title: Illness representation on H1N1 influenza and preventive behaviors in the Hong Kong general population.
abstract: This study examined illness representations of new influenza Human Swine Influenza A (H1N1) and association with H1N1 preventive behaviors among 300 Chinese adults using a population-based randomized telephone survey. Results showed that relatively few participants thought H1N1 would have serious consequences (12%-15.7%) and few showed negative emotional responses toward H1N1 (9%-24.7%). The majority of the participants thought H1N1 could be controlled by treatment (70.4%-72.7%). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that treatment control (odds ratio = 1.78) and psychological attribution (odds ratio = .75) were associated with intention to take up influenza vaccination. Emotional representations were associated with lower likelihood of wearing face mask (odds ratio = .77) and hand washing (odds ratio = .67). Results confirm that illness representation variables are associated with H1N1 preventive behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Behaviours Research, School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Phoenix K H
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Behaviours Research, School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Centre for Medical Anthropology and Behavioral Health, Sun Yat-sen University, China jlau@cuhk.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Joseph T F
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: H1N1 influenza; illness representations; influenza vaccination; washing hands; wearing face mask