Risk perception related to communicable disease among international college students: A mixed method study

Emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases pose a rising global health threat to developing and industrialized countries. Universal and selective intervention efforts have been ineffective in controlling communicable disease transmission due to a combined lack of factual knowledge, inaccurate perception of individual vulnerability, and inadequate adherence to recommended prevention guidelines. This study examined the variables of knowledge, understanding, risk perception, attitude, and behaviors among international college students related to non-sexually transmitted communicable diseases. A parallel descriptive (quantitative-qualitative) mixed method study examined risk variables using the Risk Perception of Infectious Diseases Questionnaire and an individual semi-structured interview guide. The sample included 109 international students from Africa, Asia, the Middle Ease, Pacific Rim, and South America, who were currently attending seven U.S. universities. Quantitative data analyses using descriptive and inferential statistics were performed. Qualitative interviews were conducted and analyzed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Quantitative results identified the most important information needed during an outbreak as infection prevention (49%) and disease transmission (28%) and recognition of symptoms (10%). Preferred sources of information during an outbreak were the internet (60%), TV (14%), government agencies (9%) and physicians (6%). Qualitative analysis provided unique insights into the quantitative results. Mixed method data analysis revealed behavioral, cognitive, cultural, and psychological conceptual categories related to prevention of communicable disease. Risk perception among international college students is related to a number of individual and sociocultural factors that must be understood to develop preventive interventions with a greater likelihood of student adherence.