Public risk perceptions and preventive behaviors during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic

This study examines the public perception of the 2009 H1N1 influenza risk and its association with flu-related knowledge, social contexts, and preventive behaviors during the second wave of the influenza outbreak in Arizona. Statistical analyses were conducted on survey data, which were collected fr...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Disaster medicine and public health preparedness 2015-04, Vol.9 (2), p.145-154
Main Authors: Kim, Yushim, Zhong, Wei, Jehn, Megan, Walsh, Lauren
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arizona
Communication
Disease control
Disease prevention
Emergency preparedness
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Infectious diseases
Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype
Influenza, Human - epidemiology
Influenza, Human - prevention & control
Influenza, Human - psychology
Knowledge
Pandemics
Pandemics - prevention & control
Perceptions
Public health
Public opinion
Risk Assessment - methods
Risk taking
Statistical analysis
Studies
Surveys and Questionnaires
Swine flu
Viruses
Websites
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This study examines the public perception of the 2009 H1N1 influenza risk and its association with flu-related knowledge, social contexts, and preventive behaviors during the second wave of the influenza outbreak in Arizona. Statistical analyses were conducted on survey data, which were collected from a random-digit telephone survey of the general public in Arizona in October 2009. The public perceived different levels of risk regarding the likelihood and their concern about contracting the 2009 H1N1 flu. These measures of risk perception were primarily correlated with people of Hispanic ethnicity, having children in the household, and recent seasonal flu experience in the previous year. The perceived likelihood was not strongly associated with preventive behaviors, whereas the perceived concern was significantly associated with precautionary and preparatory behaviors. The association between perceived concern and precautionary behavior persisted after controlling for demographic characteristics. Pandemic preparedness and response efforts need to incorporate these findings to help develop effective risk communication strategies that properly induce preventive behaviors among the public.
ISSN:1935-7893
1938-744X
DOI:10.1017/dmp.2014.87