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HNE Health researchers published in prestigious WHO Bulletin
HNE Health researchers published in prestigious WHO Bulletin
Hunter New England Health researchers have been recognised with their work being published in the World Health Organization’s Bulletin.
The team included epidemiologist Keith Eastwood, public health physician Professor David Durrheim and statisticians Lynn Francis and Edouard Tursan d’Espaignet.
The team conducted a national telephone survey prior to the current H1N1 pandemic to explore public perceptions of pandemic influenza control measures and examine factors influencing community cooperation for pandemic influenza control in Australia.
According to Professor David Durrheim only 23 per cent of the respondents demonstrated a clear understanding of the term ‘pandemic influenza’.
“Of those interviewed, 94.1 per cent said they were willing to comply with home quarantine, while 94.2 per cent that they would avoid public events.”
“However we found that compliance increased significantly after brief pandemic information had been provided to interviewees,” Professor Durrheim said.
“We also found that of those who reported being unfamiliar with the term ‘pandemic influenza’, male respondents and employed people not able to work from home, were less willing to comply.”
“We believe our national survey indicated that compliance with containment measures could be further enhanced through a public education program conveying just a few key messages,” Dr Durrheim said.
“The team is very pleased to have our study published in the WHO Bulletin. It is great recognition for the pandemic planning we have been doing at HNE Health,” Dr Durrheim said.
“These results are very important in light of the current H1N1 Swine influenza pandemic we are experiencing in Australia at the moment.”
“We need to continue to focus on equipping people with simple and accurate information to minimise their risks as we continue to learn about this novel influenza strain,” Dr Durrheim said.
Meanwhile the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has awarded funding to the team to conduct a follow up survey to explore current community perceptions of pandemic influenza, success of communication strategies and public willingness to receive the swine influenza vaccine that is currently under development.
Contact: Tanya Carlyle
Phone: (02) 49392 602
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