Public Trust and Protective Measures During the H1N1 Pandemic in the Netherlands
Author Information
Author(s): Willemien van der Weerd, Daniëlle RM Timmermans, Desirée JMA Beaujean, Jurriaan Oudhoff, Jim E van Steenbergen
Primary Institution: National Crisis Centre, Netherlands
Hypothesis
The study aims to identify changes in public trust, risk perception, and intention to adopt protective measures during the H1N1 pandemic.
Conclusion
Higher levels of trust in the government, fear/worry, and perceived vulnerability were positively related to the intention to accept vaccination, while fear/worry was consistently linked to the intention to adopt protective measures.
Supporting Evidence
- Trust in the government decreased over time but remained relatively high.
- Perceived vulnerability and intention to adopt protective measures increased during the pandemic.
- Receipt of information was positively associated with the intention to adopt protective measures.
Takeaway
People were more likely to get vaccinated if they trusted the government and felt worried about the flu, but just feeling worried didn't always make them take protective actions.
Methodology
Sixteen cross-sectional telephone surveys were conducted between April and November 2009 with a total of 8060 respondents.
Potential Biases
The study population was not fully representative of the actual Dutch population, and data were weighted to correct for differential non-response.
Limitations
The questionnaire was not based on a theoretical model and did not encompass all variables that should be measured to effectively predict intention.
Participant Demographics
50.8% female, mean age 45.7 years, most had intermediate education, and most families did not include children.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% C.I. for MD with previous period
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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