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Suitable channels of human infected H7N9 avian influenza and other infectious disease surveillance for health risk communication in an Asian urban city
Methods: A cross-sectional, population-based telephone survey study (n=1,000) was conducted for infectious disease outbreak behavioral response in Hong Kong in February 2014. Opinions and preference for infectious disease surveillance and obtaining disease information were collected and analyzed.
Results: Preliminary results of the pilot study showed the most preferred channels to obtain infectious disease information were from television (50%) and internet (16%). Younger age groups tended to use more internet (age 15-24, 33.3%; age 25-59, 12.9%; age >59, 0%). Most respondents (74%) thought there is a need to have official indices for reflecting health risk of infectious diseases activities. 60% showed their willingness to cooperate with local officials for infectious disease data collection if needed. Preferred channels for providing health information to officials for surveillance purposes were via internet (44%) and telephone (34%). The main study result will be available in March 2014.
Discussion: Community surveillance provides complementary information and risk communication channel for the current infectious disease surveillance systems. With the high coverage, high acceptability and timeliness of internet usage, more surveillance utilization via the internet can be considered. However this channel may not be suitable for all age groups. More research should be done on how to formulate robust indices to measure infectious disease risks in the community.
Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health educationCommunication and informatics
Epidemiology
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Identify suitable channels of community H7N9 influenza and other infectious disease surveillance for health risk communication among different strata of an urban Chinese community
Keyword(s): Public Health Research, Data Collection and Surveillance
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: NA
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I graduated from medical school and obtained my masters in global health. I am currently a clinical tutor at the Chinese University, Hong Kong.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.