title: Perceptions about status and modes of H5N1 transmission and associations with immediate behavioral responses in the Hong Kong general population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Perceptions and associated behavioral responses to H5N1 avian influenza were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random telephone survey interviewed 805 Hong Kong adults in November 2005.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of respondents, 37.9% believed that bird-to-human transmission had occurred somewhere in the last year (Hong Kong: 17.3%). Similar figures for human-to-human transmission were 16.8% (some locale) and 6.8% (Hong Kong). Many perceived bird-to-human H5N1 are transmittable via long-distance airborne transmission (35.8%), contaminated water sources (44%) and insect bites (48%). Corresponding figures for human-to-human H5N1 transmission were 47.9%, 47.3% and 48.9% respectively. In the last 3 months, 49.4% of the respondents exhibited one of the 4 studied behavioral responses; the variable was associated with unconfirmed beliefs that past-year human-to-human H5N1 transmission had occurred in Hong Kong (adjusted OR=2.08). Beliefs that human-to-human transmission had occurred somewhere were associated with the 4 individual behaviors studied (adjusted OR=1.58-4.24). Perceptions that human-to-human H5N1 should be transmittable via contaminated water sources was associated with avoidance of visiting hospitals and eating less poultry (adjusted OR=1.69 and 1.64). Belief about airborne transmission of human-to-human H5N1 was associated with perceived stress (adjusted OR=2.32).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Widespread unconfirmed beliefs about status of HN51 epidemic are associated with the general public's behavioral responses. Timely dissemination of up-to-date information is greatly warranted.
authors.affiliation: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. jlau@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Joseph T F
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Hiyi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsui
authors.forename: Jean H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Griffiths
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001717:Birds; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013689:Telephone