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Ariz. Survey: H1N1 Terms Confuse People

POSTED: 1:00 pm MST November 9, 2009
UPDATED: 1:34 pm MST November 9, 2009

A new survey on the H1N1 flu released by Arizona State University shows many people didn't know that the swine flu being discussed in the media and H1N1 are the same virus.

More than 700 Arizona households were included in the survey that was designed and analyzed by faculty and students from the School of Health Management and Policy at the W. P. Carey School of Business, the Decision Theater at the Global Institute of Sustainability, and the School of Public Affairs at Arizona State University.

"The survey was designed to reach the household member primarily responsible for making health care decisions," said Megan Jehn, assistant professor of health management and policy at ASU. "We wanted to gauge people's knowledge of H1N1, where they might go for treatment and what might trigger that action.”

Among the other findings:

  • About half of those questioned either don't want -- or haven't decided whether they want -- the swine flu vaccine.

  • About a fifth of those surveyed didn't know there was an H1N1 vaccine until asked.

  • Many people think it's more important to see a doctor if you have H1N1 flu than if you have seasonal flu.

  • Many believe it's tougher to get H1N1 than seasonal flu.

  • About a third of those surveyed believe a family member will get sick with H1N1.

“The objective (of the survey) is to help officials better communicate with Arizonans about the virus and, in turn, to help our hospitals best serve the community by keeping them from being overwhelmed," Jehn said.

The results will be used by public information officials from various hospitals, public health agencies and related organizations to determine how to best communicate to the public about H1N1 influenza.

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