Sources of information and health beliefs related to SARS and avian influenza among Chinese communities in the United Kingdom and The Netherlands, compared to the general population in these countries.
BACKGROUND
Ethnic minorities in Europe such as the Chinese may need a special strategy with regard to risk communication about emerging infectious diseases. To engage them in precautionary actions, it is important to know their information sources, knowledge, and health beliefs.


OBJECTIVE
This study's purpose is to study the use of information sources, knowledge, and health beliefs related to SARS and avian flu of Chinese people in the UK and The Netherlands, and to make comparisons with the general population in these countries.


METHODS
Results of a self-administered questionnaire among 300 British/Dutch Chinese were compared to data obtained from a computer-assisted phone survey among the general population (n = 800).


RESULTS
British/Dutch Chinese got most information about emerging diseases from family and friends, followed by Chinese media and British/Dutch TV. They had less confidence than general groups in their doctor, government agencies, and consumer/patient interest groups. Their knowledge of SARS was high. They had a lower perceived threat than general populations with regard to SARS and avian flu due to a lower perceived severity. They had higher self-efficacy beliefs regarding SARS and avian flu.


CONCLUSIONS
In case of new outbreaks of SARS/avian flu in China, local authorities in the UK and The Netherlands can best reach Chinese people through informal networks and British/Dutch TV, while trying to improve confidence in information from the government. In communications, the severity of the disease rather than the susceptibility appears to need most attention.
Voeten
Helene A C M
HA
Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands. h.voeten@erasmusmc.nl
de Zwart
Onno
O
Veldhuijzen
Irene K
IK
Yuen
Cicely
C
Jiang
Xinyi
X
Elam
Gillian
G
Abraham
Thomas
T
Brug
Johannes
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003142:Communication; D003469:Culture; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D033181:Information Dissemination; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D009426:Netherlands; D011200:Poultry; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012309:Risk-Taking; D020377:Self Efficacy; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D012846:Singapore / Q000208:ethnology; D013689:Telephone; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult