The community's attitude towards swine flu and pandemic influenza

• Published in: Medical journal of Australia 2009-09, Vol.191 (5), p.267-269
• Main Authors: Seale, Holly, McLaws, Mary‐Louise, Heywood, Anita E, Ward, Kirsten F, Lowbridge, Chris P, Van, Debbie, Gralton, Jan, MacIntyre, C Raina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Attitude to Health; Awareness; Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disease outbreaks; Disease Outbreaks - prevention & control; Disease Outbreaks - statistics & numerical data; Diseases; Environment and public health; Female; General aspects; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype - immunology; Influenza Vaccines - administration & dosage; Influenza, Human - epidemiology; Influenza, Human - psychology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; New South Wales - epidemiology; Patient Compliance - statistics & numerical data; Population Surveillance; Public health; Public opinion; Risk; Surveys; Urban Population; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the respiratory system and ent viral diseases; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0025-729X; 1326-5377
• DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02781.x

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.