryLouise,
Heywood Anita E,
Ward Kirsten F,
Lowbridge Chris P,
Van Debbie,
Gralton Jan,
MacIntyre C Raina
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02781.x
Subject(s) - pandemic , medicine , hygiene , public health , quarantine , vaccination , environmental health , hand washing , seriousness , government (linguistics) , personal protective equipment , family medicine , outbreak , personal hygiene , feeling , disease , covid-19 , infectious disease (medical specialty) , nursing , psychology , virology , political science , social psychology , linguistics , philosophy , pathology , law
Objective: Design, setting and participants: Cross‐sectional survey of Sydney residents during WHO Phase 5 of pandemic (H1N1) 2009. Members of the public were approached in shopping and pedestrian malls in seven areas of Sydney between 2 May and 29 May 2009 to undertake the survey. The survey was also made available by email. Main outcome measures: Perceived personal risk and seriousness of the disease, opinion on the government and health authorities’ response, feelings about quarantine and infection control methods, and potential compliance with antiviral prophylaxis. Results: Of 620 respondents, 596 (96%) were aware of pandemic (H1N1) 2009, but 44% (273/620) felt they did not have enough information about the situation. More than a third (38%; 235/620) ranked their risk of catching influenza during a pandemic as low. When asked how they felt pandemic influenza would affect their health if they were infected, only a third (33%; 206/620) said “very seriously”. Just over half of the respondents (58%; 360/620) believed the pandemic would be over within a year. Respondents rated quarantine and vaccination with a pandemic vaccine as more effective than hand hygiene for the prevention of pandemic influenza. Conclusions: Emphasising the efficacy of recommended actions (such as hand hygiene), risks from the disease and the possible duration of the outbreak may help to promote compliance with official advice.