Data from: Community psychological and behavioral responses through the first wave of the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic in Hong Kong

Background. Little is known about the community psychological and
behavioral responses to influenza pandemics. Methods. Using random digit
dialing, we sampled 12,965 Hong Kong residents in 13 cross-sectional
telephone surveys between April and November 2009, covering the entire
first wave of the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic. We examined trends in
anxiety, risk perception, knowledge on modes of transmission, and
preventive behaviors. Results. Respondents reported low anxiety levels
throughout the epidemic. Perceived susceptibility to infection and
perceived severity of H1N1 were initially high but declined early in the
epidemic and remained stable thereafter. As the epidemic grew, knowledge
on modes of transmission did not improve, the adoption of hygiene measures
and use of face masks did not change, and social distancing declined.
Greater anxiety was associated with lower reported use of hygiene measures
but greater social distancing. Knowledge that H1N1 could be spread by
indirect contact was associated with greater use of hygiene measures and
social distancing. Conclusions. The lack of substantial change in
preventive measures or knowledge about the modes of H1N1 transmission in
the general population suggests that community mitigation measures played
little role in mitigating the impact of the first wave of 2009 influenza
A(H1N1) pandemic in Hong Kong.