title: Post-pandemic assessment of public knowledge, behavior, and skill on influenza prevention among the general population of Beijing, China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, behavioral, and skill responses toward influenza in the general population of Beijing after pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in Beijing, China, in January 2011. A survey was conducted in which information was collected using a standardized questionnaire. A comprehensive evaluation index system of health literacy related to influenza was built to evaluate the level of health literacy regarding influenza prevention and control among residents in Beijing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen thousand and fifty-three valid questionnaires were received. The average score for the sum of knowledge, behavior, and skill was 14.12±3.22, and the mean scores for knowledge, behavior, and skill were 4.65±1.20, 7.25±1.94, and 2.21±1.31, respectively. The qualified proportions of these three sections were 23.7%, 11.9%, and 43.4%, respectively, and the total proportion with a qualified level was 6.7%. There were significant differences in health literacy level related to influenza among the different gender, age, educational level, occupational status, and location groups (p<0.05). There was a significant association between knowledge and behavior (r=0.084, p<0.001), and knowledge and skill (r=0.102, p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The health literacy level remains low among the general population in Beijing and the extent of relativities in knowledge, behavior, and skill about influenza was found to be weak. Therefore, improvements are needed in terms of certain aspects, particularly for the elderly and the population of rural districts. Educational level, as a significant factor in reducing the spread of influenza, should be considered seriously when intervention strategies are implemented.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), Capital Medical University, School of Public Health, No. 16 He Pingli Middle Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100013, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW Medicine, the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seale
authors.affiliation: Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), Capital Medical University, School of Public Health, No. 16 He Pingli Middle Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100013, China.
authors.forename: Shuangsheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), Capital Medical University, School of Public Health, No. 16 He Pingli Middle Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100013, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), Capital Medical University, School of Public Health, No. 16 He Pingli Middle Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100013, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), Capital Medical University, School of Public Health, No. 16 He Pingli Middle Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100013, China.
authors.forename: Chunna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW Medicine, the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Raina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: MacIntyre
authors.affiliation: Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), Capital Medical University, School of Public Health, No. 16 He Pingli Middle Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100013, China. Electronic address: bjcdcxm@126.com.
authors.forename: Quanyi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058873:Pandemics; D012107:Research Design; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: Behavior; Community; Influenza; Knowledge
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