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Cited by 163Risk Perception and ManagementInfluenza Virus Research StudiesCommunication and COVID-19 Impact

Situational Awareness and Health Protective Responses to Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Study

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Liao, Qiuyan, Cowling, Benjamin, Lam, Wing Tak, Ng, Man Wai, Fielding, Richard·2010·PLoS ONE
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0013350PMC PMC2953514
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Whether information sources influence health protective behaviours during influenza pandemics or other emerging infectious disease epidemics is uncertain. METHODOLOGY: Data from cross-sectional telephone interviews of 1,001 Hong Kong adults in June, 2009 were tested against theory and data-derived hypothesized associations between trust in (formal/informal) information, understanding, self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility and worry, and hand hygiene and social distancing using Structural Equation Modelling with multigroup comparisons. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Trust in formal (government/media) information about influenza was associated with greater reported understanding of A/H1N1 cause (β = 0.36) and A/H1N1 prevention self-efficacy (β = 0.25), which in turn were associated with more hand hygiene (β = 0.19 and β = 0.23, respectively). Trust in informal (interpersonal) information was negatively associated with perceived personal A/H1N1 susceptibility (β = -0.21), which was negatively associated with perceived self-efficacy (β = -0.42) but positively associated with influenza worry (β = 0.44). Trust in informal information was positively associated with influenza worry (β = 0.16) which was in turn associated with greater social distancing (β = 0.36). Multigroup comparisons showed gender differences regarding paths from trust in formal information to understanding of A/H1N1 cause, trust in informal information to understanding of A/H1N1 cause, and understanding of A/H1N1 cause to perceived self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Trust in government/media information was more strongly associated with greater self-efficacy and handwashing, whereas trust in informal information was strongly associated with perceived health threat and avoidance behaviour. Risk communication should consider the effect of gender differences.

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  • Citizen journalists can positively impact health-related behaviors during a pandemic when the credibility of government and its performance is under question.

    “It was also noted that the perception of independent sources can have a positive impact on trust among critics of government and individuals without predispositions towards the source, implying that citizen journalists can positively impact health-related behaviors during a pandemic when the credibility of government and its performance is under question and is being challenged.”

    From Understanding media empowerment: citizen journalism in Palestine (2023) · cites this paper as Liao et al., 2010

    The Abstract (Principal Findings; page unavailable) links trust in informal interpersonal information with influenza worry, which was associated with greater social distancing. The paper does not study citizen journalists or show that they improve protective behaviour when government credibility or performance is challenged; its discussion of low confidence in formal information is hypothetical. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Authors
Liao, Q., Cowling, B., Lam, W. T., Ng, M. W., & Fielding, R.
Affiliations
University of Hong Kong (HK)
Corresponding author
Fielding, Richard
ORCID
Venue
PLoS ONE
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published
2010-10-12
Volume
5
Issue
10
Pages
e13350
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0013350
PMC
PMC2953514
OpenAlex
W2070649162
Cited by
163
References
5
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 48 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 4
FWCI
13.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • The HKU Scholars Hub (University of Hong Kong) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
  • Food and Health Bureau (U54 GM088558)
  • National Institutes of Health (GM088558)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (U54GM088558)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Risk Perception and Management
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Influenza Virus Research Studies
  • Social Sciences › Communication › Communication and COVID-19 Impact
Keywords
pandemic influenza A(H1N1), preventive health behavior, situational awareness, trust in information sources, informal information, self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility, worry, hand hygiene, social distancing, risk communication, gender differences, Hong Kong
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Awareness, Behavior Therapy, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Hong Kong, Humans, Influenza, Human, Male, Middle Aged, Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype, Young Adult

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