title: Characteristics and influences of H1N1 communication on college students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this paper is to assess how college students received and responded to H1N1 pandemic emergency preparedness information and to assess college students' knowledge and attitudes towards H1N1 during the height of the H1N1 epidemic and corresponding public health response to the outbreak.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a case study approach, the researchers conducted five focus groups at a large Southeastern US university between October 20-29, 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In order to effectively communicate emergency preparedness information to college students, universities should rely on interpersonal communication and mediated communication from trusted sources. College students need to understand the health-related emergency, the risk of the emergency, basic steps to avoid it, and only pertinent cues to action. Oversaturation of this information can lead college students to lessen their perceived importance of the disaster prevention information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Focus groups were conducted during only two consecutive weeks of the H1N1 epidemic, and snowball sampling may have led to sample bias.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research was conducted during the height of the H1N1 pandemic, and is the only study to date that explores college students' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards H1N1.
authors.affiliation: Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koskan
authors.affiliation: School of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: School of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karlis
authors.affiliation: Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: India
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: School of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanner
keywords: Communication; Emergency measures; Emergency preparedness; H1N1; Health communication; Natural disaster; Pandemic; Students; United States of America