Recorded presentation

Gabriel M Leung, MD, MPH¹, Stella Quah, PhD², Lai-Ming Ho, PhD¹, Sai-Yin Ho, PhD¹, Anthony J Hedley, MD, FFPH¹, Hin-Peng Lee, MD, FFPH³, and Tai-Hing Lam, MD, MSc¹. (1) School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, +852-2819-9282, hrmrlth@hkucc.hku.hk, (2) Department of Sociology, National University of Singapore, ., Singapore, Singapore, (3) Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, National University of Singapore, ., Singapore, Singapore

Objective. To compare the public’s knowledge and perception of SARS and the extent to which precautionary measures were adopted in two Asian communities. Methods. Cross-sectional telephone survey of 705 Hong Kong and 1,201 Singaporean adult. Results. Hong Kong respondents had significantly higher anxiety compared to Singaporeans (state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) scores of 2.06 vs. 1.77, P <0.001). More than 90% in both cities were willing to be quarantined if they had close contact with a diagnosed SARS case and at least 70% would be compliant for social contacts. 86.7% in Hong Kong vs. 71.4% in Singapore (P <0.001) knew that SARS could be transmitted by respiratory droplets, although fewer (75.8% in Hong Kong vs. 62.1% in Singapore, P <0.001) identified that fomites was also a possible transmission mode. 23.0% of Hong Kong and 11.9% of Singaporean respondents believed they were “very” or “somewhat” likely to contract SARS during the current outbreak (P<0.001). There were large differences between Hong Kong and Singapore in the adoption of personal precautionary measures. In particular, 79.0% in Hong Kong but 4.1% in Singapore wore a face mask in the previous three days. Respondents with higher levels of anxiety, better knowledge about SARS and greater risk perceptions were more likely to take comprehensive precautionary measures against the infection, as were older, female, more educated individuals. Conclusions. Population psycho-behavioral factors are shown to be an important potential factor in the transmission of an infectious agent. Comparative psycho-behavioral surveillance can yield important insights into generic vs. population-specific issues that could be used to inform and evaluate public health infection control policy measures.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how population psycho-behavioral factors are potentially an important factor in the transmission of an infectious agent.
• Recognize the role of cross-cultural comparative psycho-behavioral surveillance in informing, designing and evaluating public health infection control policy measures.
• Examine the relevance of population attitudes towards and perceptions of diseases to the agent, vector, host epidemiological triangle.

Keywords: Infectious Diseases, Risk Communication

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation