title: Perceptions related to human avian influenza and their associations with anticipated psychological and behavioral responses at the onset of outbreak in the Hong Kong Chinese general population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anticipated psychological responses and perceptions of risk have not been examined prior to the outbreak of an epidemic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a cross-sectional, telephone survey, 805 Chinese adults in Hong Kong were interviewed anonymously in November, 2005 to examine beliefs related to H5N1 avian influenza and anticipated responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of respondents, 71.4% and 52.4%, respectively, believed that bird-to-human or human-to-human H5N1 transmission would occur in the next year. In the event of a bird-to-human or human-to-human outbreak in Hong Kong, many anticipated high fatality rates (70.5% and 74.4%, respectively), permanent physical damage (52.0% and 54.9%, respectively), inadequate vaccines (50.0% and 64.4%, respectively), insufficient medicine supplies (43.7% and 54.5%, respectively), inadequate hospital infection control (35.1% and 43.3%, respectively), high susceptibility of family members contracting H5N1 (13.9% and 24.3%, respectively), and impact on oneself/family worse than those of severe acute respiratory syndrome (21.2 and 25.0%, respectively). Most anticipated at least 1 of the 7 studied stress-related responses (e.g., panic) or the adoption of at least 1 of the 5 studied preventive behavioral measures (e.g., avoiding going out).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Panic and interruption of daily routines may occur in the event of a human avian influenza outbreak. Dissemination of accurate, timely information would reduce unnecessary distress and unwanted behaviors.
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: Jean H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hiyi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsui
authors.forename: Sian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Griffiths
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; 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; D010200:Panic; D015980:Public Health Practice; D011639:Public Opinion; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D015047:Zoonoses