title: H1N1 preventive health behaviors in a university setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  When H1N1 emerged in 2009, institutions of higher education were immediately faced with questions about how best to protect their community from the virus, yet limited information existed to help predict student preventive behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors surveyed students at a large urban university in November 2009 to better understand how students perceived their susceptibility to and the severity of H1N1, which preventive behaviors they engaged in, and if policies impacted their preventive health decisions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preventive health behavior messaging had a mixed impact on students. Students made simple behavior changes to protect themselves from H1N1, especially if they perceived a high personal risk of contracting H1N1. Although policies were instituted to enable students to avoid classes when ill, almost no student self-isolated for the entire duration of their illness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings can help inform future decision making in a university setting to best influence preventive health behaviors.
authors.affiliation: George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Washington, DC 20006, USA. rlkatz@gwu.edu
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Larissa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanza
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Petinaux
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D003625:Data Collection; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult