Pandemic influenza and community preparedness.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to examine community knowledge about and attitudes toward the threat of pandemic influenza and assess the community acceptability of strategies to reduce its effect. METHODS: We conducted computer-aided telephone interviews in 2007 with a cross-sectional sample of rural and metropolitan residents of South Australia. RESULTS: Of 1975 households interviewed, half (50.2%) had never heard of pandemic influenza or were unaware of its meaning. Only 10% of respondents were extremely concerned about the threat of pandemic influenza. Respondents identified children as the highest priority for vaccination, if supplies were limited; they ranked politicians and teachers as the lowest priority. Although only 61.7% of respondents agreed with a policy of home isolation, 98.2% agreed if it was part of a national strategy. Respondents considered television to be the best means of educating the community. CONCLUSION: s. Community knowledge about pandemic influenza is poor despite widespread concern. Public education about pandemic influenza is essential if strategies to reduce the impact of the disease are to be effective.

Author information

Author/s: Marshall, Helen (H); Ryan, Philip (P); Roberton, Don (D); Street, Jackie (J); Watson, Maureen (M);

Affiliation: Paediatric Trials Unit, Women's and Children's Hospital, 72 King William Rd, North Adelaide, South Australia. helen.marshall(-atsign-)adelaide.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: American journal of public health (Am J Public Health), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 99 Suppl 2 (issue ) : pp S365-71

Dates: Created 2009/10/02; Completed 2009/10/26;

PMID: 19797751, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/26/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.