Public Perceptions and Preventive Measures of Hong Kong Citizens Concerning Atypical Coronavirus Pne

1
Public Perceptions and Preventive Measures of
Hong Kong Citizens Concerning Atypical
(Coronavirus) Pneumonia

• Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of
  Medicine,
• The University of Hong Kong
• Professor TH Lam, Dr Gabriel M Leung,
• Dr Brandford HY Chan, Dr SY Ho, Dr LM Ho,
• and Professor AJ Hedley
• April 4, 2003

2
Study objective

• To assess the Hong Kong publics
• knowledge of and beliefs about SARS
• personal health and emotional state
• fever and respiratory symptoms
• adoption of preventive measures

3
Methods

• Telephone survey using random digit dialing
• Subjects 855 Cantonese speaking adults aged 18
  and above were interviewed from March 29 through
  April 2
• Response rate 79
• Sampling error 3.5

4
Proportion of respondents reporting fever and
respiratory symptoms in the pasttwo weeks
()
5
Respondents anxiety level
6
Respondents anxiety level
7
Respondents perceived likelihood of contracting
SARS
()
8
Which of the following four events would be the
most likely to happen to you?
()
9
Knowledge of transmission mechanisms of SARS
23.3
10
Perceived likelihood of survival if respondents
contracted SARS
()
11
Would agree to be quarantined for 10 days if
positive contact with diagnosed SARS cases but
did not have symptoms
12
Preventive measures adopted in the past three days
Cover mouth when sneezing
Wash hands after sneezing
Wash hands with soap
13
Preventive measures adopted in the pastthree days
Use serving utensils during meals
Adopt preventive measures when touching possible
contaminated objects
Wash hands after touching possible contaminated
objects
14
Preventive measures adopted in the past 3 days
15
Changes in the frequency of dining-out due to
SARS in the past one week
()
16
Perceived likelihood of contracting SARS
anxiety level
feeling very or quite anxious
17
Respondents risk perception anxiety level
feeling very or quite anxious
18
Proportion of respondents who reported they were
very likely or somewhat likely to contract
SARS
19
Proportion of respondents who reported they would
be very likely to survive if contracted SARS
20
Acknowledgements

• We are indebted to all the interviewers and the
  respondents for their assistance
• And to all the people who have devoted themselves
  in fighting SARS
• Information above can be download at