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.### 研究背景 目前学界对流感大流行期间公众的心理与行为反应尚缺乏充分认知。 ### 研究方法 本研究于2009年4月至11月间开展13次横断面电话调查，采用随机数字拨号抽样法，共招募12965名香港居民作为研究对象，调查覆盖了2009甲型H1N1流感大流行第一波疫情的完整周期。本研究分析了焦虑情绪、风险感知、传播途径知识以及预防行为的变化趋势。 ### 研究结果 受访者在整个疫情期间的焦虑水平整体偏低。人群对感染的易感性感知以及H1N1的病情严重性感知初始较高，但在疫情早期即出现下降，此后趋于稳定。随着疫情扩散，公众对传播途径的认知未得到提升，卫生措施落实与口罩佩戴情况未发生明显变化，而社交距离行为则有所回落。焦虑程度更高的受访者报告的卫生措施使用频率更低，但社交距离维持情况更佳。知晓H1N1可通过间接接触传播的人群，其卫生措施落实与社交距离保持情况均更为理想。 ### 研究结论 普通民众的预防行为与H1N1传播途径认知未出现显著变化，这表明香港地区针对2009甲型H1N1流感大流行第一波疫情所采取的社区缓解措施，对减缓疫情冲击并未发挥显著作用。