Abstract
BackgroundIn order to fight the spread of the novel H1N1 influenza, health authorities worldwide called for a change in hygiene behavior. Within a longitudinal study, we examined who collected a free bottle of hand sanitizer towards the end of the first swine flu pandemic wave in December 2009.Methods629 participants took part in a longitudinal study assessing perceived likelihood and severity of an H1N1 infection, and H1N1 influenza related negative affect (i.e., feelings of threat, concern, and worry) at T1 (October 2009, week 43–44) and T2 (December 2009, week 51–52). Importantly, all participants received a voucher for a bottle of hand sanitizer at T2 which could be redeemed in a university office newly established for this occasion at T3 (ranging between 1–4 days after T2).ResultsBoth a sequential longitudinal model (M2) as well as a change score model (M3) showed that greater perceived likelihood and severity at T1 (M2) or changes in perceived likelihood and severity between T1 and T2 (M3) did not directly drive protective behavior (T3), but showed a significant indirect impact on behavior through H1N1 influenza related negative affect. Specifically, increases in perceived likelihood (β = .12), severity (β = .24) and their interaction (β = .13) were associated with a more pronounced change in negative affect (M3). The more threatened, concerned and worried people felt (T2), the more likely they were to redeem the voucher at T3 (OR = 1.20).ConclusionsAffective components need to be considered in health behavior models. Perceived likelihood and severity of an influenza infection represent necessary but not sufficient self-referential knowledge for paving the way for preventive behaviors.
Highlights
On 12 April, 2009, the Government of Mexico responded to a request by the World Health Organization (WHO) for verification of an outbreak of acute respiratory infections in the small rural community of La Gloria, Veracruz
As of October 23, 2009, when the present study was launched, there have been more than 414,000 laboratory-confirmed cases of pandemic influenza (H1N1) worldwide and nearly 5,000 deaths were reported to WHO [1]
We examined who collected a free bottle of hand sanitizer and/or leaflets during the swine flu pandemic in December 2009 (Time 3, T3) after they had taken part in a longitudinal online-survey assessing both forms of risk perceptions in October 2009 (Time 1, T1) and eight weeks later in December 2009 (Time 2, T2)
Summary
On 12 April, 2009, the Government of Mexico responded to a request by the World Health Organization (WHO) for verification of an outbreak of acute respiratory infections in the small rural community of La Gloria, Veracruz. As a consequence, during the winter of 2009, fears rose that a second wave of the pandemic spread would occur, and many countries were planning national prevention campaigns on the basis of WHO safety recommendations. In addition to getting vaccinated against H1N1, the WHO mainly recommended behavior-related preventive measures. They recommended that people keep at least one meter distance from people showing symptoms of influenza-like illness, reduce the time spent in crowded settings, improve airflow in living spaces by opening windows, avoid touching their mouth, nose and eyes when possible, and most importantly, regularly clean their hands thoroughly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub [2]. We examined who collected a free bottle of hand sanitizer towards the end of the first swine flu pandemic wave in December 2009
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