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Table 2 Perceptions related to H1N1 (n = 999).

From: Avoidance behaviors and negative psychological responses in the general population in the initial stage of the H1N1 pandemic in Hong Kong

  %#
Unconfirmed beliefs and knowledge about modes of transmission of H1N1  
Unconfirmed beliefs about modes of transmission  
Airborne with a long distance (from one building to another one) 36.7%
Transmitted via water sources (e.g. reservoirs) 35.7%
Transmitted via insect bites 22.9%
Transmitted via well-cooked pork 41.6%
Any one of above 61.8%
Correct knowledge about modes of transmission  
Could be transmitted via droplets (e.g. sneeze) 97.5%
Could be transmitted via touching body of infected persons 74.2%
Could be transmitted via touching contaminated objects 77.8%
All above items being correct 60.3%
Evaluation of governmental preparedness and performance in dealing with H1N1  
Preparedness  
The local health system do not have enough medication for treating H1N1 36.2%
The local health system do not have enough vaccine for preventing H1N1 41.1%
Hospitals in Hong Kong do not have enough personal protection equipments for preventing H1N1 30.2%
Any one of the above 52.6%
Perceived ability to control the epidemic  
Hong Kong will be able to control the H1N1 epidemic (agree) 83.6%
Hong Kong government will be certainly/most likely/likely able to control a large-scale H1N1 outbreak 79.5%
Any one of the above 92.3%
Evaluation of governmental performance*  
Overall average evaluation score  
   ≤5 10.7%
   >5 - 8 69.1%
   >8 20.2%
Perceived availability of treatment  
There is no effective drug for the treatment of H1N1 38.9%
Risk perception  
Perceived severity of H1N1  
High fatality 20.6%
Severe irreversible body damages 18.9%
Perceived chance of having a large scale H1N1 outbreak in Hong Kong in the future year, compared to other countries  
   Hong Kong = other countries 45.2%
   Hong Kong > other countries 7.1%
   Hong Kong < other countries 47.6%
Perceived high or very high chance of contracting H1N1 in the coming year  
   The respondent 8.6%
   Family members 8.7%
   The general public 12.5%
  1. * Governmental performance was assessed by 6 items: Timeliness of measures taken; effectiveness of implemented measures; clear explanations made to citizens; adequacy of Implemented measures; coordination across governmental departments; overall performance of the government. (Score range = 0 to 10, with 5 as the passing mark). An average was calculated for the 6 item scores.
  2. #Less than 2% missing cases exist for the listed variables.
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BMC Infectious Diseases

ISSN: 1471-2334

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