Table 1 Behavioural change and risk perceptions in response to the H1N1 pandemic
From: Initial psychological responses to Influenza A, H1N1 ("Swine flu")
Variables | Malaysia | Europe | Differences between regions (x 2 value) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â | No (%) | No (%) | Â | N (%) |
Relevant behaviours | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Public transport use as a result of swine flu | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Less than usual | 84 (48) | 32 (22) | 21.91** | 116 (36) |
   The same or more | 93 (53) | 112 (78) |  | 204 (64) |
Cancellation/delaying of flights | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Yes | 99 (56) | 25 (17) | 49.20** | 124 (39) |
   No | 79 (44) | 119 (83) |  | 188 (61) |
Purchased goods (e.g. face masks) | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Yes | 14 (8) | 11 (7) | 0.14 | 25 (8) |
   No | 166 (92) | 137 (93) |  | 303 (92) |
Intend to purchase goods | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Yes | 74 (41) | 22 (15) | 27.03** | 96 (29) |
   No | 106 (59) | 126 (85) |  | 232 (71) |
Risk groups | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Pig farmers | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   More risk than me | 157 (88) | 72 (49) | 68.03** | 229 (70) |
   Same risk as me | 16 (9) | 74 (50) |  | 90 (28) |
   Less risk than me | 5 (3) | 2 (1) |  | 7 (2) |
General farmers | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   More risk | 61 (35) | 29 (20) | 11.44** | 90 (28) |
   Same risk | 108 (61) | 116 (78) |  | 224 (69) |
   Less risk | 8 (5) | 3 (2) |  | 11 (3) |
The elderly | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   More risk | 87 (49) | 96 (65) | 8.27* | 183 (57) |
   Same risk | 76 (43) | 42 (28) |  | 118 (36) |
   Less risk | 13 (7) | 10 (7) |  | 23 (7) |
Homeless | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   More risk | 96 (55) | 74 (50) | 10.23** | 170 (53) |
   Same risk | 67 (38) | 73 (49) |  | 140 (43) |
   Less risk | 12 (7) | 1 (1) |  | 13 (4) |
Homosexuals | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   More risk | 56 (32) | 11 (8) | 31.82** | 67 (21) |
   Same risk | 115 (65) | 134 (92) |  | 249 (77) |
   Less risk | 5 (3) | 1 (1) |  | 6 (2) |
Prostitutes | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   More risk | 106 (60) | 64 (44) | 12.10** | 170 (53) |
   Same risk | 66 (37) | 82 (56) |  | 148 (46) |
   Less risk | 5 (3) | 1 (1) |  | 6 (2) |
Those already with a disease and with weakened immunity | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   More risk | 156 (88) | 127 (86) | 3.49* | 283 (87) |
   Same risk | 13 (7) | 18 (12) |  | 31 (10) |
   Less risk | 8 (5) | 3 (2) |  | 11 (3) |
Personal Anxieties | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Concern about getting flu | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Very concerned | 75 (42) | 8 (5) | 91.67** | 83 (26) |
   Somewhat concerned | 52 (29) | 30 (20) |  | 82 (25) |
   Only a little concerned | 39 (22) | 48 (33) |  | 87 (27) |
   Not at all concerned | 12 (7) | 61 (42) |  | 73 (23) |
Control over whether infected | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Great deal | 35 (20) | 19 (13) | 2.83 | 54 (16) |
   Little | 97 (55) | 90 (61) |  | 187 (57) |
   None | 46 (26) | 38 (26) |  | 84 (26) |
Contacted friends to discuss threat | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Yes | 33 (19) | 90 (63) | 66.56** | 123 (39) |
   No | 144 (81) | 52 (37) |  | 196 (61) |
Contacted family to discuss threat | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Yes |  |  |  |  |
   No | 49 (28) | 31 (22) | 1.54 | 80 (25) |
| Â | 119 (73) | 113 (79) | Â | 242 (75) |