Public Response to Community Mitigation Measures for Pandemic Influenza
Author Information
Author(s): Blendon Robert J., Koonin Lisa M., Benson John M., Cetron Martin S., Pollard William E., Mitchell Elizabeth W., Weldon Kathleen J., Herrmann Melissa J.
Primary Institution: Harvard School of Public Health
Hypothesis
How would the public respond to community mitigation measures during a severe outbreak of pandemic influenza?
Conclusion
Most respondents would comply with public health recommendations during a pandemic, but challenges would arise if their income or job was severely compromised.
Supporting Evidence
- 94% of respondents said they would stay home if they had pandemic flu.
- 85% said they could care for sick household members at home for 7-10 days.
- 73% reported having someone available to care for them if they became sick.
- 39% of respondents had children under 18 living in their household.
- 60% of adults with children said at least one employed person would have to stay home from work.
Takeaway
If there is a bad flu outbreak, most people say they will follow health advice, but some might struggle if they can't work or earn money.
Methodology
The study used a national survey with 85 questions conducted in English and Spanish, targeting a representative sample of adults over 18 years old.
Potential Biases
Potential biases include nonresponse bias and the wording of questions.
Limitations
The survey may not fully predict actual public behavior during a real pandemic situation.
Participant Demographics
The sample included a representative national sample of 1,697 adults over 18, with an oversample of adults with children under 18.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
±2.4%
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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