University communication strategies during a pandemic-were the messages received?
OBJECTIVE
In April 2009, the World Health Organization announced the emergence of a novel influenza A H1N1 virus. Through the use of an on-line survey, we aimed to measure the awareness and receptiveness of staff and students toward university information broadcasts about the H1N1 situation.


METHODS
The survey was available online from June 29 to September 30, 2009. The sample included faculty, general staff, and students at a university in Sydney, Australia.


RESULTS
A total of 2 883 surveys were completed. The majority (88.4%, 2549/2883) reported seeing an information broadcast. Significantly more general staff reported receiving an e-mail than faculty or students. Of the students who reported receiving it, only 53.6% (1006/1876) found it useful. All 3 participant categories nominated e-mails as the most appropriate way the university could use for communicating health issues.


CONCLUSIONS
Communicating effectively to staff and students about the spread of flu on campus presents a challenge, as university officials seek to navigate a middle ground between inciting unnecessary fear and promoting complacency. Electronic communication may be the most efficient way of reaching as many staff and students as possible.
Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. h.seale@unsw.edu.au
Holly
H
Seale
Mary-Louise
ML
McLaws
Debbie
D
Van
Jacinta
J
Crimmins
C Raina
CR
Macintyre
D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D008402:Mass Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009517:New South Wales; D058873:Pandemics; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*