In the Case of an Outbreak of Pandemic Flu, Large Majority of Americans Willing to Make Major Changes in Their Lives HealthOrbit October 26, 2006
According to a national survey by the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) Project on the Public and Biological Security, a significant majority of Americans report that they would be willing to make major changes in their lives to cooperate with public health officials’ recommendations if faced with a serious outbreak of pandemic flu. The survey also reveals that many would have no family or friends to care for them if they become ill or would suffer severe financial difficulties if they had to stay home from work for a week or more.
This is the first such attempt to survey the population’s intentions in a pandemic. Interviewees were read a scenario describing an outbreak of flu that spreads rapidly and causes severe symptoms. Afterwards, they were then asked how they would respond to such circumstances.
This article reports that “more than three-fourths of Americans say they would cooperate if public health officials recommended that for one month they curtail various activities of their daily lives, such as using public transportation, going to the mall, and going to church (Figure 1). More than nine in ten (94%) say they would stay at home away from other people for seven to ten days if they had pandemic flu (Figure 2). In addition, 85% say they and all members of their household would stay at home for that period if another member of their household was sick. Nine in ten Americans (90%) say that if public health officials recommended that they and the other members of their household stay in their town or city, they were likely to stay.”
Also considered were reactions in the workplace and schools as well as availability of caretakers.
The complete survey and slides are available at: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/panflu/IOM_Avian_flu.ppt
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/panflu/panflu_charts.ppt
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/panflu/panflu_release_topline.doc
Commentary
1. While such predictive studies have value in identifying potential problem areas, the unknown factor is potential variation between how interviewees report they anticipate reacting to a hypothetical situation.
2. If this methodology is accurate, it would seem tohave as much or mor utility if applied to the treatment implementation of individual patients for their own, non-pandemic disorders (e.g., “If you were diagnosed with X disorder and prescribed Y treatment, would you be able to follow that regimen?”)
